More and more people are looking for houses for sale in Grays in Essex. The town has been on the up for the past few years, with many first-time buyers attracted by the relatively affordable house prices compared with other commuter towns. Read on to find out why you should consider moving to Grays.

Easy commute to London

Commuter towns have been growing around the capital for years, with many people seeking properties further afield due to the lower prices. Grays has long been a popular commuter town, however, it’s fast becoming even more desirable. Located on the north bank of the River Thames, it is approximately 20 miles to Central London, and two miles east of the M25 motorway. This means it takes just 41 minutes to reach Fenchurch Street Station, an ideal drop-off for city slickers. If you want to live within an hour’s commute of the capital, Grays is a great choice.

Affordable properties

It’s not just the easy commute to London that has house buyers interested in Grays. Property prices are pretty cheap here too. Whilst the average house price in London now stands at a staggering £707,859 according to Rightmove, homes in Grays have an average price of only £328,241. That’s a massive saving. The majority of house sales in Grays over the past year were terraced properties, selling at an average price of £313,146. Flats sold for £204,820 on average whilst semi-detached homes fetched £389,579.

Decent schools

Grays has several decent schools, with more than a handful ranked as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. Harris Academy in Chafford Hundred and Quarry Hill Academy are two of the best ranked, whilst Treetops School – an all-through special school for students with moderate learning difficulties, autism, and speech and language problems is also highly revered. Whatever age your child is at and whatever their educational needs, you can expect to find a school to support their learning.

Major regeneration projects

Grays was recently awarded £19.9 million as a part of the government’s Towns Fund scheme, ensuring that major regeneration works are on the way. This is exciting news for residents of the town, with proposals including reconnecting the town with the river and creating a brand new riverfront destination. There are also plans to revitalise Grays Shopping Centre as well as the whole town centre in general.

The aim is to boost the retail and leisure opportunities on offer and boost the night-time and leisure economy within the town. Real estate investment trust, NewRiver, says: “There is now an opportunity to redevelop an ageing shopping centre to create a new town square, where people can meet, sit, and enjoy a greener Grays, throughout the day and into the evening.”

There’s no denying that Grays receives criticism for its crime rate and antisocial behaviour. However, it has a lot going for it and is well worth considering if you’re looking for an affordable commuter town with great schooling opportunities. There are a wide range of houses for sale in Grays right now