Affordability continues to shape the property search patterns of UK homebuyers, with new analysis from Zoopla highlighting a growing divergence in buyer behaviour.
While the majority of buyers still prioritise homes close to their current location, the average search radius has tightened to just 3.4 miles in 2025 – down from 4.3 miles in 2021, when the pandemic fuelled a broader ‘search for space’.
However, this is not the case for all buyers. A significant 26% are now looking for homes more than 10 miles away, signalling a growing cohort prepared to move further afield in pursuit of greater affordability and the right property.
Property purchasers in the South East and East of England are leading this trend. In these regions, 35% and 39% of buyers respectively are searching beyond their immediate area – often targeting homes priced up to £60,000 below those in their current location.
This pattern is particularly pronounced in popular commuter towns with strong links to London, such as St Albans, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Luton, and Guildford, as well as in key innovation hubs like Cambridge and Oxford. In these areas, more than 40% of buyers are looking beyond local boundaries, driven by the desire for better value and more living space.
In contrast, in northern England and the Midlands, more home buyers search locally, reflecting the relative affordability of these regions. Seven in ten buyers in these areas search for their next home within a five-mile radius of their current one. This local focus is especially pronounced in some of the UK’s most affordable cities, with a high percentage of buyers in Liverpool (83%), Bradford (83%) and Hull (82%) looking for properties within five miles.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, commented: “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.”
