Old and new – in pictures

Historic home: Rhondda Cynon Taf. This cute cottage looks like something from a Beatrix Potter tale. Squirrelled away in the quiet village of Groes-faen, near Pontyclum, this two-bed terrace is modern but retains an olde-worlde charm. It has a mature garden, a new kitchen and car parking. It is just eight miles from Cardiff so is an easy commute to the Welsh capital, and has good access to the M4. Cost: £175,000.
Watts and Morgan, 01446 728071
Photograph: Watts and Morgan

Historic home: West Yorkshire. One of the most impressive things about this five-bed detached family home in Pontefract is the rural views to the rear. It also has landscaped front gardens, a double garage and a large rear garden. Set in a town which still holds a popular market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as well as a week-long covered market, it is convenient for all local amenities. Offers in excess of £400,000 will be considered.
Reeds Rains, 01977 878195
Photograph: Reeds Rains

Historic home: Surrey. This chocolate box-style detached cottage, set in desirable Redhill, is priced at £400,000. It has a number of character features including ornate cornicing, open fires, stained glass windows and a split-level hallway. The garden, although not secluded, is perfect for a green fingered gardener to get stuck in to, boasting mature shrubs, trees, a fish pond and a heated summer house. London is less than half-an-hour away by train.
Cubitt & West, 01737 339079 Photograph: Cubitt & West

New build: Cambridgeshire. This three-bed property is located in an eight-house cul-de-sac just off a private road in the village of Fulbourn. Situated four miles south-east of the historic university campus, this quintessentially English village has a primary school, a church, a cricket pitch, a bowling green, a butcher’s and a pharmacy. The blurb says this home will (which means you’re buying off-plan) comprise a 'contemporary' open-plan ground floor layout, an Italian kitchen with gloss cabinets, and Karndean wood-effect flooring. It’s yours for £250,000.
Savills, 01223 790131 Photograph: Savills

New build: Kent. This imposing Gothic-style refurb has bags of character. Set in landscaped gardens in the heart of historic Rochester this £500,000 four-bedder has been carefully renovated over the past 12 months. It is set over three floors and packed with character features, from cast iron radiators and restored fireplaces to solid oak flooring. The kitchen is the heart of the home with a stunning vaulted ceiling, granite work tops and a Range oven. There is the potential to convert part of the ground floor into a granny flat.
Ward & Partners, 01634 799057 Photograph: Ward & Partners

New build: Northumberland. This four-bedder is part of a development in Powburn. It was apparently designed with ‘nature in mind’, being built from stonework and natural slate. It’s in the heart of unspoilt countryside with walking trails and fishing streams on your doorstep. Alnwick is just a 10-minute drive and it is five miles to the coast. Perfect for first-time buyers who want to put their stamp on the decor. Cost: £175,000.
Rook Matthews Sayer, 01665 320001
Photograph: Rook Matthews Sayer