A house in Tyne and Wear is on sale for an astonishingly low amount which might make you do a double take.
Positioned in the former mining community of Boldon Colliery is what property experts Zoopla have identified as "the cheapest house in the country".
The property, on sale for just £15,000, puts you barely a minute's walk away from a friendly local, The Colliery Tavern. You could probably manage it in less than a minute if you're really thirsty.
Inside the two-bed detached property, the entry lobby leads on to a fair-sized living room with an open fireplace, and then a distinctly cosy galley kitchen with modern pine units. Upstairs, past the little bathroom, lies a small second bedroom and the 18x8-foot master bedroom.
There are a few drawbacks, such as the low bathroom ceiling and the small garden. However, for the increasing number of remote workers who only require a decent internet connection to be "in the office", this diminutive dwelling could offer a unique entry point onto the property ladder.
Zoopla's Consumer Spokesman Daniel Copley told Chronicle Live: "This two up, two down is a great option for first-time buyers looking to get on the property ladder. It's the perfect property for a buyer looking to make a property their own, just make sure you budget correctly as costs can quickly add up."
The village in South Tyneside comes complete with all the other conveniences of modern life: from a pizza shop and Chinese takeaway within comfortable walking distance to a pair of primary schools boasting "Good" OFSTED ratings. There's even a handy local dog grooming salon.
The coal mine that gave the village its name stopped operating in 1982; however, the area saw new employment prospects with the launch of a massive Asda store a few years later.
If you need the kind of entertainment that Tyne and Wear can't offer, Newcastle International Ferry Terminal lies close at hand, offering passage to Amsterdam, and, as long as you have a car, the entirety of Europe beyond.
Zoopla's Consumer Spokesman Daniel Copley explained: "This two up, two down is a great option for first-time buyers looking to get on the property ladder. It's the perfect property for a buyer looking to make a property their own, just make sure you budget correctly as costs can quickly add up."
You could end up spending significantly more for a residence in the vicinity without any guarantee of an upgrade in quality. An end-of-terrace home situated in Sunderland, not too far away, was advertised by sellers as an "investment opportunity" but came with some rather unusual design features.
Take, for instance, the three-bedroom property's bathroom facilities, which are positioned alarmingly close to the front door. This peculiar layout risks giving pedestrians a peek into your private moments if someone arrives while you're bathing.
Presently, the property is leased out for an affordable £5,700 annually only a fraction of the price of the compact house in Tyne and Wear. Nevertheless, with tenants having backlog issues in payments, the landlord has chosen to put it on the market.
Kate Lay, partner at Landwood Property Auctions, remarked: "While we acknowledge the layout of this property is somewhat unconventional, it holds great potential with straightforward refurbishment and thoughtful reconfiguration."
She went on to say: "We work very closely with LPA Receivers to help recover funds from properties such as this to repay debts and provide a positive solution for the community."
Kate added: "We have become experts in this field and our online auctions provide the quickest and most honest route to achieve a sale."
She concluded: "We pride ourselves on full transparency in all listings, providing clear and accurate descriptions and images so buyers know exactly what they're getting into. This also helps set a fair guide price
