by Beth Gallner

With property prices at unprecedented high levels we can't always afford to move to our favoured town, village or city. But what we can do is move to one of the up and coming areas where prices are a little lower. This is all very well in theory but how can you tell where the next hot spot is going to spring up. Although you can never be 100% sure, the following tips should help you find the area you're looking for.

- look out for the presence of large property developers. They will have carried out tremendous research before choosing the location to build their latest project. And they are very rarely wrong.

- keep your eyes open for any council or local authority regeneration and improvements. A new transport system or business development can transform an area.

- check out what shops are in the area. If there are large retailers, supermarkets and financial organizations, you've found a winner.

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