West Midlands new home searches soar during May 

22.06.2021

A new WhatHouse? study has revealed that the West Midlands is currently the hottest area across England for new home buyer demand (not including London & South East) as searches for new homes soar to 19,295 during May and searches for luxury new homes jump by 7%.   An encouraging sign that, post-pandemic, many home buyers consider the region to be the answer to their changing space requirements and lifestyle priorities.

• Demand searches for new home properties in the North West of England increased during May to 19,295.  This demonstrates the greatest demand outside of the South East of England & London.
• May’s average new property price in the North West is £300,843, a slight reduction of     -2% since April.  A sign that rising prices appear to be settling down as demand now matches supply across the region.

Regional home builders report that access to a great network of road and rail links, open green spaces of the Shropshire hills and Herefordshire, and below national average new home asking prices of £300,843 (national average is £326,662) may have contributed to the rise in West Midlands new home demand - as home buyers seek a green escape and more space for their budget since lockdown.

Daniel Hill, WhatHouse? Managing Director comments: “From the search behaviour experienced on Whathouse.com, demand for new homes in the West Midlands is sky-high.  May saw a total of 19,295 searches for the region, placing the West Midlands in the top three (the only northerly region to join London and the South East).  When we consider that nearly all of Britain's top firms have announced they’re planning a flexible work-from-home model following the Covid lockdown it’s no surprise that changing space and lifestyle requirements continue to drive momentum in the region.  With great accessibility to transport links, and excellent value for money it is no surprise that the West Midlands is topping the charts for home buyers looking for their perfect new home”.

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman, House Builders Federation said:

“Demand for new build homes continues to remain extremely strong as it has done since the sales market reopened post lock down last Spring. Many sites are forward sold with builders focussed on completing homes to meet the high demand levels. Decision makers in central and local government need to continue to work with the industry if supply is to meet demand and housing targets are to be met.”

Notes to Editors:

The WhatHouse? New Homes Index is based on data sourced from the WhatHouse? 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? user experiences and geographic market share.

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 will mark its 41st birthday at an extraordinary industry event, sponsored by BritishVolt, in November 2021.  Dubbed ‘the Oscars of the housebuilding industry’, the awards send a panel of expert judges to every corner of the UK to find winners within over 20 categories including Best Starter Home Project, Best Sustainable Development, and the coveted Housebuilder of the Year title.

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