The lowdown from Charlie Mitchell, Head of Winkworth Tooting
What’s Tooting like?
Tooting’s a great place to live. We’ve got some wonderful communities, amazing schools and big houses – we’re on the Northern Line and there’s a great market and lots of restaurants and bars. The area appeals to lots of people: young families are drawn here, as are newlyweds and young professionals. The area still represents good value for money: for instance, you can get a flat with a garden for £500,000, which you can’t in, say, Balham.
How’s Tooting’s property market performing at the moment?
It’s mental. Our stats from the beginning of January are on par with last year - even though last year we were seeing a huge rush due to the Stamp Duty relief. Amazingly, it looks as though January 2022 will outperform January 2021. There are some amazing mortgage deals around at the moment, and with a potential interest rate rise looming, lots of people are keen to act now.
Is the beginning of the year always this busy?
You never know what to expect in January. Even after 21 years I’m always terrified to come back to work after Christmas because I just don’t know what to expect.
So what advice would you give to sellers?
My message to sellers would be: get on with it! Don’t wait for spring. There are so many frustrated buyers wanting to buy. Properties coming to market at a sensible price are selling fast – and we’ve gone to sealed bids and got amazing prices on several occasions already this year. Now is the perfect market because money is cheap and there are lots of great mortgage offers around. At the moment it’s a perfect cocktail – but remember that mortgage availability can dry up and interest rates can only go up, so don’t leave it too long.
Why should people think about moving to Tooting?
There’s so much on offer here, and you can get more for your money than in other places in Wandsworth borough. Someone starting their search in, say, Earlsfield, with a budget of £1.2 million will often find that they can get as much as 25% more space for their money in Tooting. And there’s definitely been a shift: five years ago it was very much seen as a compromise for first buyers from Balham, Clapham, Earlsfield or Southfields to move to Tooting, whereas now they actively want to come here for its atmosphere and community.
What trends are you seeing among buyers and sellers?
A lot of flat sellers are upsizing and staying in Tooting to buy houses. People don’t really leave unless they’re moving out of London – but for every one person moving out there are more looking to move in. Demand definitely outweighs supply at the moment. We recently sold three houses in Furzedown, all over the £1.1 million mark and all sold off-market.
What kind of housing stock is there in Tooting?
The market is massive and there are options for all budgets. There are lots of houses in need of serious work and someone looking to make their own mark can buy a wreck for £750,000-£800,00, while a stunning, fully extended house will sell for between £1.2 and £1.4 million. Flats go for between £400,000 and £750,000. There’s lots of choice.
What’s your prediction for 2022?
We’ll see a steady flow of stock and I think prices will continue going up. It’s looking set to be a robust year for properties. Last year was a vintage year, but I think this year will be even better…
Currently on the market in SW17…
A four-bedroom Victorian house in Gassiot Road is priced at £995,000, through Winkworth Tooting 020 8767 5221. A large kitchen extension and a loft conversion were added by the current owners, and the garden is neat and sunny.
A well-maintained two bedroom house in Hopwood Close is well-priced at £675,000. The house has a welcoming kitchen and garden, with two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. Winkworth Tooting 020 8767 5221
A fabulous family house in Moring Road has four bedrooms and a vast garden as well as an impressively extended kitchen. It’s very close to Tooting Bec Common and is for sale at £1.25m through Winkworth Tooting 020 8767 5221