Homes near the sea are taking three weeks longer to sell compared to 2020 and the majority of buyers in the capital want to stay in London, according to analysis by Rightmove.
The property portal has found that five years on from the pandemic, some of the market trends have gone into reverse.
It says that lockdown restrictions, hybrid working and different living priorities meant a surge in popularity for coastal and countryside homes in the pandemic and its aftermath.
In March 2021, Cornwall overtook London as the most searched-for area on Rightmove for the first-time.
At the same time, less than half of potential home-buyers in London were looking to stay in the capital, versus 59% the year before.
Now, London is once again the most searched-for location and 58% of people living there are looking to stay rather than leave.
Homes listed for sale in coastal areas are taking longer to go under offer, from an average of 52 days in 2021 to 73 days in 2025.
Meanwhile in London the average time has increased only slightly from 63 days in 2021 to 65 days now.
Prices are still rising more quickly for bigger homes, as buyers continue to seek space.
Average prices for semi-detached homes have increased by 23% over the past five-years, while bungalows and detached homes have risen by 21% and terraced houses by 20%.
That compares to an increase of just 7% for flats and an overall average of 19% across all types of property.
| Type of home | Average asking price | Five-year asking price increase |
| Overall | £371,870 | 19% |
| Bungalow | £342,518 | 21% |
| Flat | £304,526 | 7% |
| Terraced house | £303,622 | 20% |
| Semi-detached house | £326,918 | 23% |
| Detached House | £545,869 | 21% |
Top of buyers’ wish lists is a garage, whereas renters want a home that allows pets.
Rightmove chief data officer Steve Pimblett says: “Five years on from the pandemic, many short-term trends brought about by the unique circumstances of lockdown have reversed.
“Coastal homes are taking longer to find buyers and price growth has stabilised as more supply has come onto the market, some likely from movers heading back to the city.
“At the same time, fewer people are looking to escape cities, as life has returned to normal, and the debate continues about remote versus office working.”
