Bear Estate Agents in Essex

The Essex Estate Agency

Essex is a county of contrasts. Many think of ‘The Only Way is Essex’ when the county is mentioned, but where this series originated, however, is in Brentwood, one of the wealthiest areas in the county. In contrast to this, close to Clacton on the East coast of Essex, is Jaywick, one of the most underprivileged areas in the same county. Property is key to wealth in both of these areas, whether it be in buying and owning a property, or whether it be buying in order to rent it out.

This county is not only about contrasts in wealth but also about contrasts in geography, history, culture and industry. It’s not surprising then, to learn that there are 14 districts that make up Essex.

These are: - Harlow, Epping Forest, Brentwood, Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford, Maldon, Uttlesford, Braintree, Colchester, Tendring, Thurrock, City of Chelmsford and of course, Southend-on-Sea. Just naming these areas conjure up images; Rochford and Ann Boleyn; Maldon and its ‘home grown’ salt; Colchester the oldest city in England; Epping forest, Ancient and Royal; Southend with its longest pier in the world (see Bear Estate Agents in Southend).

At Bear we are an Estate Agents in Essex and sell properties all over the county.

Essex ranks 11th in square kilometres’ size and has 471 people for each of those kilometres where it comes 7th in overall population. Considering it shares a boundary with Greater London which comes 1st in the population count and has 5,223 people per square kilometre, the realisation dawns that there must be a lot of green space in the Essex to allow a this population density to drop dramatically (2014 OFN). It also becomes increasingly obvious that there exists much property diversity that houses this population.

All types of properties can be found in Essex. In Uttlesford you can buy a 12 bed detached Manor house in its own grounds, an 8 bed period detached property for nearly 3 million pounds, in Bishops Stortford, or a 2 bed semi-detached thatched cottage in Great Sampford for £300K.

In Colchester, you can buy a period end of terrace house, built for officers returning from the Napoleonic Wars for less than one and a quarter million pounds, a grade 11 listed 1840-1850 house on the waterfront of the River Colne in the village of Rowhedge, for 800K, or a 2 bed apartment in Colchester High Street for 145K. Remember if you are looking for an estate agent in Essex, contact Bear, the Essex Estate Agents!

The properties with sea views in Essex, in Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Thorpe Bay, (see Bear Estate Agents in Thorpe Bay) Canvey Island (Bear Estate Agents on Canvey Island) and Mersea Island, Clacton and Frinton-on-Sea are almost too numerous to mention, bearing in mind that there is 350 miles of Essex coastline to be explored. There are more than 20 Islands in Essex and one of them, Canvey Island, has been attracting people from London to live there, since the last century. (a little more about Canvey Island)

Essex shares its boundaries with Cambridgeshire to the north, Hertfordshire to the northwest. Saffron Walden is close to the borders of both Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. It is a medieval town where a market has been held since 1141. Its history is reflected in its Tudor houses and Jacobean Manor, Victorian gardens as well as its ancient turf maze on the common.

Also close to Hertfordshire is Harlow. An example of contrasting characteristics, as well as changing fortunes that make up a town in Essex, can be found in Harlow.

Basildon is another ‘New Town’ built to house people from London. A visitor would be surprised by its many green, open spaces and property prices are increasing owing to its proximity to London. Basildon will see regeneration with plans made in the ‘Thames Gateway’ scheme (see Bear Estate Agents in Basildon).

Hadleigh in Essex, is a town where social policies from an earlier era helped preserve areas of farmland close to the sea, as well as its famous landmark, Hadleigh Castle (see Bear Estate Agents in Hadleigh). There is a mix of housing stock in this area. With those close to the Castle still owned by the Salvation Army, and others with sea views developed into detached properties.

To the west of Essex is Greater London and the Thames Estuary is to the southeast. Here lies Tilbury, with its 16th century fort and because the River Thames is very narrow at this point, there is an ancient cross-river ferry to Gravesend. Important as foreign ships bound for London often made their first ‘port of call’ there. The fort was commissioned by Henry VIII in 1539. Tilbury Docks, or the Port of Tilbury, was opened in 1886 and is the principal port for London. Properties in Tilbury were, historically, often in poor condition but thanks to regeneration, this has changed. Considering its close proximity to London, it is still possible to buy a two/ three bed property for around 250K.

The beaches in the Thames Estuary are renowned as a day tripper’s paradise. Popular Southend-on-Sea, shares its coastline with neighbouring beaches at Westcliff-on-sea (see Bear Estate Agents in Westcliff-on-Sea) and Chalkwell (see Bear Estate Agents in Chalkwell) A little further along to the west can be found Leigh-on-Sea. This little fishing village has become an increasingly popular place to live and has been named as the ‘7th Happiest Place to live in Britain’. Needless to say, Leigh has seen a boom in property sales and increased prices. A cottage here has commanded prices of over 400k. (see Bear Estate Agents in Leigh-on-Sea) Although close to London with road and transport links directly to the city, the seaside towns are far enough away that they do not just become commuter dormitories.

Travelling eastwards along the coast, Southchurch can be found. (see Bear Estate Agents in Southchurch) This area has also seen a sharp increase in property prices as people have discovered the benefits of living by an award winning park which is also by the seaside.

Further east at Shoeburyness, (see Bear Estate Agents in Shoeburyness) is part of the coast where the Thames Estuary meets the North Sea. In years gone by, this was an area which West Ham Council used to send their school and convalescing children to, in order to grow stronger in the sea air. Some properties here were less expensive than those close by in Thorpe Bay because of a MOD Barracks here. The same Barracks now, however, have been turned into very desirable housing stock, with its own cricket green and secure walling around it. Bear Estate Agents in Essex have lots of properties for sale in Shoeburyness, call one of our sales negotiators today!

Landwards, to the east of Essex, its borders are shared with Suffolk. Dedham Vale, part Essex and part Suffolk, is an area that has been designated as one of ‘outstanding natural beauty’. The River Stour is its natural boundary and the area is known as Constable Country, named after John Constable who has a painting of Dedham Vale 1802, hanging in the V&A museum, in London.

Essex contrasting landscapes, from seashores to farmland, from marshes to villages, have been influenced by policies of social and environmental origin. Its proximity to London has brought financial reward as well as technical and industrial development. Properties all over Essex have been affected by these policies and overall, Essex property market has been booming.

If you are looking for property in Rochford see Bear Estate Agents in Rochford.