Written by Lisa Proffitt | 16th April 2019
Thinking of moving out of london? In 2018 London sellers snapped up an estimated £30 billion worth of homes across Britain, leaving the city in greater numbers than they have done for a decade. Buyers used to move out of London because of life decisions like starting a family or escaping the rat race, but today affordability is the number one reason for an early exodus.
Sky high property prices in the capital preclude the vast majority of buyers from taking out a mortgage in the city and in the first half of 2018, almost a third of first-time buyers living in the capital moved out of London. That’s almost double the proportion who did so in 2013. And it’s not just first time buyers moving out. Hefty stamp duty payments mean that London home-owners who dream of moving out ‘one day’ are bypassing trading up to a larger home in the city and are moving directly to buying a forever home in the country.
Are you looking to move to the country? Our next London show is coming up on Tuesday 14th May at The London & Country Property Show which is being held between 2-7pm in the Main Hall of the Chelsea Old Town Hall. Michael Graham Estate Agents will be on hand to offer advice to those planning to make their move out of the Capital and start a new life in the country. Click here to register for free tickets to the event.
Space: A three-bedroom terrace in London can be traded in for a detached house and garden with countryside views and guaranteed parking.
Schools: Children donning a boiler-suit at break time for muddy play in the fields, forest walks and outdoor expeditions are all a daily part of life in a countryside school.
Dogs: And horses and chickens – in fact pets of any kind. “Can I have a pony/puppy please?” is the most common reaction to telling a child they’re moving to the country.
Work-life balance: Now that super-fast broadband is being rolled out in villages across the country, working from home is a more viable option for city workers unwilling to commute every day. Also, many London firms have relocated for lower office rents to large towns like Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge where there’s strong job growth.
Walks and views: Smell that fresh air. You already have a National Trust membership and watch BBC’s Countryfile. What are you waiting for?
Slower pace of life: No traffic noise or sirens in the early hours and fewer people. It’s also really dark and you can see the stars, which takes some getting used to.
Pubs: When you live in London, a weekend in the country isn’t complete without a bracing walk followed by a Sunday roast in a traditional pub. Imagine if you had one on your doorstep. Roaring fires, local ales and a landlord who greets you (and your dog) by name. You don’t get that in a cocktail bar.
Field to fork: At a time when we’re concerned about food miles and sustainability, living in the country makes it easy to eat locally produced food and do our bit for the environment. It’s healthier too.
Community: Neighbours make it their business to get to know you. They pop round uninvited which is odd initially but quickly becomes a joy. You can be a hermit if you like, but you won’t want to be.
Escapism: If you work in the city, you can literally head for the hills and leave it all behind every night as you prepare for a date with that first gin and tonic in the garden. What’s not to love?
With so many people from the capital looking for a home within an hour's commute of London, it’s important to choose an estate agent in touch with those potential buyers. Michael Graham has a marketing office in St James's Place, central London, and we regularly host and take part in property shows in the city to promote country homes in our region.
What is the best thing about country life for you? Find us on Facebook or tweet us and let us know, and browse our property pages for town and country homes to buy or to rent.