Coronavirus makes UK, Spain and France top choices for homebuyers seeking to relocate, survey shows
- The UK garnered 30 per cent of votes, Spain 17 per cent and France 9 per cent from respondents who plan to relocate
- Covid-19 crisis does not make a difference to a majority of homebuyers about moving on
The survey, conducted in June with 700 buyers across 44 markets globally, sought to analyse buyers’ attitudes towards the property market as a result of the public health crisis, the property consultancy said in a report published on Wednesday.
The UK garnered 30 per cent of the votes, Spain 17 per cent and France 9 per cent. The trio outranked more than 13 other countries that collected 2 to 4 per cent of votes from respondents who were inclined to move away from their current locations, the report shows.
“The crisis has fundamentally changed the way we live our everyday lives with the home now a hub from which we work, exercise, learn, socialise and relax,” said Kate Everett-Allen, head of international residential research. These changes “will have repercussions on property markets around the world.”
Still, only 25 per cent of the people surveyed had indicated their likelihood to move to a new property at home or abroad within the next 12 months, Knight Frank said. About 23 per cent of them were less inclined to uproot while 52 per cent were likely to stay put.
In general, those seeking to acquire a new property – whether at an existing location or a new country, cited the need for an upgrade as the main reason. Improved access to health care came in a close second, according to the survey.