Viral Property Purchase Highlights UK's North-South Divide
A Lincolnshire woman has become an online sensation after revealing she purchased a spacious six-bedroom new-build home for just £359,950. Laura, who shares her life on TikTok under the handle @_homebylaura, posted a video detailing her property acquisition, which has since been viewed over two million times, sparking widespread discussion about regional housing market disparities across the United Kingdom.
The Breakdown of a Bargain Buy
In her now-viral video, posted in November 2025, Laura provided a comprehensive financial breakdown of her purchase. Beyond the house price itself, she invested an additional £31,110 in extras and upgrades for the property. She described the total outlay as ‘very reasonable’ for the size and specifications of her new home.
Expressing her gratitude, Laura stated, ‘We are so lucky that we live in the north of England, as I can’t even begin to imagine how much this house would cost down South.’ In a follow-up video, she itemised the additional purchase costs, which included £7,997 for stamp duty, £1,224.35 in solicitor fees, £330 for the Land Registry, and £255 for a moving van. This brought the grand total for the property purchase to £400,866.35.
Laura also disclosed that her monthly mortgage repayments amount to £1,250. She added a unique detail about her new home's location, noting that it adjoins a graveyard, a feature she said ‘doesn’t bother her’.
'Crying Southern Tears': The Online Reaction
The video prompted a flood of comments, with many viewers from southern England expressing a mixture of shock and envy. The phrase ‘Crying southern tears’ was used by one user, perfectly capturing the sentiment of many.
Several commenters highlighted the stark contrast with property prices in the capital. One user noted, ‘Put a 1 in front of it for London area,’ suggesting a similar property would cost over £1.3 million. Another said, ‘I’m looking at a 1-2 bed house close to London and that’s literally 300k-400k, I wish I lived up north sometimes’.
However, the discussion also revealed nuances within regional markets. Some questioned how representative the price was for Lincolnshire itself, with one commenter arguing, ‘Where in Lincolnshire? I live in Lincoln and no chance of paying that, more like £600k’. Another pointed out that such a bargain might not be found in other northern hubs like Manchester or Cheshire.
The Data Behind the Disparity
Laura's experience is backed by official housing market data. According to Rightmove, the overall average house price in Lincolnshire is £236,241, with detached properties averaging £312,183. This stands in sharp contrast to the South East of England, where the average house price is £465,185 and detached properties command an average of £700,756—almost double what Laura paid.
This significant variation aligns with data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Their figures from September 2025 place the average UK house price at £292,000. Regionally, the East Midlands, which includes Lincolnshire, had an average price of £243,000. This is considerably more affordable than London and the South East, though higher than the averages in the North West (£215,000) and North East (£162,000).
Laura's viral story serves as a powerful illustration of the ongoing and significant disparities within the UK housing market. While southern parts of England, especially London and the South East, continue to experience exceptionally high property prices, many areas in the Midlands and the North remain comparatively affordable, creating a stark geographical divide in homeownership prospects.
