Why the "Garage Gap" in CB23 is Widening: A Surprising Tale of Two Postcodes – September 2026
Imagine for a second that back in 2019, instead of putting your money in a savings account, you decided to buy a classic Lego set, a vintage car, and a house in Bourn. While the Lego might be gathering dust and the car needs a new gearbox, your bricks and mortar in the CB23 area have been doing something far more exciting behind your back.
This time last year, the big bosses at the Bank of England were keeping a very tight lid on things, but today, with the base rate sitting at 3.75%, the "price of borrowing money" has settled down just enough to make people feel brave again. However, that bravery is showing up in very different ways depending on whether you’re looking at a cosy flat in Cambourne or a big garden in Caldecote.
The Big Ladder: From Flats to Family Homes
Right now, if you want to pick up the keys to a flat in CB23, you’re looking at an average price of £196,178. But here’s the "did you know" moment: moving from that flat into a terraced house costs an extra £84,000. That is essentially the price of a really posh supercar just to gain a front door that opens onto the street!
If you want to go even bigger, a semi-detached home is averaging £377,935, while a detached family home is sitting at £627,780. The gap between a semi and a detached house in our neck of the woods is now £249,845. Think about that—that price difference alone could buy you a whole other house in some parts of the UK!
The 7-Year Winning Streak
Here is where it gets really interesting. If we look back seven years, not all homes have grown up at the same speed.
- Semi-detached owners are the big winners; their homes have increased in value by a whopping £77,543 since 2019.
- Terraced house owners aren't far behind, seeing their "paper wealth" grow by £56,664.
- Detached homes have jumped up by £53,300.
- Flat owners have seen a smaller, but still steady, increase of £14,082.
Why the big difference? Well, over the last few years, everyone started craving "elbow room." Because there are only 4 properties currently for sale across the whole of CB23, it’s a total "sellers' market." When there’s less to go around, the homes with gardens and extra rooms for desks and toys become like gold dust.
What’s Happening Behind the Scenes?
You might hear on the news that inflation is at 3.1%, which means the price of a loaf of bread or a pint of milk is still creeping up. But because people's paycheques are actually growing faster (at 4%), many of your neighbours are finding they can afford a slightly bigger mortgage than they thought.
However, the "squeeze" is real for people buying their very first home. Because the Bank of England rate is still higher than it was a few years ago, the demand for flats has slowed down, while the demand for family houses is through the roof.
Matt’s Bottom Line for September
If you’re sitting in a detached home right now, you’re in the driving seat. With so few homes on the market, you are holding a very rare ticket.
If you’re a first-time buyer, don't be discouraged by the flats. While they haven't grown in value as fast as the big houses, they represent the "calmest" part of the market. It’s a chance to get into CB23 without getting into a frantic bidding war.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, I expect the "middle" of the market—those lovely terraced and semi-detached homes—to keep performing the best. They are the "Goldilocks" properties: not too expensive to heat, but big enough to grow into.