Property Investment in Maidstone
Population: 145,000 approximately
Average House Price: £372,400
Maidstone offers a wide range of property types for investors, including traditional old Kentish barns and oast houses in the surrounding areas, and period properties. Maidstone, however, has seen much development in recent years so offers many new build houses and flats, often located on new build housing estates in the suburbs.
Maidstone property buyers should bear in mind that it is divided by the River Medway. Most Maidstone districts are to the east of the river. Areas to the west do not have quite such good accessibility to the rest of the town.
Maidstone town centre is predominantly a retail and commercial area. However, there are some traditional town centre houses and flats, including commercial to residential conversions, in the streets surrounding the centre. It is mainly a good-value investment property area.
North Maidstone districts include Invicta Park, Penenden Heath and Ringlestone. These areas of town have the best access to the M20 at junctions 6 and 7, as well as good access to the town centre.
East Maidstone districts include Mote Park, Shepway and Willington. Shepway is a particularly good value area of Maidstone for property buyers and investors. Regeneration is underway here which should help make the area more attractive to residents.
Bearsted, Downswood and Otham are technically separate villages with their own amenities but are now considered part of the Maidstone urban area. They offer some traditional old properties but also many contemporary newly built properties. They have good access to town and Bearsted has its own railway station with services to London Victoria and Ashford International.
South Maidstone districts include Coxheath, Dean Street, Loose, Parkwood plus rural areas around East Farleigh and West Farleigh. These areas do not have such good transport links by rail or motorway but are convenient for the workplaces on this side of town.
West Maidstone districts include Allington, Barming and East Barming. These are across the River Medway from the town centre. There is good access to the M20 at junction 5 as well as a train station at Barming. Maidstone Hospital, which is a large employer, is also on this side of town. Allington has a good range of local amenities and is a popular mid-price property area.
The villages surrounding Maidstone are very popular with those who work in Maidstone or who commute around this part of Kent. They offer a quieter, rural lifestyle alongside good access to the amenities in the town. Property in the Maidstone area villages tends to be more expensive than in the town itself, however.
