DESPITE rumours of an imminent slowdown in the housing market, property prices in the South East have spiralled dramatically over the past decade. Figures indicate that first time buyers are being hugely restricted in their choice of both property and location.

Figures from the PH Index database, which runs off the Land Registry data, show prices have risen up to 111.7 per cent since 1989.

The average semi-detached house price in the Greater London region in 1989 was £105,638.

Calculating 2001 figures from the first two quarters of the year, this has now risen to £223,586.

Research shows that, increasingly, the buyer’s best bet is to start looking seriously at property in the eastern commuter belt.

Studying semi-detached prices in a 40-mile radius of the capital, Kent and Essex look to offer a far more reasonable and stable price structure to property, with 57.4 per cent and 55.3 per cent increases over the same period respectively.

Semi-detached house prices in Kent, although they have risen over the past decade, average £113,142, a saving of £110,444 over London prices.

With the increasing growth of services, facilities and communication links in London’s neighbouring counties, now is perhaps one of the best times to seize the opportunity of purchasing property, before prices are engulfed by the expanding capital.

Since the last housing boom in 1987, prices in Kent have increased strongly but have not been explosive.

As the increase has been steady and grown with inflation, the majority of property in Kent is relatively affordable.