Are you able to manage to buy a home within the UK’s most popular areas?

Homebuyers are increasingly looking to proceed to countryside and coastal towns in search of bigger homes.

A new report by Rightmove shows that because the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, would-be buyers have shifted their focus to popular coastal areas such as Cornwall and Devon.

Here, Which? requires a closer look at the most widely used places to look for a home, including suggestions about what’s happening to accommodate prices and the way to find the best place to live.

Cornwall the most popular spot for home buyers

New research by Rightmove discovered that Cornwall has overtaken London as the most popular position for prospective homebuyers.

The property portal says would-be buyers searched for properties in Cornwall a lot more than 5 million times in February, a lot more than elsewhere in the united kingdom.

Six of the top ten most searched-for areas recently were in Cornwall and Devon, using the village of Stithians in Cornwall seeing searches rocket by more than 200% compared with this past year.

This trend highlights how progressively more buyers want to relocate to rural villages and towns. Rightmove’s data shows the number of sales agreed within the other half of 2021 rose by 69% in rural areas, when compared with 49% in urban areas.

The top five places to search for a home

1. Cornwall

Located on the southwestern tip of England, Cornwall is renowned for its picturesque harbour towns and popular beach resorts.

According to data in the Land Registry, average house prices in Cornwall have risen from lb235,169 to lb265,775 in the past 12 months, a rise of 13%.

The average detached property in Cornwall costs lb389,039, a rise in excess of 14% year-on-year.

2. London

England’s capital is really a tourist and property hotspot, with prices to match.

Average house prices in London have risen from lb475,948 to lb501,320 in the past 12 months, a rise of 5%.

Detached properties in London cost lb978,289, a year-on-year increase of just below 10%.

3. Devon

The county of Devon is located in the south-west of England. It's called the house of the English Riviera, and the historic cities of Plymouth and Exeter.

Average house prices in Devon have increased from lb260,648 to lb275,356 previously 12 months, a rise of nearly 6%.

Detached homes have become in cost in a similar pace and today average lb411,102.

4. Bristol

The town of Bristol in the south-west of England well known like a cultural and artistic hub, and frequently features in lists of the best places to reside in the united kingdom.

House prices in Bristol have raised by 8% in the last Twelve months, with the average rising from lb282,596 to lb305,471.

A detached property in Bristol now costs lb578,723, an increase of just under 10% year-on-year.

5. Glasgow

The Scottish city of Glasgow is known for its Victorian architecture, cultural attractions, and thriving arts and music scene.

Glasgow’s property market is increasing. Average house prices grew by 11% in the past year, jumping from lb135,881 to lb151,531.

The average cost of a detached home rose by 13%, to achieve lb377,401.

Detached homes soar in popularity

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a big increase in demand for detached properties, with buyers increasingly looking to trade up to have more space.

The demand for bigger properties has been led through the temporary cut to stamp duty.

In England and Northern Ireland, the tax break means buyers can save lb15,000 when buying a house for lb500,000 or even more before 30 June.

Rightmove says five-bedroom detached homes have seen the biggest increase in sales agreed in the last year, followed by four-bedroom properties.

Are homebuyers leaving cities?

There's little doubt the pandemic – and also the likelihood of homeworking remaining commonplace in the future – is different the priorities of homebuyers, who're seeking to leave cities in increasing numbers.

Rightmove’s research analysed the habits of would-be buyers living in 10 major cities. It found that in each and every case, a higher proportion of residents are now trying to find properties outside their city compared to a last year.

Edinburgh, Manchester and London were the three cities that the highest proportion of residents were looking to leave, as shown within the chart below.

How to find the best spot to live

If you’re thinking of relocating in 2021, it’s vital that you do your research around the best place to maneuver to.

When weighing up your options, consider your priorities. For instance, will the town need to be within an easy commute of the city or within the catchment area of a great local school, or are you interested in peace and quiet, and green space?

Our full guide on finding the best home includes lots of advice on comparing areas, in addition to tips about how to spot an up-and-coming town.

Once you’ve found a suitable location, our recommendation on buying a house can walk you through the homebuying process, from arranging viewings to exchanging contracts.