Half of homebuyers want to live near public green spaces

Public greenery in front of the door is a top priority for more than half of the home buyers, it appears.

Research by Jackson-Stops realtors surveyed 500 homebuyers planning to move within the next three years.

It identified their main must-haves, which also included good transport links to work and being close to a school that is highly rated by Ofsted. Homebuyers could select up to five options.

Quick access to work and good transport links are tied for second place for the must-haves in the top area.

Nearly half of homebuyers — 48 percent — cite this as an essential part of their wish list.

It is followed by 43 percent of respondents saying that living in an area with a busy high street and rich in local amenities was a top priority.

This is even more common among movers in the Southeast – at 55 percent – and the Northeast – at 48 percent.

Proximity to rural areas ranked fifth at 40 percent, reflecting a continuation of the “race for space” theme that emerged during the pandemic following several lockdowns.

Also on the list is the desire to enter a lower municipal tax bracket. More than a quarter of respondents – 26 percent – ​​said they did, highlighting the toll the cost-of-living crisis is taking on households.

Aside from the area, when asked what homebuyers want from a home, the top four answers (30 percent respectively) were a downstairs toilet, a large garden, a home office space and energy-saving measures already installed, such as solar panels or smart boilers .

Nick Leeming, from Jackson-Stops, said: ‘They say an Englishman’s home is his castle, and the data points to the growing trend for ready-to-use convenient living all within easy reach of the home, whether that’s the advantage of a ground floor. toilet or a shorter ride to work.

“Buyers looking for green energy measures already installed is a major trend that is likely to grow in the coming years, removing the inconvenience of exploring these routes on your own and the cost of installation while factoring in the long-term benefits of lower energy bills.”

“Less disposable income plays a role in these results, and this is where we can see buyers starting to negotiate asking prices, prioritizing a home purchase that is future-proofed from day one.”

Having a charging point for electric cars turned out to be a necessity for almost one in ten buyers – 9 percent.

This is despite the fact that in May 2023 only 16.9 per cent of all new car registrations in Britain were for electric vehicles – although this is a significant increase from the end of 2016 when only 0.4 per cent of all new vehicles registered were electric. used to be.

Real estate aspirations also emerged from the survey.

Although not in the top ten, the prominence of premium features such as a swimming pool at 11 percent, a walk-in closet at 16 percent, fireplace or working fireplace at 7 percent, an Aga or double oven at 6 percent, and a wine cellar at 6 percent, demonstrating the high-end features buyers still cherish.

In addition to material features, short lead time was cited as a deal maker for 6 percent of buyers in the survey.

Mr Leeming added: ‘In a competitive market, the ability to move quickly or buy a property without further chain could be the difference between securing a property or losing a buyer who can move faster.

“A fast move means less chance of the chain collapsing or mortgage offers being withdrawn. This is a market that needs speed and buyers and sellers need to work closely with their broker to ensure the most successful outcome.”