Customer Survey

In this year's research, there has been a surge both in the proportion of those who would consider a new home and those who would prefer to buy one:

36% of adults intending to move over the next three years said they would consider buying brand new (up 11 percentage points on last year, and the highest level since the survey began)
24% would prefer to buy new (up 3 percentage points on last year, and the highest level since 1996).

First time buyers continue to show the strongest preference for new properties. 30% of first time buyers would prefer to buy new (the highest figure since 1996) compared to 21% of those who already own a property.
Men (26%) are stronger in their preference for new homes than women (21%). This is partly because of the hassle free, no major DIY, benefits of buying a new property.
New homes are also favoured more by the young: 26% of 16-34s, and 35% of 16-24s prefer them, compared to only 19% of those aged 55 and over.
There is currently no strong differentiation by socio-economic group. 24% of ABC1s prefer brand new compared to 23% of C2DEs.
This year those in the North show the strongest preference for brand new. 28% would prefer to buy brand new. The equivalent figures for Midlands and South are 21%. As moving intentions are strong in the North, this shows great market potential for house builders in the North.

New homes have begun this year to narrow the gap in preference for second hand modern and older properties. Second hand modern properties continue to be the most strongly preferred; older properties (pre 1945) are a strong second at 39%.
Second hand modern properties are preferred most strongly by the 16-34 age group (47% prefer), by C2s (45% prefer), and by those in the Midlands and South (44%).
Older properties appeal most to women (43% prefer), to the 45-54 age group, to ABs (49%) and to those in the South (48%).

www.new-homes.co.uk