Trading up, trading down – in pictures

Trading up: Devon. Tucked down a long, rustic drive in Plymstock, on the outskirts of Plymouth, its venerable looks disguise its relative youth. This was built in the 1940s on a hospitable scale: five bedrooms, most with long views across fields, two triple-aspect receptions with beams and fireplaces, and a lean-to conservatory which can pamper seedlings for the surrounding gardens and paddock. The decor is tidy but a little outmoded. Yours for £495,000.
Marchand Petit, 01752 873311 Photograph: Marchand Petit

Trading up: Essex. Rus in urbe on the outskirts of Chelmsford. The half-acre of gardens and quaint gables will persuade you that you’ve found a pastoral eyrie, while you are just a brief commute from London. The rustic fantasy continues inside with latch doors, wiggly beams, slate floors and fireplaces. On the market for £625,000, it’s a large fantasy too: four double bedrooms, three receptions, a study area and a pantry and utility room off the pretty breakfast-kitchen.
John D Wood, 01245 344222
Photograph: John D Wood

Trading down: Devon. The £225,000 price tag buys you the upper two storeys, and you share the front garden with the ground floor neighbour. But this is a roomy flat and its glory is the view over the quay at Kingsbridge. The three bedrooms are doubles, the kitchen is large enough to feed the family in, and there’s an unexpectedly capacious living room overlooking the water. Cliff walks and sandy beaches will keep you trim and it’s six miles to the posh sailing haven of Salcombe.
Marchand Petit, 01548 857588
Photograph: Marchand Petit

Trading down: Shropshire. Sheet Lodge was once the lodge to a mansion (itself now flats) on the outskirts of Ludlow. Compact lifestyles will transfer snugly into the two gothic-windowed bedrooms and one reception, and it’s a mile into town with its ruined castle and famed gastronomic glories. Your £189,000 will also get you a large garden, a double garage and unsullied countryside around.
Samuel Wood, 01584 875207 Photograph: Samuel Wood

Bargain of the week: London. A large and busy roundabout is the downside to this beautifully garnished three-bed freehold house in Bartholomew St in newly regenerated Elephant and Castle. Hence the £599,950 asking price, rather than the £900,000 if it were nearer leafier parts of the borough. You could try out a new future in the 80ft garden where an outbuilding is currently used as a recording studio. Full-length windows give on to Juliette balconies in the first-floor drawing room and there’s ample banqueting space in the dining room opening off the kitchen.
Cluttons, 020 7407 3669 Photograph: Cluttons