Why Cornwall is the place to be and why it’s the best place to buy a second home.

Cornish Horizons is one of Cornwall’s leading agencies, with a large collection of hand-picked cottages throughout the county in some of the best coastal and countryside locations. The company, that has offices in Padstow, Looe, Fowey, Porthleven and St Ives, are seen as the local experts in providing the very best service to their homeowners. 
Tom Hancock is one of the newest team members of the family-owned holiday cottage agency, so let’s find out more about him and the business. 

When was the business established?

We have been operating as an independent family business for over 25 years. Our team of nearly 40 employees all live in the local area. They have an in-depth knowledge of Cornwall and are more than happy to help our customers choose the right cottage for their perfect holiday.

What is the one thing about your business which might surprise us?

Cornish Horizons is part of a family of brands owned by The Original Cottage Company – the UK’s biggest independent and family-owned holiday cottage agency. When properties are let through us, they appear not just on our website at www.cornishhorizons.co.uk, but also on our national website, www.originalcottages.co.uk. This means that homeowners enjoy the unbeatable combination of national marketing power, backed by local expertise and knowledge of the area.

Why is Cornwall the best place to buy a second home? 

We're proud to call Cornwall our home. Even more so because we're devout foodies. Gone are the days when you had no choice but to venture up the main line to Paddington to sample some of life’s more adventurous edible delights. Cornwall now has it all.

Headline restaurateurs Rick and Jill Stein have done wonders for the Cornish tourism industry, which goes without saying. Yet venturing beyond the Padstow bubble, culinary delights can be found in some very tucked away and surprising locations. 

For example, the team in our Porthleven office are now seeing Porthleven holiday homeowners with higher returns on their investment and better capital appreciation compared to the more expensive hot spot areas. The annual Porthleven Food Festival and introduction of new, higher end restaurants and cafés have really helped transform this picturesque harbour town into a foodie hub.

An investment in an area like Porthleven could be a particularly smart move for investors with the long-term goal of retiring to their holiday home, as securing the property now before prices are set to rise can serve you well.

Last year, Cornwall was also voted the best location in the UK (and third best in the world) to provide a return on investment from holiday home letting. The research, from Schofields home insurers, shows that the return in investment is 12.01% in Cornwall compared to other UK locations such as the Lake District at just 2.89%.

Market expert at Schofields, Phil Schofield, said: “For ease of access and year-round demand, finding the right property in Cornwall can be a shrewd investment, both for rental yields and capital appreciation.” 

The research is based on the cost of buying a 90 square metre property, the potential rental income and an analysis of the most popular locations for tourism – something we know all about.

Beyond the pasties, fudge and clotted cream, Cornwall has become even more gastronomically diverse with a glittering array of award-winning producers at its fingertips. No other county can showcase such rich and abundant flavours as this amazing peninsula of ours. And it is this global understanding now that Cornwall, as a first-class ingredient, can be savoured both within the county, and in your own home. People want a taste of Cornwall, in all its shapes and forms. This culinary bubble, indeed Cornish bubble, shows no signs of slowing down, despite what Bank of England forecasts say about the wider economy and the dreaded “b” word that looms on the horizon. Cornwall is here to stay.  

If you’re thinking about holiday home letting for your property or want to know how to make your existing holiday home work better for you – we’re on hand with free advice and top tips.

You can get in touch with our friendly team to find out more on 01841 533331 or email cottages@cornishhorizons.co.uk