Wales has been one of Britain’s best-performing markets in the past few years – although that may be because parts of the principality, notably the valleys in south Wales, used to be extremely cheap. According to figures from the Land Registry, Wales is showing average annual growth of 8.2% – just below the national average.

Ebbw Vale put in the strongest performance in the region, with the average price rising by 32%, from £93,469 to £123,753, in the 12 months to April. Elsewhere on the south coast, Swansea and Newport look set to benefit from regeneration projects.

Prices have been surging in the northern half of the country, too: prices in Wrexham jumped 29% during the past year, thanks largely to an influx of buyers from Manchester or Chester attracted by lower prices. “The border is only a couple of miles away, yet Wrexham is still much cheaper,” says Nick Withenshaw, director at Jackson-Stops & Staff in Chester. “We have just sold a Georgian house there for £800,000 – in Cheshire, it would be more than £1m.”

Average property price: £140,808

Annual rise: 8.2%

Predictions: After growing from a low base, prices have risen far more slowly during the past three months. “There are affordability pressures,” Donnell says. “I expect Wales to continue to underperform over the next 12 months”

Explore Property

• Buying & Selling

• New Homes

• Overseas

• Interiors

• Investment

• Gardens

• Cool In Your Code

• Specials

Times recommends

• Fall in house sales hits builders, estate agents and mortgage brokers
• Why the property credit crunch favours cash buyers
• The blood-curdling history of Quarrelwood House