A recent study has shed light on an interesting trend: living near a nudist beach can result in a significant decrease in house prices, knocking off an average of £16,000 from property values. The allure of baring it all in the buff, right on your doorstep, seems to have a peculiar impact on real estate values.
Researchers delved into the home values surrounding 39 of Britain’s finest naturist beaches, comparing them to other properties in the same towns. The results showed that, on average, homes near nudist beaches were priced at £308,476, in contrast to the wider local authority district average of £324,450. This translates to a drop of approximately £15,974, accounting for a 5% decrease in value.
Interestingly, of the 39 nudist beach postcodes analyzed, 25 of them boasted house prices below the average of their wider local areas. The YO11 postcode area, housing Cayton Bay’s nudist beach near Scarborough, took the hardest hit, with an average house price of £152,187, substantially lower than the wider North Yorkshire average of £283,687, resulting in a staggering 46% reduction in value.
Similarly, West Shore Walney Island’s nudist beach saw a 46% decrease in house prices compared to the wider LA district of Westmorland and Furness. In contrast, some nudist beaches demonstrated impressive house price premiums, such as Moor Sands in Devon, where the average price of £739,455 soared 89% higher than the wider South Hams area average of £392,055.
Nudist beaches in Norfolk, such as Wells and Holkham, commanded a house price premium of 56%, while Cornwall’s Porthzennor Cove and Porth Kidney boasted premiums of 19%.
James Forrester, the Managing Director of Barrows and Forrester estate and lettings agents, remarked on the findings, saying, “If you go down to the beach today, you’re in for a big surprise. I’m talking, of course, about the fact that local house prices could well be much cheaper than you expect, but only if there is a nudist colony nearby.”
He pondered whether the price deficit could be attributed to the British aversion to public nudity or if nudist enthusiasts deliberately sought out more secluded beaches away from mainstream tourist spots.
For prospective homebuyers keen on coastal living without the usual price premiums, living near a nudist beach might just be the unconventional yet cost-effective solution. However, they must be prepared to embrace a unique lifestyle that involves occasionally encountering more than they bargained for during their morning dog walks.