Ipswich Estate Agents - The worst of times, the best of times

Sales have been going through the roof at
Jonathan Waters Estate Agents

We are in an interesting housing market right now. By 2007 house prices had been rising for almost 13 years but this came to a quite spectacular end.

Depending on which set of statistics you read, prices dropped anywhere between 5.1% and 16% between the autumn of 2007 and the spring of 2009.

Ipswich estate agents are not always in agreement but my personal viewpoint is, as at Jonathan Waters Estate Agents, the prices and the activity of the market were at their lowest in about October 2008.

In Ipswich, unlike many areas, we were luckier than most. At Jonathan Waters Estate Agents we started to see Ipswich area prices showing the seeds of recovery as early as spring 2009 and by the summer of that year, there were a good deal of sales being agreed, especially in areas such as Grange Farm, Martlesham Heath, Pinewood, The Crofts and east Ipswich.

It is a matter of some debate too, amongst Ipswich estate agents, as to whether we shall ever see the return to pre-2007 activity levels in the housing market. There is, however, no doubt, that in terms of sales and people viewing, that at Jonathan Waters Estate Agents we have seen numerous records broken in the last six months.

These records have stood for over 13 years, in the 13 years that Jonathan Waters Estate Agents have been in Ipswich and the 20 years that we have been in existence as an estate agent.

The record for the number of sales we have agreed in a single month has been broken three times in the last seven months. We first saw a new record made in October 2012, this record was beaten again in February 2013 and positively smashed in March of this year with nearly 60 units achieved of residential sales alone.

On one Friday in April, we achieved 50 viewing appointments in a single day on properties for sale in Ipswich and surrounding areas which was another new record.

February this year saw Jonathan Waters Estate Agents three Ipswich offices take on to the market more properties than any other month in our history.

All these factors must surely an indication that something is underway.

Ipswich Estate Agents - To book a valuation appointment with Jonathan Waters or one of his senior valuation team, please contact:

625 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8ND
01473 721133
jonathan@waters-ips.co.uk

35 Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1BH
01473 281188
jonathanwaters@jonathanwaters.co.uk

Bristol Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham IP5 3RY
01473 620222
jonathan@waters-ips.co.uk

or visit www.jonathanwaters.co.uk

Estate Agents Ipswich: Selling homes in IP3 is no puzzle at Jonathan Waters Estate Agents

http://www.jonathanwaters.co.uk/ipswich/index.cfm

Jonathan Waters Estate Agents were celebrating this week with the news that they are the office with the most sold properties (gross) registered on line in the IP3 postcode.


This was based on a survey of property websites undertaken by Vizzihome, the industry market research provider and it was from data collected by Vizzihome between 29th March 2013 and 19th April 2013 showing Jonathan Waters Estate Agents at 38.3% (18 units) of the total number of properties marked sold (gross) registered on line in the IP3 postcode.

The next nearest competitor, with five units, was 10.64%, meaning Jonathan Waters Estate Agents has nearly four times more properties marked as sold than the estate agent in second place.

Vizzihomes research was based by looking at all properties with the status marked sold subject to contract and looked at any property type, at any price and with any number of bedrooms.

“We are delighted with the results”

 said Jonathan, owner and Managing Director of Jonathan Waters Estate Agents in Ipswich.

“We have put in an enormous amount of effort with regard to the marketing of homes in the IP3 postcode, as well as all the other postcodes in the Ipswich area and surrounding villages.”

“We have an incredibly experienced and effective sales team operating from our office in Foxhall Road, Ipswich which is backed up by our two supporting offices in Ipswich town centre and Martlesham Heath. This three office marketing that we are able to offer our clients is currently unbeatable anywhere in the Ipswich area and when combined with our level of experience, it is no wonder we are so far ahead of the competition.”

Vizzihome Sales is an independent company providing market intelligence for estate agents. They would like to point out that the number of properties registered as sold on line does not necessarily equate to completed sales. Information has been sourced for this survey from estate agency internet data, portals and individual websites and collated and published by Vizzihome. For further information on Vizzihome Sales please visit www.vizzihome.co.uk.

Estate Agents Ipswich  – contact us now to buy or sell a property!

