Press release: 12.04.2022
New data from whathouse.com, the UK’s leading new home audience platform, can reveal that March has been the best ever start to spring as search for new homes hits a record high as data shows a 30% increase on the same time last year. Home hunters search for new build homes has now spiked for the third consecutive month, with the January-March search hitting 158,960 (+64,147, a 68% increase on the same period in 2021).
In addition, the March increase in Midlands Help to Buy search of 50% is the highest that whathouse.com has recorded in any region or month previous. This unprecedented home hunter interest in new build homes is being stoked by people putting into action long-planned lifestyle changes, the impending end of Help to Buy which comes following a period of lockdown saving, and the growing desire of homeowners to improve energy efficiency and lower running costs.
Daniel Hill, Managing Director, whathouse.com comments:
“There’s a treble of reasons why home hunters are searching for new build homes in their droves, and why so many are making it their goal to complete this spring/summer.
Firstly, now final pandemic restrictions have lifted people are putting into action long-planned lifestyle changes, with ‘more well-planned family space’ top of the agenda. And, having taken the opportunity to save over the past twenty-four months, are now using their strong position to step-up to a luxury new build which provides purpose designed office, entertaining and home gym space.
Secondly, the Help to Buy scheme is due to end 31 March 2023, starting the countdown clock for first-time buyers who have used numerous lockdowns to save hard for a deposit.
Thirdly, the cost-of-living crunch and energy price hikes have made a new build home the obvious choice for many people thanks to their much higher standards. New build homes are far cheaper to run and will dramatically lower a household’s carbon footprint.”
James Holmear, Group Sales Director, Redrow comments:
“Several the findings of the whathouse.com Index resonate closely with trends we are currently experiencing in customer demand and sales. We continue to see high demand from growing families.
A significant number of second and third-steppers have been in a fortunate position to save during the pandemic, meaning they are in the perfect position to make the leap to one of our larger footprint properties. More buyers are also choosing to further customise their home with additional spaces such as home offices, and conservatories, reflecting the confluence of work and personal life for many people.”
Notes to Editors:
The WhatHouse? New Homes Index is based on data sourced from the whathouse.com new homes audience platform. The Index is compiled using a sample representing approx. 400,000 new home buyer searches across England, Scotland and Wales per year and its findings are reflective of whathouse.com user experiences and geographic market share.
The information and data in this report was correct at the time of publishing and every attempt is made to ensure its accuracy. However, it may now be out of date or superseded. Whathouse.com make no representation or warranty of any kind regarding the content of this report and accept no responsibility or liability for any decisions made by the reader based on the information and/or data shown here.
About WhatHouse?
Whathouse.com is the UK’s leading new home audience platform. For more than 30 years’ its aim has been to inspire UK homebuyer decisions around new property. With a comprehensive directory of over 7,000 new homes, from the UK’s most celebrated housebuilders, WhatHouse? makes it easy for buyers to consider the diverse range of property types and tenures available and to find their perfect new home match. The annual WhatHouse? Awards started out back in 1980 and is dubbed ‘the Oscars of the housebuilding industry’.
Contact our press team:
WhatHouse? Online Press Centre
Call Jill Willis: 07855 409970
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