News Release 22 May 2015 Waterfront Wishlist For many property buyers, there is one non-negotiable item on their wishlist – they have to be on or near the water’s edge. The sound, sight and smell of the coast is something that has drawn people for centuries and it’s made waterfront property highly prized around the coastline…with the premium to match. The most basic choice is the one between coast and estuary. The sandy beach, with views that seem to show the curvature of the earth, versus the daily ebb and flow of an estuary, with its promise of a ‘Swallows and Amazon’ lifestyle. The exact location is often narrowed down by the buyer’s passions and those of their family: Surfing or boating, sand or pebbles, a feeling of remoteness or the bustle of a coastal town. The south coast is a paradise for yachting and dingy sailing enthusiasts with its sheltered rivers and marinas. Salcombe and East Portlemouth, Dartmouth and Kingswear, Topsham, Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo, Fowey, St Mawes and The Helford Passage – just a few of the areas that are a magnet for those who want a home with easy access to a good mooring and a community of fellow boat- lovers. For surfing, the more exposed North Coast beaches are much in demand. Mawgan Porth, Porthleven and Polzeath are popular for surfers from all over the country with access to some of the UK’s best surfing breaks. St Ives and Padstow are also popular destinations; St Ives has a thriving artistic community – it’s home to the Cornish arm of the Tate – and Padstow has established itself as a foodie mecca. Padstow was the beachhead for a culinary invasion that has spread throughout many of the UK’s well- heeled coastal towns. These days, your family bolthole is more than likely to be within easy reach of a wide choice of great local restaurants and pubs and probably the odd Michelin star. The list goes on – there is something for everyone around the South West’s coastline. Whether messing about on the water is your thing, painting it or just enjoying the taste of salt in the air and the sound of gulls on the wind, the world is your freshly-shucked oyster. Regarding the market, the year has started particularly well for Devon and even better for Cornwall, with increased levels of activity throughout The Wescountry compared to 2014. We are now seeing encouraging and growing levels of interest as the weather continues to improve and the recent election results have scotched any fears of a mansion tax being implemented in the near future. Currently, there are serious, proceedable buyers active in The Westcountry. The best, accurately- priced properties are selling, with recent evidence of competitive bidding – something we have seen little of for some time now. In the past few days we have seen a higher level of competitive bidding Page 1/2 News Release but no evidence of real prices rising yet. As buyers’ confidence increase so we may just begin to notice prices rise as the year progresses. For further information, please contact: Christopher Bailey, Head of National Waterfront, Knight Frank, 01392 848822 [email protected] Ends Notes to Editors Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank, together with its US alliance partner, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, operate from 370 offices, in 55 countries, across six continents and has over 12,000 employees. The Group advises clients ranging from individual owners and buyers to major developers, investors and corporate tenants. For further information about the Company, please visit knightfrank.com. .