The beginning of the year is usually one of the busiest periods for house-hunters and with demand up by 49% compared to the recent new year average the market has started 2022 as it left 2021 – hot and busy.
Within this context property portal Zoopla has revealed the top 10 properties that have tempted people to rummage around their site over the month of January.
Some are no doubt potential buyers but some are likely to be people passionate about property who love to have a virtual nose around lovely and unusual buildings.
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Four properties in Wales feature in Zoopla's January 2022 list of the most viewed UK properties including a converted pub and brewery, a cottage in one of the nation's most popular spots, and a renovated equestrian property.
The UK list also features a mix of unique properties over the border too – from a castle in Scotland to a one-bed historic lodge house.
It might not be a total surprise to many people that Wales is the only region in the UK to feature four times in the list as the property market here has taken the brunt of the rapid increase in house prices during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Wales consistently tops the list as the hottest location in the UK across a range of company's data analysis, including the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Find out more about that here.
Zoopla's own house price index, published at the end of January 2022, reveals that Wales is registering the highest rate of house price growth for the 10th consecutive month with prices up 11.3%.
Additionally the start of the New Year has seen demand for property across the UK soar by 49% compared to the new year markets of 2018-21, rivalling record demand seen during the stamp duty holiday.
The properties that have been revealed as the most popular during January on property portal Zoopla show a wide range of types and prices across Wales and the UK.
1. Whaligoe, Scotland: £325,000
A spectacular five-bed property takes the crown as the UK's most-viewed property. Located above the famous Whaligoe Steps in Scotland it dates back to 1860 and has breathtaking views of the sea and rugged coastline as well as an expansive garden – no wonder it's already under offer.
2. Ammanford: £700,000+
This dream home is an attractive conversion of a former brewery and pub. The renovation project has been done so well it's impossible to uncover its former identity unless you ever supped a pint or enjoyed a ploughman's lunch at the former establishment, which was called Cornucopia.
The renovation and transformation project includes exposed stonework, bespoke etched windows, and abundant use of high-quality warm-toned woodwork throughout.
The work was started in 2011 and took three years of hard work and imagination to complete.
The agent selling the home states that the bespoke design and deluxe craftsmanship combined with modern specifications has led to a truly stunning home with oodles of space.
The conversion has created four bedrooms, four en suites, a gym that could also be used as a home office and a 'great room' as it measures nearly 10m in length and is open to a full-size dining room.
The great room leads into a 9m games room that is so spacious even a full-size snooker table looks small.
There's no sign of what the building used to be – just a comfortable and contemporary home that has proved a very popular virtual destination for potential buyers on Zoopla.
Find out more about this home near Ammanford by calling Smiths Sales & Lettings on 01792 465822.
3. Dumfries, Scotland: £270,000
This five-bed, semi-detached sandstone family home is located on the sought after Moffat Road within the town and retains many of its period features.
4. Gower: £475,000
Set in the heart of the popular village of Reynoldston and located in an elevated position to enjoy spectacular open country views that stretch out towards Mumbles Head, Beaufort Cottage is a Gower peninsula gem.
The sweeping rural vistas from the terrace of the property are framed beautifully with the prettiest of gardens that makes leaving this perfectly peaceful outside spot difficult on a sunny day.
But do step inside as the well-loved and welcoming home envelopes you in light and bright spaces that make the most of the home's location with bay windows and sliding doors.
There's a kitchen and breakfast room that could be opened up into the adjoining study to create an even bigger, sociable space and why not go further by adding sliding doors to connect it directly to the garden?
The centre of the house is occupied by a drawing room that opens into a sunroom that can boast bay windows and access to the garden as well as access to the dining room at the end of the house.
The downstairs offers connected spaces that can also thrive as separate rooms or be opened up further by the removal of one or more walls subject to building control and planning permission.
And there's a double garage on site too if you wanted to add maybe a home office, games room or additional annexe space.
Upstairs there are four bedrooms, the master having an en suite and use of the adjacent dressing room, plus a family bathroom and lots of lovely windows letting that panoramic view flood in.
This house has potential to reconfigure it however you want to and add your own interior design style or to just move in and happily live as it is.
The cottage is for sale for £475,000 with Damsons Mumbles – call them on 01792 367301 to find out more.
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5. Tadcaster, North Yorkshire: £225,000
This property can be found on the edge of the Grimston Park Estate in North Yorkshire which has been visited by the British monarchy and also appeared in the Domesday Book. It's a one-bed lodge that is super-sweet as well as historic.
6. Near Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire: £549,950
It's not just about the humans at this three-bed detached house – it's actually a property that comes with facilities for lots of lovely pets and animals too.
The property package on offer at this smallholding is a recently renovated home for the humans and approximately five acres of land, an equestrian exercise area, a range of outbuildings including two stable blocks, a hay barn, and an agricultural barn for the animals.
On the ground floor the house offers a new owner a lounge, separate dining room, bathroom and kitchen, with the upstairs housing the three bedrooms.
Modern rustic interior design awaits you inside with pretty shades of nature-inspired colours to find as well as plenty of natural material such as wood, leather and cotton creating a calm, cosy and aesthetically pleasing abode.
And if you wanted even more space the current owners have had plans drawn up for a first-floor extension to create a master bedroom with en suite.
You will then need to pursue planning consent if you like the plans or have your own done – however you might like to increase the size of this house as there's masses of land to utilise to do so.
And the animals? Well they've got more than enough but they don't come with the house – you'll have to bring your own.
This smallholding on the fringes of the village of Penygroes, near Ammanford and Llandeilo is for sale for offers in the region of £549,950 with estate agent John Francis. Call the Ammanford branch on 01269 592401 to find out more.
7. Port Talbot: £400,000
There's lots of space to play with at this detached house in the town – from the four bedrooms on the first floor to the large reception spaces on the ground floor.
The first hint that there is more to see here than you might expect is the substantial driveway and front garden that easily wanders past a garage at the front of the plot.
The rear of the house has space too – a large lawned garden and an elevated terrace that you access from the living room, suggesting this house is a bit of a party pad as well as a perfect family home.
Step inside and let the socialising begin – at the rear of the home is an open-plan living and dining room that flows out into a very spacious conservatory that also connects to the garden terrace.
There's a modern, large kitchen at the front plus a separate lounge which is maybe the smallest space in the house but you can still fit a five or six-seater sofa in there.
Upstairs there are the four bedrooms and a fantastic find in the family bathroom – a two-seater hot tub.
And just when you think that's it there's a two–room outbuilding at the bottom of the garden for everyone in the family to fight over – man cave, hen den, games room, workshop, hobby room, home office? Let the arguing begin.
The home with the space is for sale for offers over £400,000. Call eXp Wales on 0800 358 1796 to get more details.
8. Isle of Bute, Scotland: £700,000
This property boasts towers, turrets, original fireplaces and stained glass windows as well as its very own magical Victorian fernery.
A fairytale castle for sale in the UK is a rare find and can help one lucky new owner realise their property happily ever after.
9. Norwich: £600,000
This beautiful Victorian home has a lot to offer buyers searching for a seaside retreat including stunning sea views, a large heated swimming pool, and two driveways – and that's even before you go in and be delighted by the period features and six bedrooms.
10. South Norwood, London: £200,000
This end-of-terrace property is well located on a residential road and would make a perfect home for a first-time buyer. Road and rail links as well as shops are nearby as well as the open spaces of South Norwood Country Park.
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