Estate Agents Martlesham: Who is Jonathan Waters?

http://www.jonathanwaters.co.uk/ipswich/index.cfm

Jonathan Waters is the owner and Managing Director of Jonathan Waters Estate Agents Ltd. They have a three office estate agency dealing with both sales and lettings, one branch of which concentrates on houses, bungalows and flats specifically in the Martlesham Heath, Martlesham and surrounding IP5 areas.

Jonathan Waters Estate Agents, Martlesham Office

The Martlesham office is situated in a prominent position in the Bristol Court units facing onto Gloster Road, near to Ladbrokes and King Pin. The Martlesham office opened in the summer of 2011 to give unbeatable three office marketing for property in the Martlesham area by combining service from the other two offices in east Ipswich and Ipswich town centre respectively to effectively give three estate agency branches working together for the price of one.

The addition of a Martlesham Heath branch has proved to be a master stroke and Jonathan Waters Estate Agents soon established itself as an estate agent of choice for the Martlesham area. More people are currently choosing Jonathan Waters Estate Agents to market their Martlesham/Martlesham Heath home than any other estate agent.

Estate Agents Martlesham - to see the properties we currently have for sale in the Martlesham Heath, Martlesham and surrounding area, click on the link here.

If you are thinking of selling your Martlesham home and wonder exactly how much it might be worth right now, then book a valuation with Jonathan Waters or one of his experienced Martlesham valuation team by clicking on link below or contacting 01473 620222 or e mailing us on jonathan@waters-ips.co.uk.

Alternatively, why not come and give us a look for a chat at our office at Bristol Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham, IP5 3RY

Estate Agents Ipswich and Martlesham: Why is property on Martlesham Heath so popular?

http://www.jonathanwaters.co.uk/ipswich/index.cfm

Properties on Martlesham Heath continue to be as popular as ever.


Recent arrivals of Next and M&S Food on Martlesham Heath to compliment Tesco and other retail outlets, shops, offices and commercial premises on the business park side of the road has meant the whole of the Martlesham Heath area is now a hive of activity, attracting people to visit. Not to mention, BT.

Jonathan Waters, owner of Jonathan Waters Estate Agents Ipswich and the driving force in charge of the Martlesham office, comments

“I remember 25 years ago, when building of the houses on Martlesham Heath was still in full swing, properties were popular then. Even in the tough markets of 88 – 93 and the downturn of the 2007/2008 era, Martlesham Heath houses, bungalows and flats still continued to sell. You can always rely on the sale of a Martlesham Heath property!”.

So why are properties on Martlesham Heath so popular?

“A number of factors in my opinion combine to create and maintain this popularity” Jonathan continued.

“Firstly the original idea of the village was just that, to make it look like a village and to be a village.”

“Focussed around a central green, with pub, shops and commercial facilities on the edge of the green, this became a focal point to the development that other large estates may lack.”

“Every hamlet was constructed by a different developer, creating a striking and unusual mix of different house types, styles, designs and fashions both interior and exterior of the homes.”

“Also Martlesham Heath was built over an unusually long period of time. Construction of the residential side of the Heath started in the mid 70s and carried on till the late 1990s and beyond – that’s 25 years – more or less a generation.”

“This has added to the variation in house styles. Even if the same builder had built every home on Martlesham Heath, the design, appearance and specification of the properties would have changed considerably in that time. Properties built at the start would have looked quite different to those built at the end. The fact that it was all different developers constructing the hamlets over that period enhanced and enriched this difference.”

“Martlesham Heath never got too big. If you look at an aerial photograph taken since construction of Martlesham Heath was completed you will see that only a relatively small part of the available land was actually developed.”

“This meant that vast areas of the original heathland remained unspoilt and created a paradise for dog walkers, cyclists, joggers and families with young children. I haven’t done a survey, but I would imagine that there is higher proportion of people owning a dog on Martlesham Heath than a lot of other relatively modern estates.”

“Furthermore, the heathland is all publicly accessible – peace, quiet, tranquillity and beautiful countryside surrounding your home – what more could anybody want?”

“For me, another appeal of Martlesham Heath is the constant reminder of the history and former use of Martlesham Heath.”

“Such things as the World War II control tower, the remains of the runway to the south, and a lot of the buildings on the business park serve as a constant reminder of this past.”

