As a whole, January was the busiest month on record for new home hunter activity since May 2021, according to the new home platform, with 50+ prospective buyers and forever home hunters began the new year with a strong desire to ring in the changes.
Luxury home hunters also jumped into action as the new year began with the site recording 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.
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.”
