In the more expensive suburbs of Cardiff it can be a challenge to find a house that offers a buyer a way into the location on a lower budget.
But if you consistently look hard enough sometimes a bargain hiding on a popular street can be found - a property that is on the market for considerably lower than the road's average price paid and value or the last sale of a comparable house.
If you are willing to do some work, most of it cosmetic, and have the patience to play hide and seek on one or all of the online property portals, you may unearth a house nestled within a location you didn't think you could afford.
Of course a number of large, expensive houses or blocks of apartments on a street can have an impact on the average price paid and value, but the figure does give an indication on the level of budget ordinarily needed by house hunters to be able to move into that location.
Pontcanna: £285,000
If you're willing to drop a bedroom number, or extend to the edge of a chosen suburb, then there are houses on the market that can offer an opportunity to live in a popular area for less expense and less cosmetic work.
Pontcanna is an area of the city that has become so expensive and exclusive that the ripple effect of house hunters being priced out of the market into the neighbouring suburb of Canton has seen that adjacent area's average house price rise by almost 20% over the past five years.
Sacrifice some space for the location and you might even find a home that is move-in ready like this stylish two bedroom terrace on Llanfair Road.
No need for any DIY, it has been modernised to create a super stylish space and no need to worry about being on the fringes of all that Pontcanna can offer a resident, this house is right in the heart of the action.
Around one corner is Pontcanna and Llandaff fields and around another are boutique shops, cafes and popular pubs.
A walk to work in the city centre is just a 20 minute stroll or 10 minute dash through the fields and Bute Park too.
According to property portal Zoopla, Llanfair Road has an average house value of £379,555. So this home's price tag of £285,000 is considerably lower.
By dropping at least one bedroom and opting for a terrace you can find a very well located property significantly under this average, even a modern and stylish abode that needs no work. A bargain doesn't always mean a renovation project if you are a flexible buyer.
This home is currently on the market with estate agent Jeffrey Ross, register your interest by calling the Pontcanna branch on 029 2049 9680 or emailing via the company's website.
Whitchurch: £300,000
Finding a detached house for sale in the family friendly suburb of Whitchurch for a reasonable budget is quite a challenge, so it's always a good idea to have a rummage through property auction catalogues.
Of course, the prices listed are only guide prices and depending on the popularity of the lot and the budget of the competitive bidders, the final price could go significantly higher.
Whitchurch is an area that still feels like a village that has been swallowed up by the sprawling expansion of the capital city.
There's a bustling high street packed with independent shops, pubs and cafes as well as a number of well-known brand names.
At the main crossroads of the village there's an historic church and the location can also boast a pretty park surrounding the library and a village common regularly used for local events.
The area is popular with families due to its good schools in the medium of English and Welsh, plus a local events calendar that promotes a community spirit.
This detached three-bedroom property can be found just off the southern end of the main street and Whitchurch common, within a quiet collection of residential roads.
The current average value of a detached property on Caegwyn Road is estimated by Zoopla as currently being £389,351, so if a buyer can secure the property at somewhere near the guide price, they will have secured a prime piece of suburban real estate on a good sized plot.
The chalet style bungalow currently has a lounge, kitchen, dining room and a bedroom on the ground floor and the remaining two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor.
The house is in need of a full property renovation as it is currently a specimen of retro 1960s and 1970s interior design, including swirly brown carpets and a bright turquoise bathroom suite.
According to the auction house due to conduct an online property auction in which this house is for sale, the property is a "fantastic investment opportunity".
The property was due to go under the hammer as part of an online auction with All Wales Auction on Wednesday April 22, but check the current details by visiting their website at allwalesauction.com
Cyncoed: £400,000 - £460,000
One of the most sought after roads in the capital for status as an address is an address on Cyncoed Road.
Although a busy street, it is lined with distinctive, large, predominantly detached houses that are always popular when and if they ever go on the market.
According to Zoopla the current average value of the street is £806,733 - this home's asking price is almost half that figure.
Of course, the average figure is influenced by the size of the house and the plot, plus the style of the home inside and out, but taking these factors into account, this house for sale on the street seems like a bargain at £346,000.
