New Lockdown – What Do Buyers Want This Time?

With England in lockdown once again at the start of 2021, it is fair to say many people will be re-evaluating what they need in their home.

While the lockdowns last year were challenging, it is likely that a winter lockdown will pose fresh challenges. When you also consider many people are unable to enter this lockdown with the same level of optimism or positivity that they did the last, it is clear to see many people will be looking for a change of surroundings.

We should continue to look forward, and hope that the vaccine will provide us with a greater sense of freedom before too long. However, it is also important people are realistic, and as Rightmove figures have shown, prospective buyers are looking for property in greater numbers.

People will re-evaluate what matters to them

While this is a new lockdown, the elements that people want to see in their home remain the same. Therefore, we should expect the housing market searches to be similar to what we saw in 2020.

This means buyers are looking for larger homes, and they are less bothered about living close to their work. This means people might be looking for property in an aera where they can achieve better value for money, where there is more greenery, and where there is a better sense of community.

Enfield has a lot to offer

It will not shock you to hear we believe Enfield has everything a buyer could look for. You are still well connected to the heart of London, so if you have to work, or you are able to shop and socialise, you can.

However, setting up in this part of the country offers greater freedom, and a chance of settling down in a place where you feel at home.

At the start of January 2021, Rightmove said the following about the Enfield housing market;

“Properties in Enfield had an overall average price of £490,403 over the last year. The majority of sales in Enfield during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £456,637. Flats sold for an average of £318,365, with semi-detached properties fetching £672,595.

Overall, sold prices in Enfield over the last year were 2% up on the previous year and 6% up on the 2017 peak of £462,874.”

Colby Short is a familiar name in the UK property market, and he said; “Buyer demand remained extremely high in many parts of the UK during the final quarter of 2020, continuing to benefit from a stamp duty holiday boost despite entering a traditionally quieter period for the property market. Of course, not everywhere has benefitted to the same degree and while homes are flying off the shelves in the likes of Bristol, Glasgow and Sheffield, demand remains very low in Aberdeen.”

Colby continued by focusing on London, and of course, the outskirts of the capital, is in significant demand. Colby said; “In London, the pandemic continues to influence buyer decisions with the capital’s peripheral boroughs performing well due to their offering of more space and a lower price tag. However, London’s central boroughs continue to suffer from a decline in popularity, largely due to the changing trends in how and where we work.”