A GARDEN, garage and sea view are among the things house hunters in Bournemouth most wanted in 2020, according to new data.

Property website Zoopla carried out a study of the most searched terms used by people looking to buy a new home in the town.

Fuelled by the lockdowns and various restrictions that have been in place since March, Zoopla said five of the ten most searched-for terms by property hunters relate to increased indoor and outdoor space.

Zoopla said: “When it comes to what home buyers are looking for in Bournemouth, the pandemic has driven up searches for space and quality locations.

"In the last 12 months, demand for extra family living spaces has increased with searches for ‘gardens’ topping the list of Zoopla search terms for buyers in Bournemouth in 2020.”

Other popular search terms included ‘detached’ and ‘garage’ with ‘annexe’ also among the things house hunters most sought.

Homes with a sea view and balcony were also among the top 10 most searched terms.

The full list of most searched terms for Bournemouth in 2020 is:

  1. Garden  
  2. Parking  
  3. Garage  
  4. Sea View               
  5. Detached              
  6. Bungalow              
  7. Balcony 
  8. Annexe 
  9. Freehold               
  10. Rural

Tom Parker, consumer spokesperson, Zoopla, said: “The unprecedented circumstances this year and various lockdowns have created an opportunity for the people of Bournemouth to evaluate their current home situation and that has accelerated a desire to move. It’s no surprise that outdoor space dominates searches as the time we’re spending at home, personally and professionally, continues to increase.”

The company also revealed the latest Bournemouth House Price Index, which studies multiple local housing trends and prices on an annual basis.

The data shows that the average house price in Bournemouth is now £294,000, with prices rising by 3 per cent in the last 12 months.

The data also shows prices in Bournemouth have increased cumulatively by 18% in the past five years with demand in Bournemouth currently 54 per cent higher than it was in November 2019.