Cyncoed is arguably one of the most prestigious suburbs of the capital, stretching out from Roath Park Lake and full of quiet, leafy houses on large plots and in the catchment area of popular Cardiff High School.
This four-bedroom detached house on the street is in need of modernisation, but with such a lower than average price tag that is surely to be expected.
The ground floor has already been extended a number of times and currently offers a new owner on this floor four reception rooms, a kitchen / breakfast room, utility room and one of the bedrooms and bathrooms.
Upstairs there are three generous bedrooms including the master and another bathroom.
Although once this period property finds a new owner these modifications could end up biting the dust.
To register your interest in this property contact estate agent Moginine James at their Cyncoed branch on 029 2076 1999 or email aaron@moginiejames.co.uk
Lisvane: £460,000
Just down the road from Lisvane Primary school, open fields and the village centre of the very popular and affluent suburb of Lisvane, this four bedroom detached property is well placed to enjoy everything the location has to offer.
Surrounded by quiet, residential streets yet with transport links into the city centre this area currently feels almost semi-rural.
As part of Cardiff's development plan there is a new housing development called Churchlands due to be built over the next few years to the east and south of the suburb, but the mix of spacious homes from all decades of house building will continue to attract families to the area.
If you're planning house improvements, these tips might help:
Detached houses on Millbrook Park have a current average value of £563,922 according to Zoopla, although the last sale on the street was a five bedroom house selling for £600,000 in June 2019.
This four bedroom, detached mid-century house has a current guide price of £460,000 - £475,000 and has the spacious rooms so often found in homes built in this era, although there is plenty of scope to increase the size and the value of this abode.
The kitchen and dining room are crying out to be combined and new bi-fold doors then added overlooking the good sized rear garden.
There's even the chance to incorporate the lounge into these changes and create the ultimate open-plan living space.
There's a huge garage that could easily be converted into a reception room or even an annexe, as there's plenty of parking space on the property's long driveway.
Upstairs there are four bedrooms and a bathroom but opportunity to either extend into the loft or out into the garden, as some of the neighbours have done, could all be consider but would all be subject to achieving planning consent.
The home is immaculately presented throughout with modern bathrooms and kitchen welcome additions, so no need for any DIY, although a new owner might consider putting their own personal interior style on the home.
The house is currently on the market for a guide price of between £460,000 - £475,000 with estate agent Pinkmove, call them on 01633 746088 to register your interest or email team@pinkmove.co.uk
Radyr: £565,000
Dan-y-Bryn Avenue is one of the main residential streets in the northern Cardiff suburb of Radyr.
Situated on the very edge of the capital, the area is popular with families due to a variety of factors including good schools, a sense of community, road and rail links to the capital and beyond, and a semi-rural feel to the location.
The suburb has a library, golf course, tennis club, a village high street with cafes, shops and a post office and a popular garden centre.
Currently, there is a scheme of new house building underway on the eastern edge of the suburb, as part of the development of new housing across the east of the capital called Plasdwr. Find out more about there here.
This may have an impact on house prices within the immediate area as supply increases to meet the demand of people wanting to live in this area.
But for anyone who is looking for a period property within the very heart of the suburb, Dan-y-Bryn Avenue could be a perfect choice.
The road is a winding collection of mainly detached, mid-century homes, including bungalows.
According to Zoopla the last detached home on the street sold for £647,000 in September 2019 and was a four bedroom detached home.
This three bedroom 1930s house is a large detached property on the street which would currently make a fantastic home for a family and is on the market for £82,000 less than the last sale on the street.
All bedrooms are doubles, there are two spacious reception rooms, and the house already has an open-plan kitchen / breakfast room.
An extensive mature garden with uninterrupted views of woodland is a popular feature of this particular street location.
The potential at the property for just a make-over is obvious, but the possibilities for the future of this house is considerably more if the buyer has the budget.
To register your interest in this property contact estate agent David's Homes on 029 2030 3030 or info@davidshomes.co.uk
According to the estate agent selling the house, there is currently granted planning permission for a single and two-storey side extension to create a stunning five bedroom family home.
These additions could make this house smash the ceiling price of this road as well as smash the currently dormant potential of this property.
