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Property investment stats for Bournemouth, South West

A complete guide to property investment in Bournemouth.

Last updated: 30 June 2026

Investment summary

Bournemouth is a lively coastal town with a strong presence of students and young professionals, which is reflected in its high private rented housing and a significant proportion of single occupier households. The area offers a balanced property market with a price-to-income ratio of 5.6, making it relatively accessible compared to many other parts of the country. Liquidity is reasonable, with homes spending an average of 66 days on the market and a steady stream of 2,437 transactions each year. The typical discount to asking price is £5,000 (the typical achieved discount), suggesting there is some room for negotiation but not excessive downward pressure.

Image of Bournemouth, South West

Key investment stats for Bournemouth

Median price per sq ft

£359 / sq ft

Average rental yield

6.0%

Capital growth (1y)

-0.1%

Sales in past year

2,437

* Property stats calculated for last full calendar year (2024).

Live property stats in Bournemouth

Live prices in Bournemouth, South West

* Extreme prices clipped for legibility

Properties for sale

Median price

£300,000

25% of properties below...

£200,000

75% of properties below...

£450,000

Most expensive property

£3,000,000

Live listings

2,868

Median days on market

66

Should you invest in Bournemouth?

Opportunities

  • Rental yields are appealing, with an average of 6.0% and the top-performing postcode district reaching 6.9%, making the area attractive for buy-to-let investors.
  • The strong student population and high proportion of young renters (both in the top percentiles nationally) help underpin rental demand and reduce void periods.
  • Median asking rents for both houses and flats (£1,725 and £1,250) are healthy relative to local incomes, providing a solid income stream.

Risks

  • Capital growth over the past year has changed by -0.1%, which may give some investors pause if short-term appreciation is a priority.
  • The area has a high unemployment rate percentile, which could impact tenant reliability and local demand in tougher economic periods.
  • Owner-occupier rates are low (in the lower quartile nationally), so the market is more susceptible to shifts in the rental sector or regulatory changes affecting landlords.

Outlook

Looking ahead, Bournemouth's property market appears stable, with three-year capital growth of 7.1% and annualised growth at 2.3%. The combination of a large student base, a high proportion of younger adults, and strong rental yields should continue to support demand for rental properties. While the owner-occupier market is less dominant, the private rental sector's strength means investors can expect ongoing interest from tenants.

Affordability remains reasonable, and the current asking prices for both houses (£400,000) and flats (£235,000) are not out of reach for many buyers. Overall, while rapid capital appreciation may not be on the cards, steady rental income and consistent demand make Bournemouth a solid choice for investors focused on income and stability.

Live properties in Bournemouth

Investment properties in Bournemouth, South West

2 bedroom retirement property for sale
69% below median price

£70,000 - Guide Price

2 bedroom retirement property for sale

Poole Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH...

Properties needing refurbishment in Bournemouth, South West
Needs Refurb
4 bedroom ground maisonette for sale
38% below median price

£235,000

4 bedroom ground maisonette for sale

Nortoft Road, Charminsterm Bournemo...

Priced to sell properties in Bournemouth, South West
Priced to Sell
2 bedroom apartment for sale
On market for 179 days

£110,000

2 bedroom apartment for sale

Park View Court, Queens Park

Slow to sell properties in Bournemouth, South West
Slow to Sell
1 bedroom apartment for sale
Reduced by 36%

£80,000 - Guide Price

1 bedroom apartment for sale

Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7...

Big price drop properties in Bournemouth, South West
Big Price Drop
4 bedroom house for sale
High yield opportunity

£265,000

4 bedroom house for sale

Victoria Road, Bournemouth, BH1

HMO properties in Bournemouth, South West
HMO
8 bedroom detached house for sale
6,695 sq ft

£1,375,000 - Guide Price

8 bedroom detached house for sale

Wollstonecraft Road, Boscombe Manor...

Properties with planning granted in Bournemouth, South West
Planning Granted
1 bedroom apartment for sale
68% below median price

£60,000

1 bedroom apartment for sale

Halebrose Court, Southbourne

Low price-per-sq-ft properties in Bournemouth, South West
Low Price per Sq Ft
1 bedroom flat for sale
61% below median price

£60,000 - Guide Price

1 bedroom flat for sale

Wellington Road, Bournemouth

Auction properties in Bournemouth, South West
Auction

Achieved vs asking prices

Key takeaway: Balanced market

On average, properties sell slightly below asking; careful comp analysis is key.

Headline stats

• Median discount: £5,000

• 1 in 4 properties sell at > £14,000 below asking

• 1 in 10 properties sell at > £25,000 below asking

In percentage terms:

• Median discount of 2.0%

• 25% of properties discounted by > 3.8%

• 10% of properties discounted by > 5.5%

Best places to invest in Bournemouth

Top postcodes for rental yield and (annualised) capital growth

Rank
Postcode
Yield
Capital growth
Median £/sq ft
1BH86.9%3.5%£358 / sq ft
2BH16.7%2.4%£303 / sq ft
3BH56.5%1.6%£353 / sq ft
4BH26.2%-0.1%£322 / sq ft
5BH96.1%2.3%£358 / sq ft
6BH76.0%3.3%£380 / sq ft
7BH45.7%1.7%£356 / sq ft
8BH35.4%4.0%£360 / sq ft
9BH65.3%2.9%£426 / sq ft
10BH105.0%2.0%£366 / sq ft
11BH114.8%3.5%£381 / sq ft

Data sources

GeoGlider calculates property investment stats by blending official and proprietary datasets. Here's a quick overview of key sources and how we use them:

  • HM Land Registry: Property transaction and sold-price records for England & Wales used to calculate historical capital growth, price levels and comparables.

  • Office for National Statistics (ONS): Demographic and economic indicators for the UK, including Census 2021, supporting area profiling and market context.

  • Ordnance Survey: Authoritative UK geospatial data powering accurate boundaries, roads and terrain for mapping and spatial analysis.

  • GeoProp: Our proprietary AI pipeline that processes millions of property listings to extract rich features and live market signals.

  • Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities: Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scores and property floor areas.

  • HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC): Household income and employment data to understand local affordability and economic conditions.

Data is updated continuously, matched across sources and rigorously validated.