Posted: Wednesday, November 24, 2021

The city never sleeps – things to consider before leaving the countryside

2020 saw a ‘city exodus’; due to the fact that more and more people were working from home, where many Britons decided to relocate away from the city in favour of more space, cheaper prices or a garden. However, since the lifting of most Covid restrictions in the summer, and with the economy strengthening throughout 2021, the property market has experienced somewhat of a boom! 

First Mortgage, one of the UK’s longest established mortgage brokers, has found that despite people moving away from city centres, one fifth of those who moved away in 2020 are planning to return to the city within the next year. With this in mind we put together a few things that you might need to consider before moving back to the city.

 

Going underground

One of the many benefits of living within a city is the fantastic transport services on offer. In London for instance you have a superb underground system of tubes offering a simple way around the city for commuting and leisure purposes – however it is important to consider how direct these services are. For instance, living on the outskirts of London, your house may be nearest to the Jubilee Line, whereas your office in central London is likely to be on the Central Line. Consider how easy it is to change lines midway through your journey, or whether you should do part of your journey by bicycle or bus. Places such as Manchester and Nottingham have an overground tramline and although this offers a direct service into the centre of the city, it may still bypass some commercial districts. This is why it is important not to assume the transport links on offer will be perfect for your situation and needs – there may still be a requirement for you to own a car, and therefore parking and garaging is a requirement you will need to factor into your house search.

 

Manchester has a superb tram service in the city

 

The cost of living

The area we chose to live in dictates the cost of living and also, generally, our incomes. New figures published in November 2021 reveal the cost of living in the UK as a whole rose by 4.2% in October 2021, its highest rate in almost 10 years. Therefore, taking a job in the city with a higher wage may only be that high to reflect the cost of living within that city – something to consider when calculating how much disposable income you have at the end of each month in the city, in comparison to the countryside.

 

The cost of living is at its highest rate in 10 years

 

Keep connected

Relocating to different parts of the country can be an exciting prospect, and starting afresh can feel revitalising. However, it is important to consider how your connections will be affected by the move – will you still have the time or energy to visit friends and family? How easy is it for them to visit you? Will your new city lifestyle allow for family time during the holidays? There are certain practicalities to think about with family when living in the city, and not everyone will want to travel into a bustling area regularly to make visits, so it is good to think about the possibility of arranging monthly catch ups with your friends and family to ensure this connection is not lost or damaged post-move. This is particularly important if you have children. In the countryside, there are generally more opportunities for children to socialise with their friends safely and out in the open, so research groups or local meet ups available to you in the city.

 

stay connected to family and friends

 

Generation rent

Some cities in the UK have seen rental prices drop since tenants swapped the city for the countryside, with London suffering the biggest rental fall since the financial crash. Average rental prices were down by 0.9% in Manchester in the year to December 2020, and 0.8% in Birmingham, according to Zoopla. London suffered the most with a fall of 8.3%. While these price drops are very tempting and offer an opportunity to enter the rental market with relative ease, it is paramount to consider the price hikes that will be sure to follow in the coming months and years as demand increases. It may be worth comparing the affordability of fixed mortgages against potentially fluctuating rents before making your decision on moving to the city.

 

Rental properties are at their cheapest since pre-pandemic levels

 

In conclusion, there are many advantages and benefits of living in a city including more job opportunities, more events to attend, better public transport and good proximity to hospitals and other public services, but, as with any home move, there are some very important financial and emotional decisions to make before settling on a move back to the city.

 

Contact Us

Are you thinking of buying or selling your city or countryside home? Get in touch with your local Guild Member today.

 

 

 

Looking to buy?

Looking to buy?

We'd love to help you on your journey home.
Don't miss out on on the latest properties by registering for our property alerts.

Register with us today

Read What Our
Customers Say

I can't speak more highly of the team at Homesearch. When I met Michael to discuss the sale of my home instantly from that meeting, I could tell how knowledgeable they were. From that moment until closing, everything went absolutely flawless. This experience of selling went without a hitch with them giving great tips on preparing my home for viewings. Thank you. I really appreciate all your help during this process. I highly recommend Homesearch to any person who is looking to sell their home or buy a new home.

Loretta Barrett, Seller

I started with two very well known real estates, but I hated it. I was simply another number to them and I didn't feel they were honest and transparent. With HomeSearch I felt comfortable that they were on my side and they were always available to help. The process is hard enough, so having a team who supports you can make such a difference. Highly recommend.

