Downsizing in Godalming: What You Would Actually Release
Selling at the £552,000 Godalming average and buying at £386,400 releases about £145,300 after costs. Fees, stamp duty and moving take roughly £20,300 of it.
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to. There is no obligation.
Selling at the £552,000 Godalming average and buying at £386,400 releases about £145,300 after costs. Fees, stamp duty and moving take roughly £20,300 of it.
Running the downsizing numbers in Godalming
Start with the gap. Selling at £552,000 and buying at 70% of that, £386,400, leaves £165,600 before costs. Costs are the part people underestimate.
Agent fees at 1.5% are £8,280. Stamp duty on the purchase is £9,320. Total £20,300, leaving £145,300 in hand.
Where the sale proceeds go
The commercial page for this town sets out the introduction itself: Equity release in Godalming.
Two routes to the same cash, priced
A lifetime mortgage at 65 on the same property would release about £187,680. Downsizing nets £145,300. The difference is that downsizing costs you the house, and equity release costs you the estate.
Over twenty years that £187,680 release grows to roughly £661,318. The downsizing figure does not grow at all, because there is no debt.
The parts of downsizing that are not financial
Council tax follows the property, not the person. Band D in Surrey is £2,643, and a smaller home may sit in a lower band. Check the band before you offer, not after.
Downsizing works best when you are not in a hurry.
What a move within Godalming looks like
The schools families ask about here are Godalming College, Broadwater School, Charterhouse School and Godalming primary schools. 1 local school was rated Good or Outstanding overall at its most recent graded Ofsted inspection. Ratings age between inspections, so read the latest report before you rely on one.
On getting about: Godalming is a south-west Surrey town with a moderate London commute and Guildford close by. These indicative times are a starting point, always verify current timetables before relying on a specific journey.
By price, Godalming ranks 41 of the 65 Surrey locations we cover, at £552,000 against a county average of £634,238.
Moving within Surrey rather than out of it keeps you near family and known services. The average price across the county towns we cover is £634,238, against £552,000 here.
Is Godalming right to stay in?
The full local guide covers schools, transport and the market in detail: Godalming property and area guide.
- A beautiful, historic market town
- Excellent schools, including Charterhouse
- The Surrey Hills and Winkworth Arboretum
- A full A&E close at Guildford (~4 miles)
- Direct trains to Waterloo, faster from Guildford
- A significant River Wey flood history in low-lying areas
- A moderate (not fast) London commute
- Detached and countryside homes command a strong premium
- Period and listed homes can need extra survey and upkeep
- Insurance and lending affected near the river
| Who it suits | Out of five | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Families | ★★★★★ | Broadwater School, the Outstanding-rated Godalming College, Charterhouse and good primaries, plus the Surrey Hills and river on the doorstep, make this a top family choice. |
| Commuters | ★★★★☆ | Godalming and Farncombe stations run to London Waterloo via Guildford, and the A3 is nearby, a genuine commuter town, though the journey is longer than inner Surrey. |
| Upsizers | ★★★★☆ | Characterful period and larger family homes in and around the historic town suit families trading up into a prestige address. |
| First-time buyers | ★★☆☆☆ | High Surrey prices well above the national average make Godalming a hard first step; flats and smaller homes are the realistic way in. |
| Retirees | ★★★★☆ | A characterful, well-served historic town with the Surrey Hills, riverside walks and the Royal Surrey Hospital nearby appeals to retirees. |
Godalming is known locally for The world's first public electricity, and Winkworth Arboretum. Godalming's claim to be the first place in the world with a public electricity supply, in 1881, powered from the Wey, a proud slice of history.
Practical detail for Godalming: the GU7 postcode district and godalming (and Farncombe), South Western Railway to London Waterloo via Guildford.
Godalming has history behind the price. In Medieval, Godalming prospers on the cloth trade, especially 'kersey' woollens.
Godalming at a glance
| Downsizing line | Godalming figure |
|---|---|
| Sale price, local average | £552,000 |
| Purchase at 70% of value | £386,400 |
| Estate agent at 1.5% | £8,280 |
| Stamp duty on purchase | £9,320 |
| Legal and moving | £2,700 |
| Total costs | £20,300 |
| Net released | £145,300 |
| Lifetime mortgage alternative at 65 | £187,680 |
Figures are local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own numbers before acting on them.
Ask about Godalming
Three details is all we need. You are told before anything is passed to a partner firm.
Your checklist
- A real valuation of your home, not the £552,000 average
- The council tax band of the property you are buying
- Total moving costs of about £20,300
- The equity release comparison, in writing, before you decide
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to. There is no obligation.
Check broadband before you make an offer in Godalming
Broadband speeds can vary street by street in Godalming, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.
We can introduce you to a specialist who can combine your mobile, broadband and utilities into one bill. There's no fee for the introduction.
We don't provide these services ourselves. Switching household bills is not a regulated financial service, so FCA protections and the Financial Ombudsman do not apply. We'll only pass your details to the specialist if you ask us to. See our privacy notice.
Questions people ask
How much would I release by downsizing in Godalming?
Is downsizing better than equity release?
What are the costs of moving?
How do I check broadband speed at a property in Godalming?
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