An established trend that persists.

There are perhaps no two towns in England more blessed with a sense of old romance than Rye and Winchelsea, the Cinque Port neighbours that gaze at each other across the river Brede in East Sussex. They have long since been a magnet for writers, photographers, artists, stylists and other creatives driven by the unique charm of the area and it is these people who largely drove the local market, whether looking to acquire a second home, often as a prelude to a later permanent move, or relocating from the capital. It is an established trend that persists.

However, In the wake of the pandemic, which has amplified and accelerated everything, most people, to varying degrees, have been assessing and considering the lifestyle they lead and asking the question “What do we want going forward?” Accordingly, over the last eighteen months we have seen an exodus from London of a younger generation with these new buyers seeking more space, a garden, access to the sea and countryside, exploring a new work/life balance that will see many working from home more often henceforth. Simply put, life has changed and there is no going back. The so-called race for space as buyers to reconsider their lifestyle options, coupled with a tightening supply, has led to average price rises of around 9 per cent over the past year but with certain property types seeing even higher increases....