House prices in Dorset fell in July

The decline, however, does not reverse the long-term trend, which has seen property prices in the region grow to 6.1% annually.

During the month, the situation was better than the South West, where prices fell 5.8%, and Dorset outperformed the decline of 3.7% for the UK as a whole.

Over the past year, the average selling price of a property in Dorset has increased by £ 18,000, placing the region 26th out of 32 local authorities in the South West in annual growth.

The region’s best annual growth was seen in North Devon, where house prices rose on average 22.5% to £ 291,000. At the other end of the scale, Cheltenham properties gained 3.5% in value, an average price of £ 288,000.

Estate agent Savills looked at data for 2020, when the average house price was £ 380,355, and found that towns such as Weymouth, Dorchester, Blandford and Bridport were costing below the county average, which is driven by high prices in Poole and Christchurch.

According to Savills, the average cost of a house in Weymouth is £ 276,765, which is 26.2% lower than the county average, compared to a house in Poole costing £ 437,996, or 15.2% more than the county average. At the lowest price in the county, buying a home in Gillingham will cost a buyer on average £ 243,810, which is 35.9% less than the county average.

Ashley Rawlings, of Savills in Wimborne, said: “As life has slowly returned to normal, with bars, shops and restaurants reopening, the accessibility and convenience of being close to these amenities are at the forefront of people’s minds when looking for their next home.

“Attractive cities that are well connected, have a good stock of family housing and a choice of efficient schools attract a broad profile of affluent buyers.

“However, there are also other areas where, relatively speaking, the cost of ownership may be more affordable – like Weymouth, Dorchester, Bridport, Shaftesbury, Gillingham and Sherborne, for example.

“Young, wealthy families naturally see the appeal of city life, while a growing number of ’empty nesters’ looking to downsize are also seeking access to good restaurants, shops and recreational facilities.

“In the future, these villages considered to be ‘best in class’, with a pub, local shop and a good sense of community, as well as good housing stock, access to schools and connection decent broadband, will still be in high demand., this has only increased in the last 18 months.

“Since the pandemic, we have seen a significant and sustained increase in the number of buyers who wish to experience village and coastal life throughout the county.

“Recent experiences have caused many people to re-evaluate all kinds of things and for some that includes defining an acceptable commute – many are now willing to travel a little further because they visit the office less. .

“Large family homes with outdoor space have been the most successful and more generally with demand exceeding supply conditions are very good for sellers and buyers, with tenders on available properties registered in the whole region. ”