London remains the leading destination for American homeowners purchasing property in England and Wales according to new data from Enness Global.
Analysis of homes registered with a US overseas correspondence address shows 13,827 properties across England and Wales are currently owned by American citizens. Of those, 29% are located in London, followed by the South East (17%) and South West (12%).
Overall American ownership has remained broadly stable over the past year, rising by 0.8%. However, growth is now strongest outside the capital. Wales recorded the largest annual increase at 3.2%, followed by the East Midlands (2.8%) and the North East (2.5%), pointing to a widening of buyer interest beyond traditional prime markets.
At local authority level, London’s dominance is even more pronounced. The City of Westminster accounts for 3.5% of all American-owned homes nationwide, with Kensington and Chelsea at 3%. Other London boroughs featuring in the top ten include Wandsworth, Camden, Tower Hamlets and Hammersmith and Fulham.
SOUTH WEST BEST
Beyond the capital, South Hams in the South West ranks as the strongest-performing non-London location, accounting for 1.9% of the total, with Cornwall and North Yorkshire also featuring prominently.
Islay Robinson (main picture, inset), CEO of Enness Global, says: “London and its prime central boroughs, in particular, continue to be the destination of choice for expatriating American citizens, and the capital accounts for by far the most significant proportion of American-owned homes in England and Wales.”
COMPELLING COMBINATION
He adds: “However, this is certainly not a story of one city alone and, in recent years, we’ve seen more and more US clients looking beyond the traditional boundaries of the London market when financing a purchase with us.”
“Countryside and coastal living is proving increasingly attractive, with areas such as South Hams, Cornwall, and North Yorkshire offering a more rural lifestyle and a slower pace of life compared to the capital.
“For many American buyers, the UK continues to offer a compelling combination of stability, lifestyle, and long-term value. Whether it’s prime central London or high-quality regional locations, demand remains resilient, and we expect this trend to continue as more US nationals look to establish a long-term base in the UK.”
