Homebuyers in the South of England expanded their property searches to find better value, while buyers in more affordable regions stayed closer to home, research from Zoopla found.
The average search radius for buyers narrowed to 3.4 miles in 2025, down from 4.3 miles in 2021.
Most buyers still looked for homes near where they lived, but a quarter (26%) searched more than 10 miles away.
In the South East and East, over a third of buyers looked outside their local area, often for properties up to £60,000 cheaper than their current homes.
In London, buyers looked for homes as much as £200,000 less than their current property.
Areas like St Albans, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Luton, Guildford, Cambridge and Oxford saw over 40% of buyers searching further afield.
In places like Uxbridge and Harrow, buyers tried to save up to £220,000 by moving out of the area, with many in North and North West London aiming for similar or even greater discounts.
In contrast, buyers in the North and Midlands mostly stayed local.
Seven in 10 looked within five miles.
Cities like Liverpool, Bradford and Hull saw over 80% of buyers searching close by.
Buyers in these regions still sought savings, but the amounts were much smaller, between £20,000 and £25,000, compared to the South.
In the Hebrides, 90% searched more than 10 miles away, with similar trends in Llandrindod Wells (77%), Salisbury (57%) and St Albans (48%), often due to lifestyle changes and access to amenities.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “Home buying decisions and search patterns are being reshaped by the affordability of housing.
“The old adage that most people move within five miles of where they live today is being challenged, especially for those wanting to live in southern England where housing costs are greatest.
“More home buyers are looking further afield in search of better value for money so today’s home buyers need more tools and insights to help them plan their next move.”
Donnell added: “Our search experience empowers consumers by allowing them to draw their own custom search areas on a map, giving them complete control over their property hunt.
“Additionally, our innovative travel time calculator helps buyers understand exactly how far they could live from their workplace while remaining within a reasonable commuting distance, taking the guesswork out of balancing affordability with convenience.”
Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, said: “It comes as no surprise that regional variations are determining where people search for properties, as areas like London, the South East, and the East of England become harder for people to purchase a property in, particularly for first-time buyers, which shows that there are still considerable affordability challenges for many consumers.
“This growing trend requires longer term solutions such as easing mortgage costs, reforming the property taxation system in a way that encourages more people to step onto the housing ladder, and ensuring that the housing targets of the UK Government and the devolved administrations are all met.”
