With the housing market seeing 65% more homes for sale than this time last year, new research has revealed Yorkshire house hunters’ must-haves when purchasing a property in the area.
The research conducted by Barratt Developments Yorkshire, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire East and West divisions, found that more than three quarters (76%) of Yorkshire respondents had previously delayed buying a new home due to the current inflation or difficulty in the housing market, and almost two in five of prospective buyers would seriously consider buying a home with a friend or family member to get on the property ladder (37%).
With demand for homes at its highest since October 20223, research has revealed the top five home features that respondents won’t compromise on when looking for a new home in the region:
Countryside (71%)
Commuter links (70%)
Office space (69%)
Location (65%)
Garden (64%)
With access to the countryside being at the top of homebuyers’ agendas, one in three also revealed that even despite businesses returning to the office, they are still more likely to consider moving out of Yorkshire’s bustling towns and cities and into the region’s more picturesque, rural areas of God’s own country.
When it comes to concerns around the current energy crisis, with almost three in five (58%) people disclosing their worries about the uncertainty surrounding their energy bill costs.
What’s more, over half (58%) of prospective purchasers are more likely to buy a new-build home to save on energy bills with six in 10 (61%) respondents willing to pay extra for sustainable home features including solar panels and electric charging points.
A recent report by the Home Buyers’ Federation (HBF)4 showed that consumers living in new build houses could save on average £3,100 a year on their energy bills, when compared to an older property. All Barratt Developments homes are built to a greater energy-efficient standard thanks to the highly thermally efficient insulation and argon-filled double-glazing, with all homes achieving an energy-efficiency rating of A or B, compared to just 4% of existing housing in the UK.
Paul Hogan, Sales Director at Barratt Developments Yorkshire East, said: “It’s really positive to be seeing the increased demand for homes in the region, particularly after the recent uncertainty within the housing market. Energy efficient features in the home are of a huge importance to buyers, and that’s why we ensure that all of our homes are fitted with a variety of energy efficient measures, to keep costs low and sustainable for homeowners. When compared to second-hand homes, we encourage house hunters to consider the long-term cost benefits of purchasing a new build.”
Sam Wood, Sales Director at Barratt Developments Yorkshire West, added: “The survey confirms that people in the region are still craving the open green spaces they enjoyed during the pandemic, even following the return to the office. When creating new communities in Yorkshire, we keep our customers’ wants and needs at the forefront of our designs, and including wonderful green open spaces is key to all of our developments.”
To create the most energy efficient homes for the future, Barratt has built the eHome2 within the £16 million Energy House 2.0, the world’s largest climate-controlled chamber at the University of Salford. The learnings from eHome2 will enable all housebuilders to build homes that use fewer resources and cost consumers less.
Barratt Developments, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes brands, has multiple developments within Doncaster, including Park Edge, Kings Lodge and Edwin Vale in Hatfield, Lancaster Gardens in Harworth and Torne Farm in Rossington.
