Your Move Chatham Area guide

The property market in Chatham is thriving, with demand coming from London buyers moving out of the capital, investment buyers and local families. It is one of the few places in the south that you can still purchase a good size family home under the £250,000 mark. First time buyers flock to the area, as there is still a lot to be had that is even under the stamp duty level of £125,000. From Chatham we sell property in the Dockyard and St Mary's Island.

Many commuters are drawn to the area due to the fantastic connections to the city. There is still a strong local community with many families having lived and worked in the area for many years. Many people are attracted to the area for work. With a huge regeneration project in Medway there has been a surge in the number of university workers and students. The historic dockyard area attracts work and the area has taken a real upward turn in recent years.

Chatham is known for its historic dockyard. Many generations of shipbuilders were born and raised in Chatham. The dockyard grew to be one of the largest in Britain but it closed in 1984, however the impressive Georgian site has now become a popular tourist attraction. The location is now regularly used for TV and film locations featuring in Downton Abbey and even James Bond!

Emma Connor Sales Consultant at Your Move Chatham lives and works in the town, "I love Chatham, there is always something going on. The house prices meant we were able to buy a fabulous house for a lot less then other areas. I find it exciting. The development and infrastructure of the town seems to change weekly".

Chatham has a mixture of architecture. Prominent around the town centre is a large volume of 1930s and Victorian housing. Georgian splendour can be found towards the dockyard. There have also been a number of new build developments over the past few years. The old All Saints hospital site was developed and has added modern town housing, apartments and family homes. The Eye is also an impressive selection of apartments.

As well as several hundred new homes, there is a primary school and community church.

Chatham is a fast paced market. The area has seen amazing re-development over the years. There is much more to come and it has been noted as an investment hotspot. Property can still be picked up under £100,000. With the rental market rising there has been a surge in investment buyers.

Among the most sought after addresses are St Mary's Island and of course the historic dockyard area. This is a secured gated area and maintained to a high standard, making this a real prestige location.

The rental market much like the sales market in Chatham is absolutely booming. This is mainly due to the re-development and the influx of Londoners moving out of the city due to the competitive pricing in the area. Investors are buying up property and renting it out.

The dockyard has in the last decade been completely redeveloped. There is now a big selection of restaurants with al-fresco dining facilities for a summer's day. St Mary's Island has The Ship and Trades with fantastic food and views over the river. Chatham itself has a number of restaurants and the old high street offers mixed cuisine to suit all tastes. Shopping is getting better and better with many more high street brands moving in. There are plans for further development of the town centre facilities.

Chatham has so much to offer to families from state of the art cinemas, to bowling alleys. Diggerland is a Kent theme park not far from Chatham located in Rochester. Dickens World is a great day out. The Central Theatre has many West End Shows and the Brook offers something for everyone.

The new bus station was developed in Chatham a few years ago and now provides amazing services around Kent. The trains run to London Cannon Street, London Victoria, London Bridge and now St Pancras in under an hour.