What To Look For When Moving To A New Area

Picking where to live is one of the biggest choices you'll make. You might end up unhappy with your neighbourhood if you get it wrong, or you'll have to pay all the costs of moving again. This guide shows you what matters before you commit to an area. It works for first-time buyers in Essex places like Brentwood and Hornchurch, and it works if you're moving somewhere completely new.

Why You Need to Research Where to Live Properly

The UK housing market works differently in each area. A street that might seem perfect may not be so great just a few minutes away due school catchment areas suddenly or that transport gets better or worse in the same postcode.

You could make an expensive mistake without doing your homework. More than a third of UK homeowners wish they'd done something different with their purchase. For people aged eighteen to thirty-four, that number goes up to 63%. Most people regret not working out the real costs. They regret picking the wrong location and buying a home that was too small.

This is why spending time at the start makes everything easier.

Work Out Your Budget First

You need to know what you can afford before you fall in love with a location. Mortgage calculators help you see how much you can borrow. Property websites show what you get for your money in different places.

House Prices Across the UK

Prices are very different depending where you look. The average UK house costs £273,000 in August 2025. But each region tells its own story.

 

City centres cost more than the countryside. Southern England is pricier than the north. London works on a completely different level to everywhere else.

What's Happening in Essex

Lux Homes works in Brentwood and Hornchurch. These markets give buyers good value close to London.

Houses in Brentwood cost £560,000 on average in May 2025. Prices have risen over the past year, reflecting steady growth in the local market. Brentwood has good shops and facilities, which makes it attractive if you want your property value to go up.

Hornchurch properties averaged £500,000 in the last twelve months. You can get to central London on the District line from Zone 6. The A12, A127, and M25 are all easy to reach. Families and commuters like living here because it's affordable and well connected.

Prices change a lot even within these towns. One end of a street might be in a good school area. The other end might not be. You need to understand how these small differences work.

Choosing the Right Type of Property

Think about what you really need before you start viewing places.

Old or new? Victorian houses look nice but you'll need to fix things. New builds come with guarantees and everything works. But some people think they don't have much character.

How many bedrooms? Think about the next five years, not just right now. Families get bigger and need more room.

House or flat? Houses cost more money. You get your own front door and a garden. Flats are cheaper to buy and you don't have to do as much maintenance.

Every market makes you choose between things. A big house in Hornchurch might cost the same as a small flat in central Brentwood. What matters more to you?

Important Things About Your New Area

The Feel of the Place

What kind of area do you like? Some people want busy streets with cafes and things happening in the evening. Other people want parks, quiet roads, and a calm feeling.

You should walk around at different times. Go on a weekday morning. Visit on Saturday afternoon. Try Sunday evening. Does it feel right? Can you see yourself living there?

Shops and Services

Make sure the area has what you need.

Shopping - Do you want to walk to the shops or are you fine with driving?

Healthcare - Where's the nearest GP surgery and hospital?

Leisure - Check for gyms, sports clubs, restaurants, places to go out.

Community - Parks, libraries, and clubs that you'd actually use.

The quality of these things makes a big difference to how happy you are day to day.

Getting to Work

Work out how long it really takes to get to work, see family, visit friends. Do the journey yourself when it's busy to really get a feel of what it could be.

Think about these questions. What if you change jobs? Can you find work in other places from this area? Are you moving somewhere that only has one type of job? Could you change how you work if things changed?

People with ambition do better in places where there's lots of different jobs and good transport.

Schools

School quality matters a lot if you have kids or want kids. Ofsted's website shows you school ratings. Ask the local council exactly where the school areas are.

Living near other families is good because there's already things for children. Playgrounds, after-school clubs, activities for young people.

Council Tax and Crime

Two things people forget to check.

Council tax is different even on the same street sometimes. Look up the exact band for any property you view.

Crime statistics tell you if an area is safe. Police.uk has maps showing crime down to each street.

Think About the Future

You should think long-term unless you're moving again in two years.

Areas That Go Up in Value

Some areas are better investments than others.

Cheap areas next to expensive ones usually get better over time. Unless there's something stopping that happening like factories, bad houses, or no transport.

New transport makes prices go up. Areas getting new train lines or stations see prices rise before the transport even opens. Building work might be annoying for a while though.

Good value places with decent houses and transport are safe choices. Local prices take years to catch up when transport improves.

Trendy areas might have already reached their peak. Look for places that are improving before everyone knows about them.

Growing With Your Area

Your salary should go up each year if you're early in your career. This means you can buy somewhere that feels expensive now but won't in a few years. Get a place that stretches you a bit today but won't feel too small in three years.

Most people's biggest asset is their home. It might be worth more than their pension. Picking the right location matters for your money and your happiness.

Look at Individual Streets

Life changes a lot between different streets, once you've picked a general area.

In Towns and Cities

One side of a suburb is different from the other side. Walking five minutes to the station feels the same as fifteen minutes when you first look. But you notice the difference when you do it twice every day. Living next to a pub is not the same as living one street away. School areas can split down the middle of a street.

In Villages

Compare different villages near each other. Is there any public transport? How far is it to good schools? Are you OK doing that drive twice every day? How long does it really take to get to work? Can you get to a gym or will you buy equipment for home?

Talk to estate agents who work in your area. They know things about different streets that you won't find online.

Spend Proper Time in the Area

Use whole days to explore places you're thinking about. You might live there for years. It's worth the time now.

Things You Should Do

Visit the parks, pubs, shops, and cafes. Read the local newspaper to see what people care about. Look at who lives there. Are they young or old? Do they have money or not? Are there kids playing? Do you like that? Check for anything annoying like waste sites, factories, or farms that might smell.

Try the transport when it's busy. See what it's actually like instead of just trusting what you're told.

Not Sure Yet? Rent There First

Renting in an area before you buy shows you what it's really like. It's better to find out village life doesn't suit you whilst you're renting. Otherwise you might buy and have to sell again in two years, which costs a lot.

How Lux Homes Helps You Find the Right Area

Lux Homes works in Brentwood and Hornchurch. We know that choosing where to live is about more than just the property. Our team knows these areas properly and helps people make good choices about neighbourhoods, not just houses.

This is what we do.

We give you detailed information about schools, transport, shops, and what's being built. We know which streets cost more and where prices are going up. We're honest about what you have to give up when you pick different places. We know surveyors and solicitors who understand our markets.

Maybe you're buying your first home and stretching your budget. Maybe you're a family that needs more space. Maybe you're investing and want your money to grow. We match you with areas that work for what you need.

The Main Points

Choosing where to live needs time and research. Remember these things.

Sort out what you can afford first. Work out your real budget and see what different areas give you for that money.

Think about now and later. Buy somewhere you'll grow into, not somewhere that'll be too small soon.

Research individual streets properly. Looking at the whole area matters but the exact street decides what your life is actually like.

Visit the area several times. Going at different times shows you what living there really feels like.

Think about future value. Your home is a big financial investment. Picking the right location gives you a good life and your money grows.

Get help from people who know the area. Estate agents with real local knowledge tell you things you can't find out online.

What to Do Next

Want to see what Brentwood and Hornchurch have? Contact Lux Homes and tell us what you need. We'll explain which neighbourhoods work for your lifestyle and budget.

There's a right area for every buyer. Finding it just takes the right approach and someone who knows the local market.