Good news all round: the market around residential moves is on the up, as a result of the post-Covid resurgence in the property market, and the desire among homeowners to embrace new and improved lifestyles.

If there’s one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic taught us, it’s that everything can change in a matter of months. The extensive lockdowns showed businesses across all sectors that people can work from home and get as much done as they would at work – if not more so. It also marked in many homeowners a desire to move to bigger homes, sometimes with more outside space, and sometimes with the capacity for a home office or home gym.

In short, the last few years have underpinned a plethora of changes in the way that homeowners approach the housing market. And the impact this has had on moving in particular is phenomenal.

In this blog, we’re talking a bit more about why people are more inclined to move house in 2024, and how we can support them.

The impact of lifestyle trends on the moving market

Let’s take a closer look at the role of lifestyle on the property market, and specifically on what people are looking for when buying a property.

Again, Covid-19 was instrumental in boosting the demand for properties outside of the city. Homes with larger gardens and the space to create a home office saw a huge spike in demand during the pandemic. While fluctuating rates at the time were challenging and the complexity of house viewings and moving itself was difficult during a lockdown, the resurgence in the market now means that, finally, buyers’ desires are being realized and brought to life.

But it’s not all country homes and large gardens. The boost to the economy as businesses have reopened and people have returned to work has sparked a revitalisation in urban areas. Cities are becoming more attuned to what people need and want from their surroundings – with places funneling more into the curation and maintenance of green spaces and lifestyle businesses that support different hobbies.

All of this means that the market is on the rise with people seeking more of what they want from a home. But in order for the market to grow, mortgages need to be more accessible – enter the improving mortgage market among lenders.

A guide to the mortgage market

Eagle-eyed readers may have seen talk in recent weeks about potential 1% deposits for first-time buyers, to give younger buyers more accessibility to a market where home ownership is not only possible but financially viable.

This is just one example of how changes are being made to improve the property market, with the decrease in lender rates enabling people to seek out their ideal property and present a mortgage application which is likely to be accepted. This is evidenced by reports from the Financial Times which state that by the end of 2023, the number of mortgage applications received had risen starkly to “21.9 percent in the final three months of last year from minus 28.4 percent in the third quarter”.

This is being attributed to the fact that mortgage rates have dropped significantly, interest rates are starting to ease, and the national minimum wage – and the average wage in the UK – is on the rise at an increased rate compared to inflation.

So, could 2024 be the year that you make your move?

Are you ready to move house in 2024?

Here at A Swift Move, we do a lot more than simply package up your belongings and transport them to your new home.

Working with commercial businesses, offices, and residential homeowners across the UK, we deliver an end-to-end service that you can rely on – plus, our team are always on hand to offer guidance and advice on moving everything from valuable antiques to treasured pets.

With 2024 set to be a bumper year for residential moves in particular, we are looking forward to supporting countless clients as they set up a new life. And with teams all over the country, we can help you to move to the next street, the next county, or to the other end of the country.

Get in touch with us to make the next steps of your move easier than you could ever imagine.