The nation’s dream home has been defined, and it includes being by the sea, a pub and living near a Tesco supermarket.
Research by Rightmove found that after putting all the most popular elements together a British buyer’s dream home is a four-bedroom detached property in a coastal village with two living rooms, two bathrooms, a garden, and a utility room.
It also now includes an office, which has become a priority for many workers during the pandemic.
And the supermarket that most people want to have nearby is Tesco, just pipping the usual desirable location indicator Waitrose to the post – although supermarket preferences vary around the country, according to the property website.
We do like to be beside the seaside: Research by Rightmove found that a buyer’s dream home is a four-bedroom detached property in a coastal village
The Rightmove research asked people what kind of property their dream home would be
The research asked 2,023 people viewing property online in August what kind of property their dream home would be, where it would be, and what they would want on their doorstep.
It found that the top four non-essential amenities wanted within walking distance are a pub, corner shop, coffee shop and local market.
One of the big impacts on the housing market during the pandemic has been the rise in the number of people seeking out a detached home, according to Rightmove.
The nation’s dream home is in a small, friendly community, but it is also detached. This means that buyers can avoid having neighbours too nearby.
Two living rooms is the most popular request for downstairs, while a garage and a garden are also both a high priority.
A utility room stands out as a must-have, and is considered more useful than more glamorous alternatives, such as a walk-in wardrobe, a gym or a swimming pool.
Working from home is considered important, especially among those in younger age groups, with those aged between 18 and 34 saying that a home office is their number one priority for an extra room.
Meanwhile, conservatories don’t appear to be a must-have unless buyers are aged 65 and over, and this age category also crave a bungalow over a bigger home.
The youngest age group of 18 to 24 would really like a dining room, while a third bathroom emerged as popular in the 25 to 44 age group.
The supermarket that most people want to have nearby is Tesco, just pipping Waitrose to the post
| Region | Supermarket most wanted nearby |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | Waitrose |
| East of England | Tesco |
| London | Waitrose |
| North East | Tesco |
| North West | Tesco |
| Scotland | Aldi |
| South East | Waitrose |
| South West | Waitrose |
| Wales | Tesco |
| West Midlands | Aldi |
| Yorkshire & the Humber | Sainsbury’s |
| National | Tesco |
| Source: Rightmove |
Rightmove says the nation’s dream home is in a small, friendly community, but it is also detached
The research found that most people would like to live in a village by the coast, with first-time buyers the only group who would rather live in a town.
And the supermarket that most people would like to live close to is a Tesco. There are clear regional preferences, however, with the South favouring Waitrose and Sainsbury’s winning in Yorkshire & the Humber.
Looking at all property listings on Rightmove, Tesco is the supermarket that is mentioned most by estate agents in listings, followed by Waitrose. However, Rightmove points out that Tesco has more stores around the country.
The most popular non-essential establishment that people want nearby nationally is a pub, followed by a local corner shop, coffee shop and a local market.
A local market wins as the number one priority in London, followed by bakeries and restaurants.
Rightmove also said that local green grocers and butchers are a more popular choice than takeaways as people know they can rely on delivery drivers to bring it straight to their door.
| Rank | Additional rooms |
| 1 | Garage |
| 2 | Utility room |
| 3 | A home office |
| 4 | Dining room |
| 5 | Walk-in wardrobe |
| 6 | Conservatory |
| 7 | Swimming pool |
| 8 | A gym/spa |
| 9 | Games room |
| 10 | Library |
| Source: Rightmove | |
The study paints a fascinating picture of what a ‘dream home’ really means to people, says Rightmove
Those aged 65 crave a bungalow over a bigger home, according to the research
Tim Bannister, of Rightmove, said: ‘The study paints a fascinating picture of what a ‘dream home’ really means to people.
You might think a dream home is a mansion with swimming pools and other luxuries, but the British sense of thinking practically comes through very clearly with garages, utility rooms and offices
Tim Bannister, of Rightmove
‘Usually you might think a dream home is a mansion with swimming pools and other luxuries, but the British sense of thinking practically comes through very clearly with garages, utility rooms and home offices the order of the day.
‘Perhaps it’s the thought that if you have a dream home you want to make sure you’re going to make use of everything.
‘Rather than choosing an outdoor swimming pool only to realise you can only use it a few weeks of the year, you think of a utility room that you know you’ll be using every day.
| Rank | Nearby amenities |
| 1 | Pub |
| 2 | Corner shop |
| 3 | Coffee shop |
| 4 | Local market |
| 5 | Bakery |
| 6 | Restaurants |
| 7 | Greengrocers |
| 8 | Butchers |
| 9 | Takeaways |
| 10 | Gym |
| Source: Rightmove | |
He added: ‘Earlier this year detached homes hit over half a million pounds nationally for the first time, aided by increased demand for more space.
‘This means that many people looking to move right now are likely to be looking for a smaller home, but some will have their mind set on how they could eventually achieve the four-bed detached home with a garden.
‘Others will be thinking about what living the coastal life in a cottage could be like, and for some that will mean their daily search on Rightmove turns into picking up the keys to their new life a few months down the line.’
