Isabelle Wright of Knight Frank gives property advice.
Q I am considering selling my house in order to experience 'city living', however I am concerned that I will not be able to find an apartment with sufficient space. What are your comments on this? Moreen Richards, Sutton Coldfield
Isabelle Wright comments: There are more and more people moving into apartments and selling their traditional houses. Apartments not only provide the opportunity to experience some 'city life' but they also present advantages such as having the ability to go away without worrying about the house. In addition to this their upkeep tends to be minimal leaving more time for you to enjoy your free time!
Your concern with regards to space is shared by many people but I am pleased to say that most are proved wrong on viewing the apartments. The spaces tend to be cleverly designed with storage areas tucked away and built-in cupboards. You may even find as many have, that you wish to adopt a more minimalist lifestyle that complements the design of the apartment. If this is not the case, I am pleased to say that many developments now offer three bedroom apartments and in some cases four bedrooms. This would enable you to utilise one of these as a study or storage room, leaving your main rooms clear!
In addition to this there are often communal storage areas provided in the car park.
The space issue is now certainly catered for and developers are aware of purchasers' desire for storage.
Q I am considering purchasing an apartment in Birmingham for investment purposes and would like to target an area of re-development. Where would you suggest I look? Jenny Summerfield, Dorset
Isabelle Wright comments: As I am sure you will be aware Birmingham has seen considerable redevelopment over the last few years, which has raised its profile beyond belief. As such more and more businesses are moving to the city, together with an ever increasing leisure industry and considerably more amenities. It is likely that these improvements will continue unabated and as you rightly said, this will take place in targeted areas.
There are numerous areas in which I would recommend that you look, however this will depend upon what type of apartment you wish to buy and your budget.
Areas such as Sheepcote Street and around The Mailbox are now considered to be prime residential areas but are also seeing continued development. These developments are likely to be a lot more expensive than for instance the Jewellery Quarter, which has seen significant re-development and is set to see more. The Jewellery Quarter would certainly be an excellent choice and in time more shops and bars will open, creating a more desirable place in which to live. In addition to this you may like to consider areas such as Digbeth which has improved dramatically with the arrival of Bullring.
Another consideration would be the suburbs such as Edgaston, Harborne or Moseley. These areas have always been popular but traditionally more for houses rather than apartments. You will now be able to purchase both apartments in new developments and within converted period properties, which are extremely popular as they often provide rare features such as high ceilings, original features and interesting architecture.
In general there are many areas that you could consider, all of which will have different selling features. Good luck!
Isabelle Wright is an apartment sales specialist at the Birmingham office of Knight Frank. If you have a property query you would like her to answer in CityLiving Magazine, email isabelle.wright@ knightfrank.com
