PropertyInvesting.net: property investment news: Revealed: the 31 hotspots where house prices will surge now

'You have to ask, 'What would you do with a bigger garden’,” the estate agent said as we stood on a postage-stamp-size piece of fake turf in Barnes four years ago. We both knew what he meant: I couldn’t afford a larger outside space in this part of leafy south-west London. So off I trundled to buy in Twickenham. This was the first time I had considered the commuter “trade-off”.

Urbanites across the UK have been weighing up this equation for generations: lower house prices and a larger plot versus travel time and separation from a city lifestyle. For some it’s simply about bringing children up in more rural surroundings, changing their pace of life or finding the right schools for the kids. But, for the most part, this big move is in the pursuit of value for money.

While this commuter conundrum is not new, in no other housing market cycle has the price gap between London and the South East been so great, and therefore the financial motivation to move out so compelling. New research from Savills has revealed where the next wave of house price rises will come due to increased demand, and the majority are in the ever-expanding outer commuter belt.

With price rises in the capital (45.1 per cent since the recession) spilling into the Home Counties, buyers are being pushed to consider far-flung towns and villages or Greater London enclaves that have not traditionally been deemed desirable.

“London has so substantially overperformed since the recession that the price gaps between the capital and the South East are bigger than ever. People who are looking for more space without unduly stretching themselves on their mortgage are searching further afield,” says Lucian Cook, head of residential research for Savills.

Commuting underpins the next ripple of house price growthLucian Cook, head of residential research for Savills

High-speed broadband in more rural areas and flexible working arrangements are also encouraging people to fan out, and Cook pinpoints a “herding mentality”. As pioneer commuters settle in more provincial spots, their friends will often follow. House envy is a powerful driver.

So, where to buy? Here are the 31 places where house prices are expected to rise by more than 20 per cent over the next five years.

Hart, Hampshire

Skip over pricey parts of Waverley, in Surrey, and head into Hart in Hampshire for better value for money, good state schools and beautiful countryside. The main town of Fleet has a bustling high street, large properties on generous plots and the fast train into Waterloo takes 40 minutes. The picturesque villages of Crondall and Church Crookham have their own junior schools.

Average house price: £410,076, house price growth 2005-15: 46pc