Cottages start at pounds 200,000, and three-bedroom houses in South Park Gardens can sell for pounds 275,000, but larger or better located houses can exceed pounds 500,000. Large "country" houses sell in the millions of pounds.Anyone for renting?Advantage to large houses near the All England Lawn Tennis Club: "For the three-week tennis championships, homeowners can get between pounds 17,000 and pounds 18,000. They can usually time their own holiday to go to their country home during the tournament," says Mr Holmes.Town and GownPathfinder's Wimbledon Central in a former BT office building has 104 apartments in three self-contained blocks across from the station. Only two flats remain, both penthouses, at pounds 390,000 and pounds 450,000. Laing's Wimbledon Parkside, formerly Southlands College, is between Queensmere and Inner Park Road, and features apartments, mews houses and town houses. Flats have one, two or three bedrooms, and most have a terrace or balcony and car parking.
Prices start at pounds 245,000.Small is beautifulRowan Terrace, by Heritage Property Restoration, has six refurbished terraced houses near the station; they feature large attic rooms suitable as a lounge, a bedroom or an office Three remain at pounds 349,000. The Rydons, by Michael Shanly Homes, includes a lodge, conversion apartments and 16 new four-storey town houses, on Ridgway near the Common.ParksIn addition to the Common, the area contains several small neighbourhood parks and recreation grounds, including the sizeable Wimbledon Park, with its own tennis courts, a large lake, an athletics track, bowling green and other facilities. Directly opposite is the celebrated All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.Nguyen Van Thieu slept hereWhen he was in exile, the former President of South Vietnam lived in a 1927 Tudor-style house, The Chantry, which is set in an acre of landscaped gardens and includes a Japanese-style water garden and tea house. This eight-bedroom house has four reception rooms, timber beams, a stone fireplace and Jacobean panels house - and it is yours for pounds 3m through Robert Holmes & Co.ContactsRobert Holmes is on 0181-947 9833; Ellisons is on 0181-944 9494..
BAY HOUSE THIS HOUSE was any closer to the sea, it would be afloat. The three- bedroom home with a 21ft studio and greenhouse, is on the beach at Camber, near Rye, East Sussex Trains from Rye run to Ashford, then to London or Lille. The 21ft sitting-room leads to a sunroom which overlooks the colourful garden down to the shore The third bedroom is 6'9" by 6'8", more a boxroom or study. Offers around pounds 160,000, to Phillips & Stubbs 01797 227338. WARREN COTTAGEWARREN COTTAGE at Nos Mayo in South Devon was built in 1882 by the first Lord Revelstoke near his home, Membland Hall. The three-bedroom house with cliff and coast views has a sitting room with original timber- panelled dado and double doors to a sunroom There is a separate dining room, music room and 23ft studio The one-acre gardens lead to Warren Beach pounds 450,000 from Marchand Petit on National Trust lease. Call 01548 857585.BEACH HOLMETHIS IS a three-flat Victorian house in Shore Road at Bonchurch on the Isle of Wight, opposite the beach The ground-floor flat produces a healthy holiday let income. The vacant first-floor has three bedrooms and a 15ft sitting room.
Retired sitting tenants on the top floor have their own entrance There is a garage and landscaped gardens pounds 275,000 through The Wright Agency, on 01983 866822.. NOT SURPRISINGLY, my worst car was also my first car. I was a very naive 20-year-old cub reporter on the Hartlepool Mail, and needed a little runabout to get my stories I saw this white Mini advertised, and it seemed to be ideal I went to see it in the dark. I could certainly tell the car was white, but what impressed me most were the leopard-skin seat covers I bought it on the spot for a whopping pounds 750. The next day, for no apparent reason, it conked out as I drove to work. I managed to persuade it to work - and it lasted an entire day before breaking down again. On the third day it broke down again, and by the fourth day of ownership, when it let me down once more, I was having serious doubts.I mentioned my Mini to a colleague on the crime desk, who then had a word with one of his police contacts Later in the day I got a call from a friendly policeman "What's the registration?" I told him "Sounds like one of ours," he said. "What about mileage?" "It's only done 10,000 miles, that's why I thought it was such a bargain." "I think you'll find it's been around the clock at least once," he said.
