The Great CB23 Flip: Why Smaller Homes are Growing Four Times Faster Than Detached Houses in September 2026
Did you know that over the last seven years, a humble terraced house in our area has grown in value by 9.1%, while a big detached house has only managed 2.8%? That means the smaller homes are growing nearly four times faster! It’s like the tortoise and the hare, and right now, the tortoise is winning the race.
What does a home cost in CB23 today?
If you’re out house-hunting in Toft or Comberton, the price tag depends heavily on how many walls you share with your neighbours. Here is the current breakdown of what people are asking for:
- Detached Houses: £543,192
- Semi-Detached: £373,331
- Terraced Homes: £315,328
- Flats: £161,167
To put that in perspective, the gap between a terraced house and a semi-detached is about £58,000. In real-world terms, that’s roughly the price of a really fancy garden room, a new driveway, and a high-spec kitchen upgrade all rolled into one.
The 7-Year Money Map
This is where it gets really interesting for your bank balance. If you bought a terraced house seven years ago for £288,967, it’s now worth £315,328. You’ve seen your home grow by over £26,000 just by living in it!
Compare that to someone who bought a flat. Back then, a flat cost £205,296, but today they are asking roughly £161,167. That’s a drop of over £44,000. While the rest of the market has been climbing a hill, flats have been on a bit of a slide.
Why is this happening? (The Big Picture)
You might wonder why a smaller house is outperforming a big one. It all comes down to the "Big Boss" in London—the Bank of England. With the base rate sitting at 3.75% and inflation at 3.1%, life has become a bit more expensive for everyone.
When things get pricier, people’s budgets get squeezed. Instead of stretching for a huge detached house in Elsworth, more people are competing for the "mid-range" homes—the terraces and semis. Because so many people want them, the prices for those homes stay strong and keep growing. Meanwhile, first-time buyers are finding it tougher to get started, which has cooled the demand for flats.
What should you do?
- If you own a semi or terrace: You are sitting on the "goldilocks" property of CB23. Demand is high because you offer the best balance of space and price.
- If you own a detached home: Don't panic. While growth is slower (up £15,027 over 7 years), these homes are still the "forever" goal for many. With earnings growing at 4% nationally, people will eventually have more cash in their pockets to move up to your level.
- If you are buying: Terraced houses are the "smart money" right now, but if you can find a flat that suits you, you might be getting a bargain compared to what they cost a few years ago.
Looking ahead to the next twelve months, I expect the "middle" of the market to stay the busiest. As long as mortgage approvals stay around the 58,000 mark, we’ll see a steady, healthy flow of neighbours moving around our beautiful villages.