Arian Barvarz, Seller

The reason we chose Homesearch to sell our property was that we liked the straightforward, no-nonsense approach of both Anna and Michael. They gave an honest appraisal of our property and a clear idea of what we could expect to sell it for. In fact, the offer we accepted exceeded our expectations. The sale took longer than we would have liked, due to delays caused by the buyers' solicitor, but Michael was tenacious and must have worn his phone out keeping everyone informed of progress.

Nicola Watson, Seller

Homesearch are hands down the best agent I have ever worked with ! The team helped me in an extremely complex sale. Without the knowledge and experience of the whole team, my sale would not have completed. I dont normally write reviews, only when they are truly deserved. An exceptional team! Very kind and personable, reliable & trustworthy.

Leslie John, Seller

My experience with Homesearch is that they are professional, friendly and go above and beyond to ensure that something stressful like selling a house runs as smoothly and stress free as possible. They work hard to get the results and have kept me updated throughout the process. I honestly could not recommend them enough, they are easily the best company I’ve dealt with in the buying/selling houses field. And to top it all off, they always answer the phone in the most pleasant tone and always provide service with a smile.

Chanelle Hunte, Seller

Homesearch are PROFESSIONALS. I sold my property through Homesearch and I have not dealt with a more competent agency. Every single person  dealt with knew exactly what they were talking about and I can tell that they all have knowledge in the industry and were not just picked up from the street. From the get go I was impressed and I will certainly do business with them again.

Paul Hobbs, Seller

Many thanks Homesearch for locating professional corporate tenants for my property. I am very happy with your property management service as you always ensure that the tenants give the property back in good order at check out. Five Stars!

Maria Foran, Landlord

I have been absolutely delighted with the exceptional service I have received from Homesearch. They have removed all the stress & hassle of renting my property and dealt with all manner of situations I would have struggled with in such a professional & courteous manner. They give valuable unbiased advice with such a wealth of experience. Nothing is ever too much trouble for the staff, who are always friendly & helpful. Homesearch let and managed my property and I am very happy with their property management services, they are very knowledgeable.

Paula Carter, Landlord

Homesearch always do what they say they will do. They are efficient and raise any issues early and provide options to resolve them. Homesearch is very  easy to get hold of and talk to, no matter where I am in the world! My property is well looked after, regarding tradesmen, replacement of items swiftly etc. with the minimum of fuss.

David Connells, Landlord

From our first viewing right through to the present, Home Search were brilliant. They helped make the whole process quick and stress free and even now we are in and settled, they are still happy to assist us with any queries we may have. We couldn't recommend them highly enough.

Julie Maney

Home Search helped us move into our new flat smoothly and Tim was always happy to provide help to put our nerves at ease. Arranging a viewing was easy and Home Search were happy to open after hours for us to sign the paperwork. They were very helpful and often would offer to help! Having moved in we received a lovely card and they have always been swift in communicating with Usif we have any questions. Would recommend it.

Will Houghton

Michael and his team were simply amazing!! They helped us to find the perfect house, offering a nice and attentive service from the beginning through to the end. Thank you so much!! 5 stars service. Highly recommended!!!

Giordana Sicali

Very helpful and friendly staff. Tim, Michael and the team Made the whole renting experience easier.

Amol Sinare

I had a very difficult situation as I did not have a guarantor and my dad was earning enough but was not a homeowner. It took a about 3 weeks but Michael sorted it all out in the end and my dad became my guarantor. I got a lovely home and all the staff were very helpful including Paris, Zainab and Tim. Thank you all very much! Would recommend them to anyone

Misti Chakraborty

On behalf of myself, Noa & Niamh, we would like to start off by saying a massive thank you for the amazing service Home Search Ltd provided us with, especially highlighting the work of Clorissa. Within a week we were able to sign, seal and move into the property that we looked at, all down to Clorissa's prompt and effective work ethic, which allowed us a smooth transition from one property to another, without her, this move would not of been possible to have happened within the time stamp that it did. We are very grateful for the work that was done by Home Search Ltd, highly recommend.

Lewis Francis
How Much is Your Property Worth?

Expert Valuation

We always come armed with evidence and statistics of why we are pricing your property a certain way. We know the importance of getting the initial price of your property right, first time. With our extensive experience we will also explain current market conditions as we want to get our sellers the best price.

What's more, get a free gift with your free expert valuation with one of our experienced Valuer's.

Book a Valuation