UK house hunters are redrawing the map of where they are willing to move as affordability pressures reshape search patterns, new data from Zoopla shows.
While the majority of buyers still look close to home, the average search radius has shrunk to 3.4 miles in 2025, down from 4.3 miles during the pandemic-fuelled “search for space.”
Yet a growing share of buyers – more than one in four (26%) – are now casting their net more than 10 miles from their current address.
The South East and East of England stand out, with 35% and 39% of buyers respectively looking further afield, often at homes priced up to £60,000 below local values.
COMMUTER HOTSPOTS
Commuter hotspots such as St Albans, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Luton and Guildford, along with innovation centres like Cambridge and Oxford, have more than 40% of buyers stretching beyond their immediate area in search of value and space.
By contrast, affordability in northern England and the Midlands is keeping buyers closer to home.
Seven in ten movers in these regions stay within a five-mile radius, with the figure rising to over 80% in Liverpool, Bradford and Hull.
MIGRATION SHIFT
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, says: “Home buying decisions and search patterns are being reshaped by the affordability of housing.
“The old adage that most people move within five miles of where they live today is being challenged, especially for those wanting to live in southern England where housing costs are greatest.
“Regardless of where buyers are moving, we want to help empower consumers with the tools and insights they need to make better moving decisions.”
FLEXIBLE OPPORTUNITY
Nigel Bishop, founder of buying agency Recoco Property Search, says: “Approaching a property search with a level of flexibility when it comes to the search radius can result in a lot more opportunities, particularly if the buyer is working with a strict budget.
“We have found that buyers who are looking to buy in cities like Bath really want to stay close to the action of city living whilst those seeking a rural property, or generally want to get more property for their money, tend to look further afield.”
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES
Nathan Emerson, Chief Executive at Propertymark, says: “It comes as no surprise that regional variations are determining where people search for properties, as areas like London, the South East, and the East of England become harder for people to purchase a property in, particularly for first-time buyers, which shows that there are still considerable affordability challenges for many consumers.
“This growing trend requires longer term solutions such as easing mortgage costs, reforming the property taxation system in a way that encourages more people to step onto the housing ladder, and ensuring that the housing targets of the UK Government and the devolved administrations are all met.”
HOMEBUYER HELP
To support would-be buyers with their home moving decisions, Zoopla’s MyHome tool helps them understand and track the value of their current home.
While for those looking to move further afield, Zoopla’s travel time search calculator and enhanced search experience can help potential buyers find an area that best suits their needs.
Zoopla’s draw a map search enables buyers to pinpoint an exact area they’d like to live on – be it a single street, group of streets or neighbourhoods.
