Whether buying your own home or for investment, we'd all prefer to put our money where it will grow and, in all markets, some areas fare better than others. But what boosts value to make a spot positively scorching, as opposed to distinctly chilly? Plenty of good schools and excellent transport links, suggests Alastair Hancock from Jackson-Stops & Staff's Sevenoaks office (01732 740600).

'Sevenoaks School with its International Baccalaureate programme draws people from abroad as well as the UK,' Hancock explains. 'Also, it is only a 30 minute train journey from Sevenoaks station to London Bridge. Ebbsfleet International station is only 18 miles away arriving in Lille in 70 minutes, Paris two hours and five minutes and Brussels one hour and 40 minutes.'



A three to four-bedroom house within walking distance of the station costs from £600,000 to £750,000, while a four to fivebed house ranges from £750,000 to £1 million, adds Hancock.

Recently voted best village in England, Cerne Abbas with its white chalk giant etched into the hillside is well positioned between the towns of Dorchester and Sherborne. This historic site attracts visitors and homeowners alike with its great facilities, believes Ashley Rawlings in Jackson-Stops & Staff's Dorchester office (01305 262123). 'There are three pubs, a good village store and post office, antiques shop, doctor's surgery, craft shop, bed and breakfasts, tea rooms and a regular bus service.'

Cheryl Markosky is a freelance national property journalist. She is a regular contributor to the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and various magazines including She, Property Review and The Hill.

Another attraction is aesthetically pleasing listed period buildings, which protect the look and ambience of the place. 'People are prepared to pay a premium to live in such pleasant surroundings,' Rawlings says. Homes in Cerne Abbas sell for around 26% more than the average price across Dorset and 10% of properties sell for more than half a million pounds.

Currently, Rawlings is selling a period mid-terrace four bedroom house with a lovely garden next to the church for £650,000 and a new thatched four bedroom home on the edge of the village for £610,000.

New educational facilities leading to higher employment can buck up an area, like the expansion of the University of York, due to double in size over the next few years, according to Bryan Jaram in Jackson- Stops & Staff's York office (01904 625033).

'The science park will expand on the back of university research, bringing more jobs and improving the economy,' he points out. A recent report says the historic city of York is the second most inflation-proof city after Cambridge, because of its good communication links (London is less than two hours away by train) and good value for money. A typical four-bed early Victorian or Georgian townhouse near the centre costs £750,000 to £800,000.

Buy to let is sound too, 'with academics on secondment needing somewhere to rent along with professionals working at companies like Norwich Union,' Jaram adds. He is marketing a £1.295million large Georgian house with a walled garden and separate cottage, ideal for a homeowner who might want to let this separate building.



Above: Cerne Abbas, Dorset, £650,000 guide

Top: Cerne Abbas, Dorset, £610,000 guide
Above left: York, £1.0 million guide (excluding separate cottage)