Being priced out of Wales' capital city into the surrounding, commutable areas is a trend that continues to gather pace, as Cardiff becomes unaffordable for many home hunters, especially first time buyers.
And Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan is benefiting from this home buyer 'drift'.
Barry was recently identified by Rightmove as the hottest property spot in the UK, with the seaside town topping the property portal's chart of growth in house sellers' asking prices over the past year.
And it's not all down to the popularity of BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, which was set in the town and brought the sights and sounds of Barry into millions of viewers' homes.
The company says the average Barry property price tag, within commuting distance to Cardiff, has grown more than a fifth over the past five years and now stands at £191,050.
According to property portal Zoopla, the average property price in Cardiff is now £250,618 and this, as well as investment in the town, has created a 'ripple effect' along the coastline to this well-located commuter zone.
Lucinda Reid, a new resident to Barry, wishes she had considered Barry sooner.
"I wish I hadn't bothered wasting time looking for our first home to buy in Cardiff. We should have just come straight to Barry. You get so much more for your money," she said.
"We viewed one bedroom apartments in Cardiff city centre and two bed terraces in the capital's suburbs for the same price as the four bedroom period home in Barry we have ended up buying."
And Lucinda couldn't be happier since moving into her spacious home five months ago. She said: "The town has all that we were looking for really. The view of the beach as you walk down the road towards it will never get old.
"I especially love the beach at The Knap. And there's plenty to do too - restaurants like the Pumphouse and walks in Porthkerry Park."
With new developments and more people, especially first time buyers, moving into the town more restaurants and bars could be on the cards with the value of homes increasing.
Claire Turner, an associate in estate agent Savills' residential development sales team in Cardiff ,agrees that Barry is an area on the rise.
"In recent years the waterfront has seen considerable new development, which has attracted many young professionals and families into Barry, having been priced out of other areas," she said.
Claire added: "Alongside this significant regeneration, the long-established west end of Barry market continues to draw buyers in and new schemes are increasing the choice on offer.
"High end developments, such as Windsor Lofts – a quirky collection of town houses and apartments centred on the conversion of a former church – are helping to drive local regeneration, alongside award-winning mixed-use projects like the Pumphouse."
Easter bank holiday saw hundreds of people flock to Whitmore Bay. If you live here, you can walk there
Property
The range of housing stock in Barry is fairly varied, from solid semi-detached family homes from past decades to new build apartments near the water, executive homes on the headland where the Butlins holiday park used to be and substantial detached houses in the suburbs.
As well as the complex of new build apartments at Latitude at The Quays down by the waterfront, older period buildings are continuing to be converted to provide contemporary homes that can rival Cardiff for the 'cool factor'.
This stylish one bedroom apartment located within the Old Fire Station offers character and history.
It has exposed brick walls and large windows. Located on the first floor, the apartment has a large lounge, glossy grey kitchen that leads into a dining room, a double bedroom, a shower room and use of the communal courtyard.
The old fire station flat is for sale for £125,000 with estate agent ACJ Properties. Call the Barry branch on 029 2041 5161 for more details.
This period terraced home offers a new owner four bedrooms - the average equivalent in some areas of Cardiff ranges from between £450,000 to £650,000.
The house has been modernised and restored, keeping original features but also combining spaces to create a home more ideal for a family looking to buy in Barry today.
The lounge is a large and sociable space and the generous open plan kitchen / diner flows out into the rear garden.
This large family home is for sale for £204,950 with Nina Estate Agents. Call them on 01446 736888 to find out more.
Where in Cardiff could you find a five bedroom detached house on the market for £300,000? Nowhere, according to a current search on Rightmove.
But in Barry this pretty period property that has been recently renovated could have all the space a family is looking for without the hefty capital city price tag.
It's detached, it's unique and it's move-in ready. Give estate agents Peter Alan a call on 01446 733224 to find out more.
The outdoors
According to Tripadvisor, the most popular attraction in Barry and its surrounding countryside is Whitmore Bay Beach. Porthkerry Country Park is next on the top 10 list, with Barry Island third.
The High Street and Barry War Museum also make the list, coming in at number six and nine. The town also has its own arts venue, called The Memo, which regularly stages live events.
Barry even has its own, rather smaller, version of the mother of all summer festivals, Glastonbury.
Since its conception in 2013 has grown in popularity and this year will be held in Romilly Park on July 27.
Other live events hosted in the town include last year's Isle of Fire, The Brecon Carreg 10k and the Barry triathlon.
Apart from the local beaches including Whitmore Bay and The Knap, outdoor space popular with local residents include Porthkerry Park and Knap Gardens featuring Marine Lake, where years ago many families enjoyed splashing around in the Lido as an alternative to the nearby sea.
Apart from the town's High Street, the Culverhouse Cross retail park is nearby for some serious retail therapy, with stores including the region's largest Marks & Spencer, Tesco and The Range, plus food outlets such as McDonald's.
Eating and drinking
Over the last few years the number and , cafes and bars has noticeably increased. Hang Fire Southern Kitchen located in The Pumphouse has become a favourite with many local residents. It also won the Observer Food Monthly Award for best restaurant in 2018.
Bay 5 Coffee and John's Cafe are both popular beachside destinations with their sea views. For a touch of vintage class, try an afternoon tea at Romilly's coffee shop.
Characterful local pubs in the area include the thatched Blue Anchor Inn at Aberthaw, built in 1380 and a popular watering hole ever since.
The schools
As well as the increasing attraction for young professionals, Barry can offer families a range of schools for their children, as well as plenty of activities in the area.
Of the Barry schools rated within the Welsh Government's National School Categorisation System, none were in the lowest band and all but two schools were in the top two bands. There are four ratings bands - red, amber yellow and green, with red schools requiring the most support and green the least.
For older students, Cardiff and Vale College is based in Barry and provides a range of courses, both full and part-time, as well as facilities for the community including The Glamorgan Suite restaurant and the Academi Urbasba Hair and Beauty Academy.
The jobs
Barry is the largest town in Wales based on population. According to the Office for National Statistics' 2016 estimate data, the population of Barry was 54,673 and this is likely to have grown since and to keep growing in the future.
The rush hour traffic on the two main roads out of Barry suggest that a large section of the working population commute out of the town.
But not everyone leaves the area to work. According to the local council, in 2016 there were 4,110 business based in the county as a whole. At this time, the largest number of employees worked within the 'professional, scientific and technical' sectors followed by construction and retail.
Approximately 61% of the county's residents are of working age (16-64) and 7,600 describe themselves as self-employed.
The regular use of Barry and the surrounding area by popular TV shows such as Gavin and Stacey, Doctor Who, The Claw and the third series of Being Human starring Poldark's Aidan Turner, have all added to the town's economy as well as its profile.
Transport
There are regular trains every 15 minutes during peak times between Barry and Cardiff and buses to the capital and back are provided by Cardiff Bus and Stagecoach.
The future
Of course, there are areas of poverty and deprivation within the area, known as 'hard-pressed living' where there is likely to be unemployment above the national average, as with any town or city in Wales.
However, the undeniable rising house prices suggest that Barry is only heading one way - up.
Better pack your suitcases, bucket and spade and set the satnav for Barry.
