Many homeowners move for 'better life'

21-Feb-2007

New research suggests that many Britons move house in order to secure a better life for their families, which may be of interest to first time buyers wondering where to buy.

According to data released by Abbey, over the last five years, 18.8 million people have moved homes to improve their overall quality of life, with nearly 5.3 million moving specifically because of too much crime, which may be of interest to first time buyers worried about buying into a bad area.

Research was conducted for Abbey by Tickbox.net between November 24th and 26th 2006.

"When buying a home people have more to consider than just the building itself," said Nici Audhlam Gardiner, head of mortgages at Abbey.

"People spend a lot of time looking not only for what they want in a home, but for what they need in the area they live in," she added.

The survey also found that 2.6 million people move home to gain entry for children into a good school, while 4.5 million move to escape bad neighbours.

Abbey offers a range of products and services, including mortgages and credit cards.

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