"The old adage that most people move within five miles of their current home is being challenged, especially in southern England where costs are highest"
- Richard Donnell - Zoopla
Homebuyers across the UK are increasingly divided in how far they are willing to search for their next property, according to new analysis from Zoopla. The average UK buyer’s search radius has narrowed to 3.4 miles in 2025, down from 4.3 miles in 2021 during the pandemic ‘search for space’. Yet in southern regions and London, buyers are widening their search to find more affordable homes.
Government data shows that over half (51%) of owner-occupiers who moved in the last three years stayed within five miles of their previous home. Despite this, a quarter (26%) of all buyers are searching beyond a 10-mile radius, highlighting a growing segment willing to move further afield.
Southern buyers seek value and space
Buyers in the South East and East of England are most likely to look beyond their immediate area. In these regions, 35% and 39% of buyers, respectively, consider homes priced up to £60,000 below the value of their current property. Popular commuter towns such as St Albans, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Luton, and Guildford, as well as innovation hubs like Cambridge and Oxford, see over 40% of buyers searching outside their local area, driven by affordability and the desire for more space.
For many southern buyers, expanding the search is financially motivated. Buyers in the South West typically seek homes around £40,000 cheaper than their current property, while London-based buyers often target properties up to £200,000 less. In Uxbridge and Harrow, savings of around £220,000 attract buyers willing to look 10 miles or more from their current home. In broader areas of North West and North London, buyers aim for nearly half off, seeking savings of £290,000 and £285,000 respectively.
Northern buyers stay local
In contrast, buyers in northern England and the Midlands tend to search closer to home, reflecting the relative affordability of these regions. Around 70% of buyers in these areas search within five miles of their current property. Cities such as Liverpool and Bradford see 83% of buyers staying local, and Hull sees 82%.
Some buyers in the North West and Midlands still look further afield, motivated by potential savings of £20,000–£25,000, while buyers in the North East and Yorkshire & the Humber are less focused on cost savings. In fact, some are seeking properties priced at a £20,000 premium compared to their current location.
Rural buyers move further
The most rural regions see buyers willing to move significant distances. In the Scottish Hebrides, 90% of buyers look more than 10 miles away, followed by Llandrindod Wells in Wales (77%), Salisbury in the South West (57%), and St Albans (48%). These moves are often lifestyle-driven, including changing work patterns and the desire for better access to amenities.
“Home buying decisions and search patterns are being reshaped by housing affordability,” he said. “The old adage that most people move within five miles of their current home is being challenged, especially in southern England where costs are highest," comments Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla.
“More home buyers are looking further afield in search of better value, so today’s buyers need more tools and insights to plan their next move. Our search experience allows consumers to draw custom search areas on a map, giving them control over their property hunt. The travel time calculator also helps buyers understand how far they could live from their workplace while maintaining a reasonable commute, balancing affordability with convenience.”
Nathan Emerson, CEO 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.”
