Snookered! Luxury £1.25m Essex home owned by Steve Davis still on the market, but the legend of the green baize stands to make a half-a-million pound profit (if he can find a buyer)

  • EXCLUSIVE: The Grade II listed property in Stock, Essex, is on the market for £1.25m
  • Steve Davis bought the property almost a decade ago in the summer of 2010 for £735,000
  • The four-bedroom detached house boasts a conservatory, walled garden and plenty of period features

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He had a reputation in the 1980s for being a 'boring' snooker player and was even given the ironic nickname 'Interesting' by TV's Spitting Image.

But it was cool-headedness in high-pressure situations that helped Steve Davis make it to eight World Snooker Championship finals and become the face of the sport. 

And it could also reveal him to be a shrewd operator in the property market, as his attractive home in Essex is for sale with a guide price of £1,250,000. 

Having bought it almost a decade ago - in the summer of 2010 for £735,000 - he stands to make a cool 'profit' of £515,000 - but only if he holds out and finds a buyer willing to pay the current asking price.

Where's the 'cue' to buy it? Snooker player Steve Davis put his attractive Essex home on the market for £1.25m last summer

Where's the 'cue' to buy it? Snooker player Steve Davis put his attractive Essex home on the market for £1.25m last summer

Pot black: Steve Davis is a legend in the world of snooker having won six world titles

Pot black: Steve Davis is a legend in the world of snooker having won six world titles

That works out at nearly £60,000 per year of price growth - more than twice the national average annual salary - if he manages to secure a buyer for the price it is listed for. 

The attractive four-bedroom property has been on the market since last July, but has so far failed to sell.

It has been a challenging time in the housing market amid the uncertainty of Brexit and the toll of high moving costs, particular for higher-priced properties that have been hit by stamp duty hikes. 

Anyone considering buying the property would have to pay £68,750 in stamp duty. If the buyer already owns another home, then the stamp duty would jump significiantly to £106,250 due to the three per cent stamp duty surcharge on second homes. 

The snooker champion and BBC commentator will walk away with a £515,000 profit before tax and any expenses - such as solicitor's and estate agent's fees - if he can offload the property without reducing the existing asking price.

The exterior of the front of the house is particular pretty at this time of year as it covered in a blanket of purple wisteria

The exterior of the front of the house is particular pretty at this time of year as it covered in a blanket of purple wisteria

The World Championship final between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor
It is widely considered to be the most famous match in snooker history

The most famous match in snooker history? The 1985 World Championship final between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor

The Grade II listed property is called Brick House and is on the high street in the popular village of Stock, six miles south of Chelmsford, Essex. It boasts a conservatory, walled garden and plenty of period features. 

The exterior of the front of the house is particular pretty at this time of year as it covered in a blanket of purple wisteria. 

Pictured from left to right: World champions Steve Davis and Mark Selby, and businessman Fred Done

Pictured from left to right: World champions Steve Davis and Mark Selby, and businessman Fred Done

Attractive purchase: The Essex property is currently vacant, meaning there is no chain for potential buyers

Attractive purchase: The Essex property is currently vacant, meaning there is no chain for potential buyers  

Period features: This living area has a brick fireplace and grey panelled walls walls, with a door to the conservatory

Period features: This living area has a brick fireplace and grey panelled walls walls, with a door to the conservatory

The finer details: There is decorative glass in the windows and doors throughout the house

The finer details: There is decorative glass in the windows and doors throughout the house

The sale of his property is taking far longer than Steve's infamous 1985 Word Championship final.

The 'black ball' final is widely considered to be the most famous match in snooker history, holding the record for Britain's largest after-midnight television audience with 18.5million viewers.

The total match time of 14 hours 50 minutes is the longest for a best-of-35 frame game, with his opponent Dennis Taylor winning, 18 frames to 17. 

Three years later, Steve won the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year and he remains the only snooker player ever to win the award.

As well as continuing to play professional snooker, he is a BBC commentator with the final of the World Championships taking place this weekend at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. 

Outdoor space: The large walled garden mainly consist of a lawn area that is perfect for a family

Outdoor space: The large walled garden mainly consist of a lawn area that is perfect for a family

There are period features throughout the property, including wooden beams on the walls and ceilings

There are period features throughout the property, including wooden beams on the walls and ceilings

Keeping warm and cosy: There are several fireplaces in the house, including this brick version

Keeping warm and cosy: There are several fireplaces in the house, including this brick version

There is a garden patio area at the rear of the large house and a door to the garage

There is a garden patio area at the rear of the large house and a door to the garage

The attractive four-bedroom property in Stock Village has been on the market since July last year

The attractive four-bedroom property in Stock Village has been on the market since July last year

Entertaining space: The kitchen leads through to the dining area in the modern conservatory

Entertaining space: The kitchen leads through to the dining area in the modern conservatory

Original features: There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms at the Essex home

Original features: There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms at the Essex home

A light and bright modern kitchen has been installed with white cabinets and chrome accessories

A light and bright modern kitchen has been installed with white cabinets and chrome accessories

The conservatory overlooks the garden and is the perfect space for eating and entertaining

The conservatory overlooks the garden and is the perfect space for eating and entertaining 

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO LIVE IN STOCK?

Stock is one of the most affluent villages in Essex - and homes frequently command seven-figure sums, says a local resident. It is sandwiched in the triangle of town Billericay, village Ingatestone and city Chelmsford.

Billericay train station is roughly a 10 minute drive away, and it is half an hour into London Liverpool Street from there.

Meanwhile, Chelmsford is roughly a 15 minute drive – or bus ride away – and its recently renovated Bond Street area now has a John Lewis department store.

The village benefits from three stellar pubs, with the pick of the bunch being The Hoop, which is frequently packed out at the weekend and holds an immensely popular beer festival.

It is also home to an award winning florist, a cute café called Dandelion and a recently renovated bar-stroke-hotel, the Havard.

Roughly 2,000 people live in the village, many of whom are city slickers commuting into the capital. It is the ultimate stockbroker place to live, thanks to its name.

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