Reading is a key London commuter town, and with the latest regeneration and investment taking place there, it’s set to become an even more appealing place to invest.
With its close proximity to London but boasting more affordable property prices, Reading is proving to be especially appealing for young professionals and families.
New research by credit experts TotallyMoney revealed residents of Reading have the highest take-home salary out of all UK cities with £2,364.68. This is one of the reasons it’s been named the third best city in the UK for single young professionals.
A significant amount of housing and development is under construction near Reading train station, which is likely to be especially attractive for London-based workers as Crossrail will make Reading an even more commuter-friendly town. Once Crossrail fully opens in 2021, six trains with direct services to the West End, the City and docklands will pass through Reading every hour.
In addition to its close proximity to London, Reading itself is a commercial and business centre in its own right. The town has a leading tech hub and is even dubbed the “Silicon Valley of the UK” with a tech density eight times that of the rest of the UK. The city is home to numerous multi-national businesses, such as Microsoft, Huawei, Cisco, Intel, Oracle and Ericsson.
Top UK city to raise a family in
Reading has also recently been named the best city in the UK to raise a family, according to the recent study by TotallyMoney. The southern town is considered the safest in the UK with only 4.68 crimes per 1,000 people in a month. There are also a range of excellent rated schools with 88% of schools in Reading rated outstanding and good by Ofsted.
The average house price is £305,744 in Reading, which provides much more affordable options than the capital. From new developments to period properties, large flats to houses, there are a range of property types and property investment opportunities in the town centre.