Online House Hunter: Dickens of a city

Dickens' birthplace in Portsmouth

AS Britain marks the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, it seems appropriate to turn the property spotlight on his home town of Portsmouth.

Pompey, as the city and football team are also known, lies within Hampshire but is technically an island: Portsea Island.

It’s perhaps most famous as a naval port and you’ll still find there HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the recovered remains of the Mary Rose. But there’s plenty more to this historic city. It’s a seaside town of course and Southsea is where you’ll find the beaches and traditional holiday attractions. Then there is the industrial side and the bustling city centre. And let’s not forget the university. Throw in the shopping centres such as Gunwarf Quays and the sprawling residential estates and you have plenty to choose from for a place to call home.

Employment ranges from the navy to defence, leisure, retail, manufacturing and – the biggest employer – health.

There are good transport and motorway links to London but also ferry and hovercraft links to the nearby Isle of Wight. There are ferry links to France.

House prices have seen a 3.3 per cent drop in the past year (September 2010 to September 2011) but the quarterly change was up 2.3 per cent. This put the average house price in Portsmouth at £168,734 with the average for flats being £141,415 and for a detached house, £350,949.

Supporters of Portsmouth FC – and in these troubled days for the club they would surely welcome new fans – should consider buying a home in Fratton where the football ground is based. This two-bedroom home for sale in Fratton is just £125,000. It’s an end of terrace with an enclosed rear garden.

Those who prefer the seaside to the football terraces should make their way to Southsea which has a combination of luxury flats and Victorian homes overlooking the coast. This four-bedroom house is on popular Clarence Road and is just yards from the beach. It’s on the market for £299,999.

Space is at a premium on Portsea Island itself so you won’t find a great number of green open spaces. But this three-bedroom terrace property is close to Great Salterns Recreation Ground. It is on the market for £194,995.

USEFUL LINKS:

• Independent Property Search Engine
• Independent Property Section
• Homes for sale in Portsmouth
• Portsmouth City Council
• Council Tax Bands for Portsmouth
• Portsmouth on Hantsweb
• Hampshire County Council
• House Prices in Portsmouth (via BBC)
• Portsmouth tourism
• Dickens 2012

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