• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Property

Escape to the country: Surge in city dwellers inquiring about homes in villages

Contacts from city residents to estate agents about buying a home in a village increased by 126 per cent in June and July compared with a year earlier.

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
August 6, 2020
in Property

Home buyers currently living in major cities are planning their escape to the country, according to a property website.

Rightmove said it is seeing an uplift in city dwellers considering moving to villages – and this is outperforming an increase it is also seeing in home hunters looking to move from a city to a town.

Across June and July, the number of buyer inquiries from people living in 10 major cities increased by 78 per cent overall compared with the same period last year as the market picked up.

Contacts from city residents to estate agents about buying a home in a village increased by 126 per cent in June and July compared to the same period last year, outperforming a 68 per cent uplift from people in cities inquiring about towns, Rightmove said.

Village lifestyle

For example, the number of inquiries from Liverpool residents looking for a village lifestyle has almost tripled (275 per cent) compared with a year earlier, while there has been a 63 per cent increase in inquiries about towns.

In Edinburgh, village inquiries are up 205 per cent and in Birmingham they have increased by 186 per cent.

Only one out of the 10 cities analysed – Leicester – has seen a bigger increase in inquiries to move to towns than to villages, Rightmove said.

RelatedPosts

Cheapest Places to Live in London 2021

Escape to the country: Best Places to live 2021

As Covid-19 weighs on real estate market, could the Tories be forced to take action?

Boris Johnson’s brother locked in planning row with neighbour

The website said many village locations city-based house hunters are interested in are still within commuting distance to the city they currently live in, suggesting people are being drawn to the appeal of a quieter way of life.

Money does not appear to be the main motive for moving, as average asking prices in villages are often more expensive than in cities.

Rightmove suggested some city home owners may have benefited from strong house price growth over the years and are now able to trade up and out to the country.

“The lure of a new lifestyle”

Rightmove’s property expert Miles Shipside said: “The lure of a new lifestyle, one that is quieter and has an abundance of beautiful countryside and more outdoor space, has led to more city dwellers choosing to become rural residents.

“We saw a shift as early as April in more people living in cities inquiring about moving out of that city, and this trend has continued.

“The most popular village moves are still within the same region the home hunters are currently in, as it’s likely they’ll keep their current job but may have the flexibility to commute less often and set up their working space at home.”

Mark Rimell, director in Strutt & Parker’s country house department, said: “A slower pace of life, outdoor space and tight knit communities come hand in hand with village living – something many have come to appreciate in recent months and have enduring appeal.”

Freddie Wright, partner, Knight Frank Bristol, said: “The city property market in Bristol is extremely busy at the moment – many of those selling are looking to move out into villages such as Banwell because people are looking for a slower pace of life post-lockdown, and these villages offer the best of both worlds.”

Rural and coastal communities

Rightmove’s research was released as a separate survey from Barclays Mortgages found that the South West of England, with its rural and coastal communities, is a particularly desirable location for those hailing from Birmingham, Nottingham, London, and Manchester.

Barclays Mortgages found popular reasons for people wanting to relocate include a bigger garden, being closer to essential services, living where they can exercise easily, being nearer to relatives, and a stronger local community.

Dr Peter Brooks, chief behavioural scientist at Barclays said: “More outside space and the benefits of being closer to friends and family are high on the ‘must have’ list for many movers.

“As working from home becomes more commonplace moving cross-country looks to be more achievable for many as there is less of a need to be within a short commute to the office.”

Here are the percentage increases in inquiries from major cities about villages, followed by the uplift in interest in towns, according to Rightmove:

– Birmingham, 186 per cent, 43 per cent

– Bristol, 131 per cent, 85 per cent

– Edinburgh, 205 per cent, 86 per cent

– Glasgow, 60 per cent, 55 per cent

– Leicester, 27 per cent, 48 per cent

– Liverpool, 275 per cent, 63 per cent

– London, 144 per cent, 79 per cent

– Manchester, 79 per cent, 36 per cent

– Nottingham, 137 per cent, 68 per cent

– Sheffield, 81 per cent, 58 per cent

And here are the most popular rural locations that home hunters are inquiring about moving to, with the average asking prices in cities and villages, according to Rightmove: 

– Birmingham, £212,661, Marlbrook, Worcestershire, £367,854

– Bristol, £328,776, Banwell, Somerset, £287,480

– Edinburgh, £276,879, West Linton, Peeblesshire, £365,888

– Glasgow, £154,680, Bridge Of Weir, Renfrewshire, £221,830

– Leicester, £236,672, Markfield, Leicestershire, £260,772

– Liverpool, £169,973, Aughton, Lancashire, £377,515

– London, £641,854, Iver, Buckinghamshire, £607,483

– Manchester, £218,594, Charlesworth, Derbyshire, £356,655

– Nottingham, £214,572, East Leake, Leicestershire, £290,005

– Sheffield, £199,562, Whiston, South Yorkshire, £231,300

Related: Only MP to resign over Cummings saga lands top job as leader of Scottish Tories

Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The Other Prison Pandemic

Latest from TLE

Patel bullying case dropped after settlement but how much did it cost taxpayer?

‘Grim warning to Boris Johnson’ as support for Welsh Independence at highest ever level

Labour leader questions ‘fishy’ allocation of funds to Tory areas in Budget

TLE drives: The Polestar 2

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.