THE world is queuing up to live in Grays.

The town is seeing homes sell at the second-fastest pace in Britain.

Only Dartford, across the Thames in Kent, is shifting property more quickly.

Homes in Grays are typically being snapped up after just 26 days on the market, compared with the national average of 79 days.

Dartford topped the list for speedy sales at 16 days, while Benfleet came third at 28 days and Leigh-on-Sea was fourth at 30 days.

The figures were revealed this week by the online estate agency Rightmove.

Jan White, senior lister at Griffin Estate Agents, in Grays, said in her 56 years of selling, she had never seen suchabullish market.

She added: “People are fighting over houses. Homes are being snapped up.

“We are getting bids above the asking price on a lot of properties.

“Over the last six to eight months it was improving, but it’s been really, really busy since Christmas.

“Tilbury prices are rising astronomically as well. I first sold one Tilbury property two years ago for £160,000.

Now it’s re-sold it for £250,000. The seller said they couldn’t believe it!”

Another Grays estate agent said the firm had seen a “complete turnaround of the market in the last six months”.

Sarah Wood, property appraisal manager at Bairstow Eves, added: “It’s been silly how busy it’s been – the market has massively picked up.

“Lots of people who have been renting in London can’t afford to buy in London, but they can afford to buy here.

“They just want to get on to the property ladder. We’ve also been seeing a lot of investors.”

The estate agents pointed to the reasons why buyers and investors are flocking to Grays.

Jan White, at Griffin, said: “The firsttime buyers can’t afford Hornchurch or Upminster, so the next best thing is to come to Essex.

“Nearly all our buyers, about 75 per cent I’d say, are from London at the moment. They can’t afford to be buying in the London area.

Emmanuel Sanya, manager of MS Estates, Grays, said competition was “very, very high” for houses in the town.

He added: “It’samixture of first-time buyers and families from London moving to Essex.

“They’re coming to Grays because there’s more diversity now, which makes it more popular. Grays is also at the centre of this area. It’s got Lakeside, Chafford Hundred is popular and Tilbury has got c2c. Grays has also got the end of the Oyster line.”