EAST Newport property prices have ballooned by up to 30 per cent in the last six months, according to a Newport estate agent.

Neil Williams, director of Martin & Co, says first time buyers are looking to get on the property ladder and take advantage of good commuter links and low prices.

It follows recent figures which revealed that Newport had seen the most Help to Buy purchases in Wales since 2014, with 1,248 of 6,819 sales.

As the Argus previously reported, 75 per cent of these were purchased using the government scheme.

City property experts have attributed the large number using the scheme to good commuter links and comparatively low prices compared to the Bristol market.

Neil Williams , director of Newport estate agent Martin & Co, explained: “Help to Buy is so popular in Newport at the moment because of the location and the prices. Prices are still quite undervalued in the city, and people using Help to Buy are always going to go with the more affordable houses.

“There are lots of people coming in from Bristol because it’s so much cheaper here than over there.

“East Newport has seen an increase of 30 percent in the last six months.

"The houses that we’re selling are getting the highest prices we’ve ever seen in that area.

"The motorway links are especially good there, which is attractive to the Bristol market.

"I don’t think people realise how expensive properties are in Bristol. That market isn’t going anywhere.

"We’re seeing people sell a two-bed terraced house for £380,000 and then buying a four-bed detached in Langstone, for example.

“Newport house prices have been roughly the same for about a decade, and when you add in the bridge tolls going, a potential relief road and already good transport links it really does start to look like an attractive option.

"First time buyers are always going to go with affordability as they look to get on that property ladder.” for the first time.