“In fact, it is a little known fact that one property on Martlesham Heath wasn’t actually built, it was converted to residential use from a former wartime building (it’s in Coopers Road).”

“

Then, of course, is ease of access. Wherever you live on Martlesham Heath the A12 is never more than 2 minutes away. Whichever direction you need to go, the access is straightforward and easy, be it 5 minutes to the A14, 10 minutes to the Orwell Bridge, 15 minutes to A12 Colchester and London bound and then if you’re going north, well you’re already halfway there!”

“My family have lived on Martlesham Heath since 1984 and I have bought and owned a house on Martlesham Heath and my family still lives there. I am on Martlesham Heath in one capacity or another every day of the week, albeit viewing properties, dog walking, cycling or visiting family or friends. I love it and it’s easy to see why other people do too.”

Estate Agents Ipswich and Martlesham  – click here to browse for properties.
If you are thinking of selling your Martlesham home and wonder exactly how much it might be worth right now, then book a valuation with Jonathan Waters or one of his experienced Martlesham valuation team by clicking on link below or contacting 01473 620222 or e mailing us on jonathan@waters-ips.co.uk.

Alternatively, why not come and give us a look for a chat at our office at Bristol Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham, IP5 3RY.

A selection of properties we have recently agreed sales on Martlesham Heath

 

Estate Agents in Ipswich – the many different ages of property we see at Jonathan Waters Estate Agents.

One nice sunny evening last week I decided to cycle from my home off Bucklesham Road through east and north Ipswich and back again via the town centre.

It struck me as I travelled just how lucky estate agents in Ipswich actually are. We have such a broad age range of properties to see in the town in the course of our day- to-day work.

My journey started from home and almost immediately I passed by the start of a new development of 24 top of the range detached homes in Purdis Farm Lane – the breeze block footings had just gone in.

250 yards up Bucklesham Road, a new home being built had, earlier in the day, had the roof support lowered onto the structure by crane – these days, of course, made of steel not timber. Less than six weeks ago a 1950s bungalow stood on this plot before it was demolished in just one day.

Cycling through Broke Hall, east Ipswich’s most popular estate, is a mixture of lighter brick, mainly semi detached and detached houses and bungalows built in the mid 1960s with very good size gardens.

Bixley Farm came next, started in 1987 and involving a small selection of builders. Work soon came ot halt when the property crash happened in the second half of 1988. Re-started once things picked up you can see many different designs of typical 1980s an early 90s style properties.

Next came Kesgrave, predominantly semi detached 1960s bungalows. I then cycled up the top half of Humber Doucy Lane which are mainly 1950s double bay semis, so many now altered and extended.

At the top end of the Lane we have an unusual mix here in Ipswich – I wonder how many other towns have this? An estate of 1950s council house stock on one side of the road, pre-fab bungalows originally built as temporary homes after World War II, and still going strong, on the other.

Sherborne Avenue brought me to the height of the sought after Northgate Catchment area, a haven for Ipswich estate agents. A property on the market in this area, sensibly priced and all other things being equal, is guaranteed to sell.

Further up Sidegate Lane came Wincanton Close and Cranborne Chase. This sees the most desirable end of the scale of modern new build luxury of the last 20 years. Things have now gone full circle as the character, appearance and details of these lovely homes have all been re-installed in contrast to the 60s and 70s when the fashion was of the opposite end of the scale. To think, 35 years ago my Portakabin classroom and the school tennis course of the then Northgate Grammar School took in the exact spot of a double garage which went with one of these luxury 4 and 5 bedroom detached homes. Next door, the school itself, now un-recognisable from the decaying, draughty and freezing pre-war buildings with the open quadrangles of my day.

I am now cycling at speed, courtesy of the hill going down towards the town centre on Tuddenham Road. In just one short mile I see houses at every conceivable part of the scale of Victorian and Edwardian Ipswich.

Tuddenham Road itself, Gainsborough Road and the likes of Corder Road and Manor Road see grand and opulent bayed houses with sash windows, tiled porches, dado rails and panelled doors. At the more modest end of the scale, but equal in character are the Victorian terraces of Suffolk Road and Norfolk Road with the houses straight onto the road, no front garden and doors straight into the lounge. For a brief moment I try to wonder what Edwardian and Victorian Ipswich must have looked like in its day? How did this eclectic mix come about?

