© Allan Baxter - Getty ImagesThe leafy Manchester suburb of Didsbury has been crowned the most popular place to buy a house in the UK, data by Rightmove has found.
The leafy Manchester suburb of Didsbury has been crowned the most popular place to buy a house in the UK, new data by Rightmove has found.
The UK's biggest property portal looked at the highest number of alerts set up for local neighbourhoods on Rightmove in March 2021, uncovering which areas are the most sought-after among buyers.
Didsbury, with idyllic streets and high-performing schools, has an average asking price of £367,429 - over £130,000 higher than the Greater Manchester average. With more homeowners flocking to the countryside, it's no surprise agents have reported a surge of market activity in the area.
London's Walthamstow scooped second place, with the average asking price rising by 116 per cent over the past ten years from £230,888 to £499,534. Wirral in Merseyside came in third place, while Prestwich in Greater Manchester and Horsforth, West Yorkshire, rounded off the top five.
'Our new analysis gives sellers in these local hotspots a clear indication of just how popular their area is, as it tracks the huge pool of the most eager prospective buyers who are signed up to find out instantly when a seller decides to bring their property to market,' says Tim Bannister, Rightmove's property expert.
© I-Wei Huang - Getty Images Houses in Walthamstow, London, have also seen a surge in buyers 'More buyers have realised they don't have the luxury of waiting until the weekend to decide which properties they want to request to view, and so they're making sure they've signed up to find out first when a home comes up for sale.'
While property demand is still outstripping supply, Rightmove found a 51 per cent jump in the number of homes coming up for sale in March and April compared to January and February of this year. As more owners try to beat the Stamp Duty Holiday deadline, the rush for many to find the perfect property is on.
Planning on moving? Take a look at the full findings below...
10 most sought-after places to buy a home in the UK
- Didsbury, Greater Manchester (£367,429 average asking price)
- Walthamstow, London (£499,534)
- Wirral, Merseyside (£287,243)
- Prestwich, Greater Manchester (£277,643)
- Horsforth, West Yorkshire (£312,460)
- Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Greater Manchester (£359,377)
- West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire (£365,370)
- Heaton Moor, Greater Manchester (£307,040)
- Bramhall, Greater Manchester (£482,311)
- Chiswick, London (£969,350)
Rob Kennedy, Managing Director of Philip James Kennedy in Didsbury Village, adds: 'The marketplace during 2021 has seen a surge in the Didsbury property market with record levels of sales and many properties generating multiple bids. House prices have increased as a result and properties are selling and completing faster.
'During these unprecedented times the importance of "home" has increased with many buyers wanting more space working from home; more space to relax and exercise, and many buyers wanting more outside space, easy access to a local park or larger garden.'
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