THAME has seen the fifth highest house price rise in the country over the past six months, while Oxfordshire sellers are getting almost their full asking price, new figures reveal.

Last night, good transport links, quality schooling and proximity to London were cited as the reasons Thame has seen its property values soar by 7.6 per cent from £323,119 to £347,807.

Experts say they are not surprised by the findings of the survey which places Thame as the town with the fifth fastest house price rises in the country.

Across Oxfordshire, sellers are attracting 99.1 per cent of the asking price of their property, the highest figure in the country outside of London.

Oxford Mail:

  • A two-bed flat in Thame’s Pym Walk could cost you £154,950

Martin Colomb, associate partner with Thames estate agent Tim Russ, said: “Thame has become very popular with people moving out of London because they can commute easily. The train is just 15 minutes to Oxford and 35 minutes to Marylebone.

“Buyers are also gaining much more for their money. We had one client recently who sold a one bedroom apartment in London and bought a five bedroom house in Thame and still had change.

“It has always been a nice place to live but in the last few months it has become much busier with some properties selling within a couple of days of going on the market.”

Other factors attracting people to Thame include Lord Williams’s School described as “outstanding” in a 2011 Ofsted report and a good range of independent shops and restaurants in the High Street.

Andrew Murray, owner of Andrew Murray estate agents in Thame, said: “It is a very attractive town with boutique shops and free car parking.

“We are also seeing retired people selling their larger properties for something smaller in the town centre.”

Nigel Champken-Woods, councillor for Thame’s North Ward who was mayor in 2006 and 2012, said: “Transport links are very good with the trains and the M40 nearby.

“It is also such a nice place to live with its market and theatre and crime is low.

Oxford Mail:

  • A two-bed flat with a garden in Thame’s Park Street is on offer for £249,995

“In the Neighbourhood Plan we will see more than 700 more homes built in Thame along with a new trading estate creating opportunities. It is a vibrant, growing town.”

Meanwhile, experts are not surprised to see the county at the top of the list for attracting the asking price or above for house sales.

Robin Swailes, director of North Oxford Property Services in Jericho, said: “There are signs of international investors coming in including the Chinese as there is more value in rental yields than London. Then there is the high standards of the schools and the quality of life.”#

What you will get in Thame

Oxford Mail:

  • A five-bed terraced house in Thame’s High Street could set you back £1,250,000

A two-bed flat in Thame’s Pym Walk could cost you £154,950. The ground floor leasehold maisonette has two double bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bathroom.

A two-bed flat with a garden in Thame’s Park Street is on offer for £249,995. The flat is near the town centre and has a cellar, sitting room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom.

A three-bed terrace in High Street, Thame, is on offer for £540,000. The town centre house has three bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, dining room, kitchen and garden.

A five-bed terraced house in Thame’s High Street could set you back £1,250,000. The grade-II listed townhouse dates back to the 1700s. It has two bathrooms, three reception rooms, a garage with parking for three cars, and large garden.