Forget about finding a place with a giant kitchen extension or a garden big enough for a bouncy castle – Brits buying a home now care more about being close to transport links, new research reveals.
A new survey from Market Financial Solutions (MFS) shows that after the pandemic, our priorities when moving house have changed again.
In 2021, everyone wanted loads of extra space, but it seems like the novelty of being stuck at home has well and truly worn off.
The research, which looked at 412 people who bought (or are buying) a home in the last year, found the top things house hunters want now are:
- Good internet: A massive 82% said this was ‘important’ or ‘very important.’
- A garden: This came in at 76%, showing that while outside space is still nice to have, it’s not top of the list anymore.
- Parks and green spaces: This was level with ‘quality and finish’ of the property – both were important to 74% of people.
- Transport links: This is the biggest climber on the list, jumping from 14th place in 2021 to 6th place in 2024.
So, what’s fallen down the priority list?
- Potential to extend: This dropped from 8th to 14th place
- Square footage: In 2021, everyone wanted a bigger house. This year, it’s only the 7th most important thing for buyers.
Paresh Raja, the CEO of MFS, said: “The increase in how important transport links are shows that our working lives have changed. More of us need to live close to stations and bus stops as working from home full-time becomes less popular.”
He added: “It looks like the ‘race for space’ is over. People are no longer desperate for bigger houses, and they’re willing to sacrifice space if it means they’ve got an easy commute or can get to shops and amenities easily.”