Situated on England’s rugged southwestern tip, the county of Cornwall is awash with natural beauty, picture-postcard villages, world class water sports, and exceptional seafood restaurants. Encompassing wild moorland and endless sandy beaches, not for nothing has it been dubbed the Cornish Riviera. Combined with its geography, which sees Cornwall enjoy a temperate climate relative to its British Isles counterparts, these attributes also act as a magnet for many people seeking to invest in a holiday or retirement home.
A windmill in the village of Boyton in Cornwall (Photo: Colin.C.James via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
If you’re looking to buy property in the South West of England, Cornwall certainly has plenty of appeal – and with a growing choice of flights from London and more people adopting hybrid working patterns, it’s even becoming commutable to the capital. For property investors, with around 24 million tourists descending here every year, self-catering accommodation is always in high demand. Honeypot locations including St Ives, Bude and Padstow tend to command the highest property and rental prices, while Falmouth, Newquay and Penzance also rank highly.
Compared to the London and South East markets, Cornwall properties are relatively affordable. However, if you’re seeking capital growth, it’s always worth taking a longer view, and letting out the property should cover the cost of ownership and ideally return a good profit. Every property transfer is subject to a stamp duty, which is 1 percent of the price up to £250,000, 3 percent up to £500,000 and 4 percent for purchases over £500,000. The services of a lawyer are strongly recommended, and buyers should also bear in mind local council tax rates which in Cornwall tend to run between £1,000 and £3,000 depending on the type of property. Below are three recommended companies for helping you find houses and cottages for sale in Cornwall.
Lillicrap Chilcott
An independent estate agency focusing on the sale of prime property throughout Cornwall, and boasting several combined decades of experience, Lillicrap Chilcott are one of the most well-established names on the region’s property-buying landscape. Named Cornwall Estate Agent of the Year at the International Property Awards for an impressive six years running, their multi-award-winning Truro-based team is equipped with an acute understanding that moving house can often be a long and tortuous process, and consider it their duty to take away the stresses and strains faced by prospective buyers as they navigate the often complex process of buying a home. Covering the entirety of Cornwall, they deal with all types of property in all locations.
Miller Countrywide
Established over 65 years ago, Miller Countrywide is one of the largest residential estate agencies in the South West. Part of Countrywide, the UK’s largest property group, they deal with all aspects of the property market, whether you’re buying, selling, renting or letting, from land and new homes, to property management. They have an extensive network of offices across the South West and use local knowledge to help customers with their property requirements. Among their services is a dedicated arm of the business called Country & Waterside Prestige, which provides expertise on the sale of luxury properties in both Cornwall and Devon, giving clients access to local, national and international prospective buyers seeking prestigious properties in the region’s most sought after areas.
Bradleys
The largest independent estate agency in the West Country, Bradleys offer an award-winning service from each of their 30+ offices dotted across the region. Whether you’re first time buyers, in a chain for moving on, retiring or relocating, or simply looking for a property investment, their experienced team will be on hand to guide you through the process from start to finish. Among their services Bradleys have an agent dedicated to marketing and finding high-end homes, with each property individually vetted to ensure a bespoke strategy for clients.