Help and advice on buying property in Exeter
Exeter started as a Roman town called Isca, circa 50AD, with a wooden fort at the lowest point that the River Exe could be forded. It then went through various ups and downs and name changes to being a thriving city in the 1800’s with a population of around 20,000.
Hitler sadly destroyed a lot of the city during WW2 which then had to be rebuilt in the 1950’s, not a great architectural period, the now John Lewis store being one of those such buildings!
Exeter university was started in around 1955 and has gone from strength to strength to now named Sunday Times University of the Year for 2012/13, and ranked 7th in the Sunday Times league table. Also ranked 10th in The Times Good University Guide and the Complete University Guide, and are in the top one per cent of universities in the world.
There are many excellent independent schools.
Exeter Cathedral School
Exeter
Age: 2-13 co-ed
Tel:01392 255298. www.exetercs.org
Exeter Junior School
Exeter
Age: 7-11 co-ed
Tel:01392 273679. www.exeterschool.org
Exeter School
Exeter
Age: 11-18 co-ed
Tel:01392 273679. www.exeterschool.org
Maynard School
Exeter
Age: 7-18 girls
Tel:01392 273417. www.maynard.co.uk
More recently, in 2005, Exeter started its real transformation into the city you see today. The redevelopment of the centre into what is known as Princesshay has changed the look and feel of Exeter into a 21st Century town. Independent shops rub shoulders with the likes of Apple and Molton Brown to give a complete shopping experience. Some of the side streets such as Gandy Street give an insight into the old Exeter, but not in a bad way!
Couple all these facts together and you can see why the likes of John Lewis arrived here a few years ago, along with Waitrose. Ikea are rumoured to be arriving shortly along with a Morrison’s distribution warehouse bringing more focus and jobs to the area.
Exeter town property displays a wide range of styles and ages and has something for most people. The most desirable address being St Leonards, which stocks most of the fine period properties that the city has to offer . Although you will find some excellent contemporary properties where infill has allowed or the previous house has been demolished. This area also houses the schools listed above and therefore is a natural target for families with school aged children.
Pennsylvania and Streatham Rise, both near the university, offer an alternative, generally with more space around you but slightly further away from the centre.
Modern blocks of flats such as those near to Exeter Central Station such as Richmond Court offer excellent access to the city and university and therefore are very popular with students and the workforce alike so make excellent buy to lets with around a 6% yield.
All in all Exeter has something for everyone. Indeed, the choice of retailers, lifestyle and good schools and excellent properties, along with its cosmopolitan vibe, mean that Exeter remains one of the UK’s most desirable locations.
