The home of both Birds of a Feather and TOWIE, Essex hardly lacks national exposure. But when it comes to property you could say the county's talents are something of a well-kept secret. 

The glory of Essex is that it is startlingly diverse, with towns like Loughton and Chigwell as well as pretty hamlets in the depths of the countryside. Chelmsford, which gained city status in 2012, has blossomed, with John Lewis and a host of other shops and restaurants announcing their arrival. House prices in the city have followed suit, growing some 20 per cent over the last three or so years. 

Essex has urban appeal on one hand and on the other is the ability to live in genuinely rural areas which, thanks to local transport links and the Central Line, are also highly commutable. And it's this commutability, coupled with lifestyle possiblities and value for money compared with the capital and neighbouring counties, which has led to a recent surge in interest in the larger country house market. Buyers have discovered that they can get much more for their money in Essex without compromising on the journey time into London. There’s also a greater choice of available stock than elsewhere.

Given its undoubted attributes, it is perhaps surprising that Essex is traditionally a home-grown property market, with many purchasers moving around the county rather than in or out of it. However, this may be about to change. The buzz word on the train into Liverpool Street is Crossrail, scheduled to arrive at the end of 2018. Homes in Ilford, Romford, Brentwood and, more specifically, its commuter suburb Shenfield, have seen steady price growth over the past few years in anticipation of the new high-frequency train line.

With its fast link to the West End, Crossrail could well be the catalyst for more and more househunters to call Essex their home.