Finally my journey passes Derby Close off Argyle Street where sub standard Victorian Council housing was demolished in the 50s and 60s to make way for the modern flats that now stand there.

My cousin lives in Colchester and over the years we have had many friendly arguments about which town is the nicest architecturally.

His trump card was that Camulodunum was Britain’s oldest town. Fair enough, we might not have many of the grand Tudor and Elizabethan properties that they have in their town centre area but I consider myself very lucky to be an Ipswich estate agent.

Us Ipswich estate agents get to see such a wonderful mix of properties from the different periods in history in the town and every conceivable end of the scale of each of the periods of architecture.

And they call it work!

About Jonathan Waters

Jonathan Waters has lived and worked in estate agency in the Ipswich area for over 25 years.

He is passionate about architecture, property, the history of Ipswich and estate agency generally.

He has worked tirelessly through that time to give the Ipswich estate agency industry a much more professional image in the eyes of the very consumers that use it.

Jonathan Waters Estate Agents Ipswich – contact us now on 01473 721133.

An example of 1950s local authority housing

An good example of 1960s bungalows in Old Kesgrave - always incredibly popular

A typical 1960s Broke Hall semi detached house - Broke Hall continues to be the most popular estate in Ipswich

A good example of 1990s executive detached housing

Hervey Street - full of Victorian character

Classic 1950s double bay semi

1950s executive, detached house

The History of Martlesham Heath Airfield

Situated three miles north east of Ipswich, Martlesham Heath was first used as an aerodrome in the 1914-1918 war. Between the wars it was used to test many of the aircraft and much of the equipment that would later be used in the Second World War.

Just prior to the outbreak of hostilities, Martlesham then became the most northerly station of Number 11 Group Fighter Command squadrons of Blenheims, Hurricanes, Spitfires and Typhoons which operated from this airfield during the period 1939-1943.

Among the many pilots based there were such famous men as Roland Stanford-Tuck and Douglas Bader. Ian Smith, the post war Rhodesian Prime Minister, was also at Martlesham for a time.

In 1943 the station became one of a group of grassed surface airfields earmarked for use by fighters of the United States Eighth Air Force and 1600 yard runways were laid down using a then experimental process of soil stabilisation with oil and tar products.

Nearby housing and a major road presented difficulties in sighting the runways and it was necessary as a result to take the southern end of one of these runways through the very middle of the camp.

In October 1943 356th Fighter Group moved in from its training base at Goxhill in Lincolnshire. With only limited accommodation available on site many of the US pilots had to be billeted in requisitioned country houses in the vicinity.

The 356th Fighter Group was composed of three squadrons and equipped with P-47D Thunderbolts. Fresh to combat the Group suffered a number of heavy defeats at the hands of the Luftwaffe and became considered the hard luck fighter group of the Eighth Air Force with a comparatively high loss to victories ratio.

With conversion to the P-51D Mustang in November 1944 the Group had better success in combat and on two occasions decimated it’s adversaries.

At the end of hostilities in 1945 the station reverted to the RAF and a memorial to the American Fighter Group later being erected on the parade ground.

In the immediate post war years Fighter Command squadron were in residence at Martlesham Heath but the proximity to Ipswich and the physical limitations of being able to lengthen the runways restricted jet operation.

In 1955 villages surrendered their common rights to public land to enable the main runway to be extended and 30 acres of parish common land were given up for which the Air Ministry agreed to pay £37 per annum.

Between 1946 and 1960 a number of different units occupied the site.

Interestingly a 1977 book called Airfields of the Eighth Then and Now by Roger A Freeman described Martlesham Heath at this time as:
“Martlesham Heath has now become an industrial and dormitory satellite of Ipswich and the four pre-war hangers and technical site buildings are now used for light industry and storage. A new road crosses the airfield and on the southern side of this road a new housing estate known as Martlesham Heath Village Hamlet is under development. Suffolk County Constabulary also have a new headquarters building on what was part of the airfield while dominating all is the colossal Post Office Research Centre situated on the north east side just behind the old RAF Technical site.

