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Property
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SELLING POINT
WORDS: NATALIE BRUCKNER
KRISTIAN DIGBY is more than just a pretty face. At just 27 years of age the television presenter and award-winning director is an authority when it comes to property. Having co-presented To Buy or Not to Buy on BBC 1 and coming from a family of property developers, Kristian has his head screwed on when it comes to the housing market.
“Like most people I would like to see the market stabilise this year, but I’m not worried about it. What does worry me is what the media will do to the market.
“The media creates a trend. They have been saying for two years now that there will be a crash. It is basically scaremongering. I am almost 100 per cent certain there won’t be a crash this year, in fact I will eat my shoes if there is, and I like these shoes.”
In fact, Kristian leads by example. At the tender age of 21 he bought his first property in Stratford Park, London, and is building two properties on land adjacent to his house.
The state-of-the-art stadium in Straford is now one of the key venues in London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics – a wise move on Kristian’s part.
“At the time people thought I was mad, but I did a lot of research into the area and now, with the possibility of the Games being held there, it was a wise move.”
Although Kristian is renowned for co-presenting on BBC 1 alongside the cheeky Dominic Littlewood, his television portfolio is vast.
Kristian broke into television at a very young age. He started out working on short films in Devon before his talents were recognised by LWT. From there he went on to become Channel 4’s youngest programme director.
Among his long list of achievements are a BAFTA and accolade of youngest ever winner in 1997 for Words of Deception and work as a director on Home Front, Fantasy Rooms, Changing Rooms and The Million Pound Property Experiment.
Most recently Kristian has been filming a reality television show called The Village which is expected to be aired on Channel 4 or 5 this year.
“I had to battle with myself over whether to do this. It was a case of money versus morals, and money won!
“The idea was to throw so-called sophisticated gay men together in a small village in the Derbyshire Dales and see the reaction.
“I lost my mobile and had no contact with the outside world. Four weeks in one house may not sound long, but believe me it was!
“I haven’t seen it yet, and I don’t know how it’s been cut. I think people expect a certain type of performance with gay men. Media has this acceptance of the flamboyant character, the kind of Disney-esque person who they don’t feel threatened by.
“I can be as OTT as anyone else, but really I am just the boy-next-door.”
But for Kristian, work always ends up steering him back into property.
He explains: “I have also been filming a pilot show for BBC 2 which is due out this year called Uncharted Territories. “Property programmes have helped rid people’s fears of buying abroad; this programme shows you what you can get for your money in other countries. For £9,000 you can get a farmhouse in Slovenia with land as far as the eye can see.”
And for fans of To Buy or Not to Buy you will be pleased to hear that he is currently filming a brand new series.
Kristian continues: “We have already visited Lyme Regis where there were a couple who have so many children they could start their own school. I love coming down to Dorset, there are so many great places here.
“You see some awful developments in the Midlands. Money can destroy areas with ugly buildings.
“Occasionally we will feature a property I really wouldn’t recommend. I have come across one or two developments and been shocked. A Victorian flat in Malvern Hills had so many cowboys involved in it, it could have been a Spaghetti Western. The toilet was in the kitchen so you could go about your business and watch your jacket potato being cooked!
“Fortunately we don’t have that problem on the coast. It’s easy to say nice things about Dorset.”
But with rumours still hanging in the air of a property crash, Kristian understands that people are hedging their bets and waiting to see the outcome. So what does he advise?
“Housing programmes have made such a huge difference to people’s awareness. Back in the 1980s we weren’t that sophisticated.
“If you watch what a city like London is doing, Dorset is like litmus paper and will follow the trend. Dorset is considered commuting distance from London which is proof that things have changed.
“My advice to readers either getting on the property ladder or upgrading would be to just do it. When does anyone know if it’s the right time?
“Things in Dorset are pretty calm right now and there is still room for prices to go up. It’s a beautiful place, you can’t go far wrong.”
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For any queries regarding Society (Jan 05), please contact Nick Rowe.
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