Demand for Yorkshire's coast pushes asking prices for sea view homes up 53 per cent
The dream of waking up to a view of the sea is becoming increasingly expensive – and nowhere is that more apparent than in Yorkshire, where the value of homes overlooking the coast has climbed faster than almost anywhere else in Britain.
Recent figures from Rightmove show that Yorkshire and the Humber has recorded a 53 per cent increase in the average asking price of sea view properties since 2019, second only to the East Midlands. The region's average asking price for a home with a sea view has risen from £160,771 to £245,119 over the past seven years.
The increase far outstrips the national average. Across Great Britain, the average asking price for a sea view home has climbed by 27 per cent, from £235,635 in 2019 to £298,810 today. By comparison, the average asking price for all homes has increased by 22 per cent over the same period.
Estate agents say Yorkshire's coastline continues to attract buyers thanks to its accessibility, character and comparatively affordable prices.
Edward Hartshorne, managing director of Blenkin & Co, which has a number of propeties with sea views for sale, says: "It's all about accessibility and quality. If you think about the sheer volume of people who live within about an hour and a half's drive of the Yorkshire coast, it's a considerable amount.
"We are quite lucky in Yorkshire, you can get to the coast quite quickly. We have a particularly good coastline. It's a good package – it's pretty, it's interesting, there's history, shops and restaurants. There's a lot going for it and there are facilities and infrastructure unlike some other regions."
From Whitby and Scarborough to Filey and Bridlington, the county's coastline has long appealed to buyers looking for a lifestyle change without the price tags seen in southern seaside hotspots.
Colleen Babcock, Rightmove's property expert, says: "A sea view has long been seen as one of the most desirable features a home can offer, and our latest analysis shows buyers are willing to pay a significant premium for one.
"While some of Britain's most prestigious coastal locations continue to command the highest prices, we're also seeing notable growth in more affordable seaside areas, suggesting that sea view homes are becoming increasingly valuable across a wider range of the market.”
However, estate agents say the headline figures tell only part of the story.
Jon Burghope, director of Hope & Braim in Whitby, says the market experienced a huge surge in values following the pandemic, but believes prices have since cooled. "Everybody saw a big spike in prices post-Covid.
"There has been a correction since about 2023, with prices coming back down. The doubling of council tax on second homes has also had a big impact on the holiday home market here, so prices are falling further in that sector."
Sea views remain one of the most sought-after features, he adds, largely because genuinely uninterrupted coastal views are relatively rare. "A lot of Whitby’s older housing stock from the 1700s and 1800s was built around the harbour, facing away from the sea because that's where the bad weather came from.
"If you've got a proper sea view you'll always command a premium because there simply aren't that many of them."
Jon believes the data masks what’s really happening in Yorkshire’s coastal market. "Compared with 2020, when there was a real shortage of homes, there's now plenty of stock available and a lot of it isn't shifting because owners are still looking back to 2021, 2022 and 2023 when everything was selling for top dollar,” he says. “Prices have come down, but many sellers are reluctant to acknowledge that."
He adds that the gap between asking prices and achieved sale prices remains significant. "Owners almost always overvalue their homes. In our area there's quite a big difference between what properties are marketed for and what they actually sell for."
Elsewhere in Britain, the South East remains the most expensive region for sea view homes, with an average asking price of £416,375, followed by the South West at £398,764. Scotland is the most affordable, at £166,068.
Ian Harris, president of NAEA Propertymark, says: "The pandemic prompted many people to reassess what they wanted from their home, with lifestyle, wellbeing and access to outdoor spaces becoming increasingly important considerations.
"Whilst the market has since stabilised, those changing priorities have left a lasting legacy, and many coastal locations continue to attract buyers who value quality of life alongside their property investment.”