Nearby on the old RAF Parade Ground can be seen a memorial erected to the memory of those members of the 356th Fighter Group who lost their lives in World War II.”

If you are looking to buy property in Martlesham Heath or sell a Martlesham Heath property contact us today. With offices in Ipswich, East Ipswich and Martlesham, Jonathan Waters Estate Agents are perfectly placed to assist you with all of your IP5 property needs.

Estate Agents Martlesham – contact us now to register your requirements or click here to join our mailing list.

Relocating to Martlesham Suffolk

If you are relocating to Martlesham Suffolk, whether part of a job move or to raise a family, it makes sense to use the services of a local estate agent who knows the area well. Here at Jonathan Waters estate agents, Martlesham, we are well placed to help you find your dream property. But we can also help if you are looking for estate agents Ipswich.

Before you start your search for your ideal home, there will be all sorts of questions you will want to ask, such as what are the schools like in the Martlesham and Ipswich area? Will I be close to local amenities?

As prominent estate agents in Ipswich and Martlesham, Jonathan Waters estate agents can guide you through the house buying process and can advise you on local facilities such as shops, supermarkets, transport links, schools, medical and healthcare clinics.

We have a wide range of properties on our books throughout the Ipswich and Martlesham area including detached family homes, bungalows, flats, terraces and semi-detached properties for sale. Whether you want a home with a large garden, double garage, workshop area, en-suite bathroom, or a small, low maintenance property we will do our best to find what you are looking for.

So if this is your first step on the housing ladder, or if you intend to move into a bigger property, downsize, relocate, or retire in this area, contact us at Jonathan Waters estate agents and we will be happy to help you.

Estate Agents Martlesham, Ipswich and Villages - contact Jonathan Waters now

Ipswich or Martlesham?

Ipswich, the county town of Suffolk, is just a few miles away from Martlesham and many people choose to live in Ipswich while working in Martlesham, or vice versa. So if you are relocating to Martlesham it makes sense to look for properties in both areas. But choosing only estate agents in Ipswich or only estate agents in Martlesham, means that you could be limiting your options. With Jonathan Waters you don’t have to choose. We are estates agents for Ipswich and Martlesham, making us the ideal estate agent if you want to cover both areas. Martlesham lies to the East of Ipswich, and in between there are many villages, which are also popular choices to live for people working in Martlesham, either wanting to be a bit closer to Ipswich, or for those who prefer a quieter village location.

Jonathan Waters Estate Agents – Ipswich Offices

We have two Ipswich offices: in Ipswich town centre and on Foxhall Road. The Foxhall Road area is a popular location to live, as it lies on one of the major routes out to Martlesham. Our Foxhall Road offices make a convenient alternative to local people to pop into at weekends or after work. But for those who like to combine house hunting with a bit of retail therapy, our Buttermarket offices in Ipswich town centre will be ideal.

Estate Agents Ipswich - contact one of our Ipswich offices now:

Buttermarket (Town Centre): 01473 281188

Foxhall Road (East Ipswich): 01473 721133

Jonathan Waters Estate Agents – Martlesham Offices

Our Martlesham office is located on Martlesham Heath Business Park, very close to BT’s Adastral Park. This makes it a convenient location for people who have started work in Martlesham and want to pop in at lunchtimes or straight after work.

Estate Agents Martlesham - contact our Martlesham office now on 01473 620222

How Jonathan Waters Can Help

Searching for that perfect property can be a minefield and sometimes you just don’t know where to begin. That’s where Jonathan Waters estate agents can help. Our aim is to do all we can to find the right home for your budget.

One of the best ways to start looking is through the Jonathan Waters website. Our website is easy to use and has many features which will assist in narrowing down your search. These include price range searches, full particulars, interior and exterior photographs, 3-d photographs and a map of the area, so you can see the exact location of the property. And for those of you who are short of time, we offer a virtual tour for some of our properties to give you a feel for it and help you decide whether it is right for you.

Another way Jonathan Waters can aid your search is to join our mailing list so we can send you details of properties in your price range when they become available. This way you can see straight away when we have a suitable property on our books.

