Why I Invest in Swansea Over Winchester (Where I Live)

Lois Mackenzie
Apr 15
2 min read

Updated: Apr 16

If you've ever looked at property in the South East, especially around Winchester, you'll know that the prices are no joke. It's a beautiful city, no doubt. But when it comes to property investing, especially if you're looking to scale, cash flow, and add real value, Swansea just makes more sense. Here's why:

You Get More for your Money

Let’s start with the obvious: property prices in Swansea are significantly lower than in Winchester. The average house price in Winchester is well over £500,000, while in Swansea, you can find great investment properties for much less. That means:

You can buy two or even three properties in Swansea for the price of one in Winchester.
Your money goes further, giving you a better chance to scale your portfolio and spread your risk.

More Stock, More Opportunities

Swansea has a steady supply of run-down properties that are perfect for refurbishment. These are the kinds of deals where you can genuinely add value and force appreciation, not just wait on the market to do the work.

Property is a numbers game, and in Swansea, I usually have at least five offers out at any one time. This approach keeps me from putting all my eggs in one basket, getting too emotionally attached to a single property, or trying to force numbers to work when they clearly don’t.

Higher Yields, Better Cash Flow

Rental yields in Winchester are very low, compared to Swansea. In most good areas of South Wales you're likely to achieve a yield of 8% or more. For me, cash flow is king. Even when I'm flipping a property, I want to know it would cash flow well as a rental. Good cash flow means i don't need to stress about market downturns. It also widens the pool of potential buyers when it comes to selling. A turn-key property that cash flows appeals to amateur investors and hands-off buyers who want something simple and profitable from day one.

Regeneration & Growth

Billions of pounds is being invested into Swansea. investment into infrastructure and innovation boosts both rental demand and long-term capital appreciation.

Demand from Tenants

Swansea has:

Two universities
People relocating from Bristol and Cardiff for affordability

All of this means there's strong and consistent tenant demand, whether you're targeting students, professionals, or families.

Easier to Recycle Cash

In Swansea, because purchase prices are lower and there’s room to add value, it's easier to pull out most (if not all) of your money on refinance. That’s much harder to do in Winchester.

In Summary

Winchester is a beautiful, great place to live. But from an investment point of view?

Swansea offers better value
Higher yields
More stock available
Strong tenant demand
Regeneration-driven growth
Easier to scale and recycle capital
Its still a lovely place to live with tight-knit communities and many national parks