West Midlands Property Buying Guide

The West Midlands is one of the UK’s nine regions and covers more than 5,000 square miles. More than five million people call it home, residing in the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

The West Midlands is also a county in its own right, where around half of the region’s inhabitants live. This is the most built-up part of the region, where you’ll find one of the UK’s most important cities, Birmingham, as well as places like Coventry and Wolverhampton.

 

The rest of the West Midlands is predominantly rural, with different parts of the region offering superb access to beauty spots such as the Peak District, Shropshire Hills and Malvern Hills.

 

Whether you’re a first-time or second-time buyer, are looking to invest in a buy-to-let or upsize/downsize, here’s everything you need to know about mortgages, interest rates and our wide range of new and upcoming developments in the area. 

The West Midlands offers some of the hottest prospects for investing in the property market. The region has endless potential for those able to work remotely, fueled by the impact of HS2.

 

Early investment in the region promises the best short- and long-term yields, while there’s sure to be an increased demand for buy-to-let properties once HS2 is fully up and running.

 

City centre neighbourhoods like Digbeth, Erdington and Edgbaston have all been marked out among the best prospects for future capital growth in Birmingham. Property close to the city’s Curzon Street HS2 station will soar in value among newfound commuters to London.

 

There will also be a brand-new station in Solihull, which is already home to some of the highest value property in the West Midlands. Around eight miles south-east of Birmingham city centre, this market town promises to be a popular option among those looking to take advantage of high-speed trains without living in the heart of the action.

 

As the HS2 heads north towards Manchester, the trains will stop in Stafford and Stoke. These two areas have been noted for the various investments and regenerations through the Constellation Partnership. After seeing property prices rise by around 20% between 2016 and 2021, you can expect this to increase significantly over the coming years.

 

Whether you’re looking for a family home with excellent long-term prospects or a second property in the West Midlands, it’s an incredibly exciting time to invest in this region. 

The West Midlands is a region of marked contrasts. From quiet and secluded rural areas to some of the UK’s most popular cities - the region caters for all kinds of homebuyers.

Royal Leamington Spa

This attractive spa town is packed with history. Queen Victoria gave it its seal of approval in 1838, which began to attract more and more visitors. Today, it is a resort favoured by the wealthy for centuries thanks to its spa waters and bath houses. 

Sutton Coldfield

Like Leamington Spa, this sought-after town also has a royal title and a unique grandeur. The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield has the 2,000-acre Sutton Park right on its doorstep and is ideal for commuting into Birmingham. That’s a journey of around 20 minutes by road or rail.

Market Drayton

Lying on the River Tern, approximately 15 miles south-west of Stoke-on-Trent, this desirable town is surrounded by Shropshire countryside and close to Cheshire and Staffordshire. It is considered one of the best places to live in the West Midlands, so make sure you don’t miss our Drayton Meadows development on the northern edge of town. 

Whether your priority is being close to good schools and hospitals or wide, open natural spaces, the West Midlands is great for all different kinds of families. Choosing a family home can be tricky with so many options, so we’ve picked out some of the best family-friendly areas in the region.  

Uttoxeter

This pleasant market town is surrounded by open Staffordshire countryside and boasts crime rates that are five times lower than the English average. Conveniently located for commuting to places such as Derby, Stoke and Stafford, you’ll find a great selection of family homes for sale at Olive Park and Bentley Fields.

Warwick

This welcoming town on the River Avon offers great transport links, its own hospital and a wide selection of fun-filled activities for the whole family. With a choice of outstanding local state schools and highly-regarded independents, make sure you check out our Beaumont at Warwick Gates development.

Hillmorton

Another spot with superb transport links thanks to its proximity to the M1, M6 and M45 motorways, this Rugby suburb has a warm community feel. It also has outstanding primary and secondary schools, as well as contemporary family homes at The Moorings.

Ofsted rankings of best schools in the West Midlands

School	Ofsted Rating	Date of Inspection
Moor Green Primary Academy	Outstanding	January 2019
Grace Mary Primary School	Outstanding	February 2019
Clinton Primary School	Outstanding	May 2019
Oak Cottage Primary School	Outstanding	September 2019
Spring Vale Primary School	Outstanding	October 2019
St Mary’s RC High School	Outstanding	April 2021
Southam College	Outstanding	September 2021
Yardleys School	Outstanding	February 2020
Bartley Green School	Outstanding	November 2020
Eden Girls’ School Coventry	Outstanding	December 2020

In the wake of the pandemic, homebuyers are more aware than ever of the importance of being close to outdoor space. The West Midlands is blessed with an abundance of beautiful natural environments and some of Europe’s best UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Shrewsbury

Straddling the UK’s longest river, the Severn, this historic town is surrounded by open countryside, ideal for exploring by foot or bike. From riverside walks to hiking in the Shropshire Hills, the epic mountains of Wales are also within striking distance. Rose Place puts you right on the edge of beautiful countryside while also being close to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Ledbury

This charming market town lies on the fringes of the Malvern Hills in Herefordshire. Ledbury Park and the Wye Valley AONB are also on your doorstep when you buy a new home at St Catherine’s Grange. Here you’ll find some of the best rural property for sale in the West Midlands that’s geared towards modern family life.