We have three offices in the Martlesham Ipswich area and our opening times vary. Contact us direct and either pop into one of our branches, or telephone us to arrange a viewing at a time convenient to you. We understand that viewings may not be possible for you during weekdays so we can also arrange appointments in the evenings or at weekends. It is all part of our service at Jonathan Waters.

We have friendly, helpful staff with more than 250 years combined estate agency experience and expertise and our detailed knowledge of the Martlesham, Ipswich and Suffolk area will ensure you will find what you are looking for. When you have found the right property, we can make it all run smoothly for you by providing mortgage assistance and recommending a reputable conveyancer with good local knowledge.

About Martlesham

Martlesham is just off the A12 roundabout and is a bustling community with excellent transport links. It is just six miles from the county town of Ipswich and within easy reach of Woodbridge and the Port of Felixstowe.

The village is sometimes affectionately called Old Martlesham by the locals to identify it from the newer nearby Martlesham Heath development, but both come under the same parish. Old Martlesham lies along the banks of the River Fynn and was named in the Doomsday book as Merlesham, which is most likely to mean ‘meadow near the mooring place.’ Martlesham Heath sprung up as a new village in the 1970’s and has grown into a thriving, prosperous neighbourhood with houses for more than 3000 people, a major supermarket, shops, businesses, schools and leisure facilities.

Martlesham Heath village was built on the site of the former RAF base where the famous fighter pilot Douglas Bader served in 1940. The Control Tower Museum keeps the memory alive and documents the history of Martlesham Heath as an airfield from 1917 until its closure in 1967. A public house, called The Douglas Bader, is named after the war hero.

The scene has changed dramatically in the last forty years with companies, leisure facilities and Tesco’s supermarket opening up here. Suffolk Police Headquarters is based in Martlesham, as is BT’s hi-tech communications, research and development centre at Adastral Park. Martlesham Heath Business Park is home to many businesses, a bowling centre as well as our very own Jonathan Waters estate agents.

Martlesham is well served by a regular bus route and an Ipswich park and ride service opened up here at the end of 2003.

Schools in Martlesham

Martlesham has excellent schools in the area and these include:

Birchwood Primary School

This small primary is based on Valiant Road, Martlesham Health and was described in its Ofsted Report as a good school led by an enthusiastic and dedicated head teacher.

Gorsewood Primary

This is another good primary based at Deben Avenue, Martlesham Health, and was praised in its Ofsted report with having outstanding attendance and pupils keen to learn.

Beacon Hill County Primary

This school was noted in its Ofsted report as providing pupils with a quality well rounded education and having a warm and friendly atmosphere. It is based at Black Tiles Lane in Martlesham.

Secondary Schools

The nearest secondary school is in the nearby village of Kesgrave. Kesgrave High is a very popular school with a good reputation and is often over-subscribed as a result. There is also a co-educational independent school in Woodbridge, which is about two miles from Martlesham. Woodbridge School has 600 pupils and is known for its excellent academic standards and good facilities.

Healthcare in Martlesham

Martlesham is well served for healthcare with the Martlesham Health Dental Practice and the Martlesham Health Doctors Surgery and both of these can be found in The Square at Martlesham Heath.

The NHS doctor’s surgery is wheelchair access and has five consulting rooms, waiting and reception area, a treatment room and practice manager office.

Martlesham is within easy reach of Ipswich Hospital which is based on a 46 acre site on Heath Road and has several in-patient clinics, out-patient clinics as well as clinical departments, such as a paediatric oncology department.

Working in Martlesham

Many people make the move to Martlesham to climb up the career ladder. Telecommunication giant BT’s global innovation and development centre is based here and it is a major employer with more than 3,500 staff. BT is sited in Adastral Park, a science park dubbed IP-City which is home to over 250 hi-tech companies. Other major employers in the area are Suffolk Police Headquarters, Tesco’s and Ipswich Hospital’s NHS Trust on Heath Road, which employs 3,200 people.

Several companies have their offices in Martlesham Heath Industrial Estate including road haulage and shipping agents. Other businesses in the area include shops, caterers, tour companies, pubs and leisure organisations including Kingpin Bowling Centre and the Martlesham Heath Business Centre and Fitness Club.

Martlesham is within easy reach of Ipswich, which is a base for large insurance companies, and it is also close to Felixstowe Docks, another big employer in Suffolk.