Ever wondered if that extra wall you share with a neighbour is actually costing you a small fortune in the long run? It’s a question I get asked a lot while grabbing a coffee near Ramsden Heath—is it better to own a smaller piece of something grand, or a larger piece of something "modest"?
You see, the numbers on a page rarely tell the full story of why someone moves. They don't show the excitement of a young couple finally getting their own front door in a Crays Hill terrace, or the sigh of relief from a family moving into a detached home in Ramsden Bellhouse where the kids can finally have their own rooms. But today, I want to pull back the curtain on the "Price Gap" in CM11 and show you how national money trends are changing what your home is worth right now.
The Big Picture: Why Your Wallet Feels a Little Different
Nationally, the bank bosses in London have kept the "cost of borrowing" (the base rate) at 3.75%. While that’s much better than it was a year ago, it still means that people looking to buy their first home—usually eyeing up our flats or terraced houses—have to be much more careful with their pennies.
Because prices for things like milk and bread are still rising by 3.4%, banks are being very picky about who they lend to. This filters down to CM11 in a fascinating way: it’s actually making our "mid-range" homes—those lovely terraced houses—the stars of the show because they offer the best balance between price and space.
The Great CM11 Price Gap
Let’s look at what people are actually asking for their homes right now. If you want a detached house in the CM11 area, you’re looking at an average of £775,878.
But here’s the kicker: a terraced house is currently sitting at £395,567. That means the gap between a terrace and a detached home is a whopping £380,311. To put that in perspective, for the price of one big detached house in a spot like Homestead Road, you could almost buy two terraced houses and still have enough left over for a very fancy new car!
A semi-detached home sits in the middle at £463,013. When you look at it that way, the "jump" from a terrace to a semi is about £67,000—roughly the price of adding a sturdy garage and a wider driveway to your life.
The 7-Year Winning Ticket
Did you know that if you bought a terraced home in CM11 seven years ago, your home is now worth £31,841 more than you paid for it? That’s an 8.8% jump!
Contrast that with a detached house. While they’ve gained more in "total cash"—up by £53,465—their percentage growth is actually lower at 7.4%. Even more interesting is that the overall average growth for everything in CM11 was just 5.1% (£24,251).
Why have the "smaller" homes grown faster in value? It’s because as national prices rose, more people started looking for "good value" homes rather than "luxury" homes. The humble terrace has become the gold mine of CM11!
What This Means For Your Front Door
If you own a detached home in a prestigious spot like Glebe Road, don't worry. Even though the market is "balanced" (meaning there’s a fair mix of buyers and sellers), your home is still a rare trophy. However, because earnings are only growing at 3.6% nationally, the pool of people who can afford a £775,000+ home is smaller than it used to be.
If you own a flat, you might find things a little slower. With mortgage approvals sitting at 62,600 a month, first-time buyers are being very cautious. My advice? Make your place look like a "forever home" to attract those buyers who are stepping up from renting.
Looking Ahead to 2027
As we head into the rest of 2026, I expect the "middle" of the market—our semis and terraces in CM11—to stay the strongest. They are the "sweet spot" where what people earn meets what the banks are willing to lend.
Whether you're in a sprawling detached house in Ramsden Bellhouse or a cozy terrace in Crays Hill, remember: your home isn't just a set of stats—it's your biggest piggy bank. And right now, that piggy bank is looking pretty healthy!