# A year in property: Google searches reveal what buyers were looking for this year
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2020-12-30
Category: INVESTING
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/investing
Meta Title: Property Preferences Revealed: Google Search Data Analysis 2020 vs 2019
Meta Description: Discover what potential buyers were searching for in 2020 compared to 2019! From balconies to tennis courts, explore the changing trends in the UK property
URL: https://financedigest.com/a-year-in-property-google-searches-reveal-what-buyers-were-looking-for-this-yearhtml

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- Regulated property buyers, Good Move have analysed Google Search data to reveal what potential buyers were searching for this year compared to 2019
- Balconies, tennis courts and 2-bed homes were among the most searched
- South-East and Northern England are hotspots for searches

With average house prices and mortgage approvals at an all-time high, this [year has certainly impacted the property market](https://www.financedigest.com/global-automotive-brake-system-market-is-expected-to-witness-a-rise-of-3-cagr-between-the-forecast-years-of-2020-2030.html "Global Automotive Brake System Market is expected to witness a rise of 3% CAGR between the forecast years of 2020-2030") for the better.

But what were [buyers looking for in their property](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-buyers-lead-interest-in-megacity-istanbul-accounting-for-21-51-of-all-property-enquiries.html "UK BUYERS LEAD INTEREST IN ‘MEGACITY’ ISTANBUL, ACCOUNTING FOR 21.51% OF ALL PROPERTY ENQUIRIES") this year, and has lockdown changed their preferences? Analysing Google Search Data from the past year, experts at regulated property buyers, [Good Move](https://goodmove.co.uk/) can reveal what potential buyers were searching for this year, and how this compares to 2019.

When looking at specific home features, the searches with the [highest year](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-consumers-inflation-expectations-highest-in-8-years-ny-fed-says.html "U.S. consumers’ inflation expectations highest in 8 years, NY Fed says") on year growth, are:

1. Apartment with balcony (147%)
2. Apartment with hot tub (139%)
3. House with [tennis court](https://www.financedigest.com/tennis-raducanu-wont-let-off-court-commitments-interfere-with-training.html "Tennis-Raducanu won’t let off-court commitments interfere with training") (127%)
4. House with swimming pool (109%)
5. House with driveway (107%)

Searches for apartments with a balcony had the highest year on year increase compared to 2019, no doubt due to buyers looking for properties with more outdoor space due to the [impact of the pandemic](https://www.financedigest.com/wework-rival-iwg-quarterly-revenue-dips-on-prolonged-pandemic-impact.html "WeWork rival IWG quarterly revenue dips on prolonged pandemic impact").

It’s also [interesting to see](https://www.financedigest.com/portugal-pm-welcomes-lufthansas-interest-in-tap-scholz-sees-good-fit.html "Portugal PM welcomes Lufthansa’s interest in TAP, Scholz sees good fit") ‘fancier’ features such as hot tubs, tennis courts and swimming pools had more searches year on year than more practical features such as a driveway (106% increase), conservatory (101% increase), or double garage (77% increase). Again, this could be due to people [spending more time at home and looking for properties](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-u-s-companies-spend-billions-on-stay-at-home-tech-boding-ill-for-office-properties.html "Analysis-U.S. companies spend billions on stay-at-home tech, boding ill for office properties") with more fun, active amenities they can enjoy.

When it comes to the type of houses for sale, the most popular searches with the [biggest year](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-nurses-begin-biggest-strike-ballot-in-more-than-100-years.html "UK nurses begin biggest strike ballot in more than 100 years") on year growth were 2-bed houses.

Searches for ‘2-bedroom house for sale’ were up 64% compared to this [time last year](https://www.financedigest.com/hedge-funds-set-to-end-2021-with-inflows-for-first-time-in-three-years.html "Hedge funds set to end 2021 with inflows for first time in three years"), with ‘2-bed house for sale’ also racking up a 47% increase in searches compared to 2019.

So, where in the UK are [people searching for properties](https://www.financedigest.com/high-streets-remain-an-important-factor-for-people-choosing-where-to-live-property-investors-on-alert.html "High streets remain an important factor for people choosing where to live – property investors on alert") the most this year? The counties with the highest [number of searches](https://www.financedigest.com/your-phone-number-on-google-search-giant-now-takes-removal-demands.html "Your phone number on Google? Search giant now takes removal demands") for ‘houses for sale in …’ compared to 2019 are:

1. Buckinghamshire (73%)
2. Berkshire (72%)
3. West Yorkshire (69%)
4. Hertfordshire (61%)
5. Surrey (59%)

Aside from West Yorkshire, the counties with the highest YoY growth in searches (Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, and Surrey) are all near each other in South East England, perhaps predicting this area as a hotspot for [British home buyers](https://www.financedigest.com/what-brexit-mean-for-british-buyers-in-spain.html "WHAT BREXIT MEAN FOR BRITISH BUYERS IN SPAIN").

However, at a city level, the [top five cities with the highest year](https://www.financedigest.com/global-crypto-regulation-body-likely-in-next-year-top-official-says.html "Global crypto regulation body likely in next year, top official says") on year search for ‘houses for sale in…’ compared to 2019, are:

1. Bradford (52%)
2. Liverpool (51%)
3. Sunderland (48%)
4. Preston (45%)
5. Newcastle (42%)

Interestingly, except for Liverpool, the [top cities](https://www.financedigest.com/us-real-estate-analysis-top-cities-for-retirement-home-buying.html "US Real Estate Analysis: Top Cities For Retirement Home Buying") with the highest overall searches compared to 2019 were all in Northern England, despite West Yorkshire being the only Northern county that people were searching for.

So, while many people were searching for houses in counties in South-East England, cities in Northern England showed the highest growth in searches in 2020.

Commenting on the research, Nima Ghasri, Director at Good Move says: “Against all odds, this year has [positively impacted the UK housing market](https://www.financedigest.com/broadcast-switchers-market-increasing-adoption-of-ip-live-production-technology-to-positively-impact-growth.html "Broadcast Switchers Market: Increasing Adoption of IP Live Production Technology to Positively Impact Growth") and completely transformed the way buyers and sellers look at properties. More and more people are [moving away](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-eu-to-move-away-from-emergency-phase-of-covid-pandemic-document.html "Exclusive-EU to move away from emergency phase of COVID pandemic – document") from flats and apartments and into homes with outdoor space, and we’ve also seen many people looking to move away from cities into more rural areas.

“As we approach the New Year, we wanted to look back on the year in property search and [reveal](https://www.financedigest.com/whats-in-store-for-2016-leading-online-trading-services-provider-easy-forex-reveals-predictions-for-the-new-year.html "WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2016? LEADING ONLINE TRADING SERVICES PROVIDER EASY-FOREX REVEALS PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR") what potential buyers were actually looking for this year. It’s interesting to see that they have been searching for more luxurious features such as a swimming pool and tennis court, no doubt due to the increase of time spent at [home and leisure facilities closing](https://www.financedigest.com/home-care-chemicals-market-is-expected-to-expand-at-a-cagr-close-to-5-over-the-assessment-period-of-2021-and-2031.html "Home Care Chemicals Market is expected to expand at a CAGR close to 5% over the assessment period of 2021 and 2031") due to the pandemic. It’s also fascinating to see the areas where people are searching for properties the most, with South-East and Northern England the two hotspots.

“As we move into 2021, we look forward to seeing how the property [market adapts](https://www.financedigest.com/how-brands-can-adapt-marketing-tactics-to-better-suit-customers-changing-shopping-habits.html "How brands can adapt marketing tactics to better suit customers’ changing shopping habits") to buyer’s needs.”


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