South east magnet for home-buyers

SPIRALLING property prices in the south east are failing to deter home-buyers, with 17% of people who are planning a move in the next two years hoping to buy a house there, research showed on Friday.

People currently living in London are leading the exodus to the region, with 19% of prospective movers in the capital planning to move to the south east, according to Alliance & Leicester.

Men were also more likely to be looking to move to the region than women, with 20% of men, but only 13% of women, planning to buy a property there. But the capital still retains some of its appeal, with 13% of people planning a move in the future hoping to set up home in London.

Britons are also looking further afield when it comes to buying a house, with 5% of people hoping to buy a property abroad - up from 2% in January this year - of whom 13% are in their 50s.

Paul Cooper, head of mortgages at Alliance & Leicester, said: 'Despite an autumn lull, it appears that the south east has bounced back as the most desirable place to live. The upturn in emigration is a new and surprising trend and may well be influenced by Britons deciding that it is a good time to invest in a second home abroad, or perhaps investing with a view to retirement in sunnier places.'

Londoners are most likely to be planning to move away from where they currently live, with 38% of the people who are looking to buy a new house within the next two years planning to move away from the capital.

About 10% of prospective buyers are house-hunting in the north west, while 9% are looking to move to Scotland, 6% more than in January.

The north is expected to attract the least number of home-buyers during the next two years, with just 4% of movers planning to look for property there, followed by Wales at 5%. People in Yorkshire and Humberside are most loyal to their region with just 3% of people looking to move away.

RSGB Omnibus questioned 4,000 people face-to-face during March and April.