Retired home hunters fastest out of  the blocks in search for new homes

Press release: 10.02.2022

• Whathouse.com recorded its busiest every January for new home search, with home hunter activity across all property types and tenures up by 42% the highest month on month search growth recorded since May 2021.
• The number of 50+ home hunters searching for retirement new build homes across Britain hit a new record, experiencing an uptick in search of 83% during January.    
• Luxury home hunters also jumped into action as the new year began and whathouse.com recorded a 50% growth in search for luxury new build homes across Britain in the first month of 2022.
• Buyer interest in Help to Buy properties increased by 27% in January, with notable increases coming from Scotland (73% growth) and East Midlands (66% growth).
• Scotland experienced the strongest surge in new home demand across multiple home types and tenures.  Overall search grew by 42%, search for retirement properties increased six-fold and search for Help to Buy properties doubled in the first month of 2022.    

New data from whathouse.com the UK’s leading new home audience platform can reveal that January was the busiest month on record for new home hunter activity since May 2021, as 50+ prospective buyers and forever home hunters start 2022 with a strong desire to ring in the changes.

Daniel Hill, Managing Director, whathouse.com comments:

“New home hunter activity traditionally ramps up in the first month of the year as people turn their attention to actioning plans.  Despite the buoyant market activity, we saw throughout 2021, we’ve recorded even higher levels of new home buyer interest in January, signalling that a new group of prospective buyers are considering a move to a new build property.  This group is primarily made up of home hunters seeking retirement and luxury family homes.  They may have held back during the uncertainty of the pandemic but are now resolved to consider a move to a new build property, rather than second-hand, to improve lifestyle, increase available space and lower energy consumption and running costs. 

The record-breaking jump in search for retirement properties (up 83%) leaves us in no doubt that for many people in their 50s and 60s, the past two years have provided an opportunity for contemplation.   Now, as health experts agree the coronavirus pandemic is reaching its end, we’re seeing a surge of interest in retirement properties as 50+ home hunters consider a change of lifestyle, or a move to be nearer children or grandchildren.”

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 developments 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

Email: [email protected]