Cannock

With the stunning Cannock Chase immediately to the north, this pretty town is little more than 15 miles from Birmingham city centre. The Fallows is a spectacular development ideally located for the Chase, serving up a collection of spacious family homes with a touch of luxury. 

From vibrant cities including Birmingham and Coventry and popular towns such as Walsall to historic villages packed with rural charm, the West Midlands has something to suit all lifestyles.  

Centrally located within the UK, the region is famous for its excellent transport links. A string of important motorways passes through or on the edge of the West Midlands, including the M1, M5, M6 and M40. Transport for West Midlands is responsible for a wide array of public transportation services.

 

Some of the best markets in the West Midlands are centred around the most built-up areas with the highest concentration of transport links. These also include the West Midlands Metro service and the recently-announced HS2. This vital rail network connects places like Wolverhampton, West Bromwich and Dudley to a host of stops in Birmingham city centre.

 

Whether you’re after advice on buying a family home or a guide to buy to let in the West Midlands, you can read more about some of our West Midlands developments below.

Buying your home in Birmingham

Often referred to as the UK's second city, new homes in Birmingham are always in demand. Brummies are proud of their city, which boasts the region’s top transport links, great healthcare and exciting attractions for the whole family. The city saw a rise of around 20% in house prices between 2016 and 2021, with this figure topping 50% from 2011 to 2021.

Hall Green

Five miles south-east of the city centre, this popular area benefits from its own train station, a good selection of schools and a strong property market. House prices rose by more than 50% from 2011 to 2021 and are significantly higher than the Birmingham average. They’re also boosted by exceptional new developments such as Tenchlee Place.

West Bromwich

Well-connected and with fantastic local amenities such as Sandwell Valley Country Park on your doorstep, West Bromwich lies five miles from central Birmingham. This town is often known for having affordable houses for sale in Birmingham, despite a rise of over 50% in local prices from 2011 to 2021 shows it’s also ripe for investment.

Tamworth

If you’re looking to live a little further out of the city, this Staffordshire town offers a more rural lifestyle while still being well-connected to the heart of Birmingham. Only around 20 minutes by car or train, don’t miss our Heron’s Reach development at Dunstall Park on the edge of town.

Buying your home in Coventry

As the second-biggest city in the West Midlands, Coventry is around 20 miles east of Birmingham. Historic and cultural, it saw an increase of almost 60% in property prices between 2011 and 2021.

Rugby

Just over 10 miles from Coventry city centre, Rugby is a popular place among commuters to various nearby towns and cities. If you’d like to live in this pleasant area, our excellent collection of homes on Ashlawn Gardens is simply not to be missed.

Bishop's Itchington

Around 15 miles south of the city, this pleasant village sits 20 miles south of Coventry and boasts a vibrant property market. Local house prices rose by more than 20% between 2016 and 2021. 

Buying your home in Wolverhampton

With great transport links, plenty of green spaces and attractions for the whole family, Wolverhampton is a little over 10 miles from central Birmingham. Local prices rose by more than 20% between 2016 and 2021, with semi-detached proving to be the most popular among buyers.

Dudley

A large market town with its own Metro station, Dudley is just over five miles south of Wolverhampton. It has attractive house prices, which rose by around 20% from 2016 to 2021. This is a hotspot for long-term investment, with local property increasing in value by approximately 60% between 2011 and 2021.

Hednesford

Just over 10 miles north-east of Wolverhampton, Hednesford is surrounded by natural beauty, such as Cannock Chase. The historic market town saw house prices rise by approximately 60% between 2011 and 2021. The Fallows is a brilliant development where you’ll find a luxurious range of family homes for sale on the edge of Cannock Chase.

Buying your home in Stoke-on-Trent

As the beating heart of the Potteries, Stoke-on-Trent is a historic city with lots of culture to delve into. Local house prices went up by approximately 20% between 2016 and 2021.

Alsager

Just over the border into Cheshire, Alsager is around 10 miles north-west of Stoke. Great for rural living while retaining excellent access to the M6, you can browse a collection of lovely family homes at Scholars Place.

Buying your home in Telford & Wrekin

This area of Shropshire is ideal for those looking to live in the countryside while still enjoying plenty of modern amenities close at hand. New homes in Telford & Wrekin are very popular among buyers, which is reflected by property prices increasing by over 40% between 2011 and 2021.

Telford

30 miles from the regional powerhouse Birmingham, Telford is a large town, home to a selection of outstanding primary and secondary schools. Our The Grove at Doseley Park development has delivered a choice of magnificent new housing in this area.

Buying your home in Solihull

As we already mentioned, Solihull’s property prices are set to increase significantly over the coming years because of the new HS2 station, the high-speed rail.

 

If you’d like to be part of this major transformation, don’t miss our fantastic collection of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes on Tenchlee Place development just a few miles away.