North Kent and Liverpool are likely to become two of the UK''s 2008 property hotspots, according to experts.

Towns in the Medway region of Kent are conveniently located for commuters who need to travel into London and new rail links are set to make the journey even easier over the next few years.

David Mansfield, sales manager at Bairstow Eves in Rochester, told the Independent that buyers can still get a good deal on properties in areas such as Chatham.

"Victorian terraces here are very sought-after and often retain their period details, but typically sell for £35,000 to £40,000 less than nearby towns, such as Rochester," he explained.

Liverpool, in the north-west, is also set to see a property boom in the next few months as it hosts a string of special events to mark its year as European Capital of Culture, with would-be-homeowners already approaching local estate agents for help finding a property.

John Kildare, a valuer at City Residential, told the newspaper: "We''ve seen a lot more first-time buyers through the door since Christmas, maybe as a result of the recent drop in interest rates."