Despite an autumn lull, it appears that the South East has bounced back as the most desirable place to live

Paul Cooper, Alliance & Leicester

Research by Alliance & Leicester has found that 17% of people in the UK who are planning to move in the next two years hope to buy a house in the region.

Many people in London are looking to move out of the capital and head for the suburbs.

Almost one in five prospective home buyers in the capital are considering relocation to elsewhere in the South East.

Men were more likely to be looking to move there than women - the survey indicates 20% of men but only 13% of women are planning to buy in the region.

Capital attraction

Despite the number of people thinking of moving outside the capital, 13% plan to set up home in London.

Most desirable regions for homebuyers in next two years

South East: 17% London: 13% North West: 10% North East: 8% Scotland: 9% East Midlands: 7% South West: 8% West Midlands: 7% East Anglia: 6% Emigrate: 5% Wales: 5% North: 4% Source: Alliance & Leicester

Paul Cooper, head of mortgages at Alliance & Leicester, said: "Despite an autumn lull, it appears that the South East has bounced back as the most desirable place to live.

"The upturn in emigration is a new and surprising trend and may well be influenced by Britons deciding that it is a good time to invest in a second home abroad or perhaps investing with a view to retirement in sunnier places."

Expat dreams

According to the survey, which involved interviews with 4,000 people, more Britons are looking overseas, with one in 20 home buyers considering a home abroad.

In particular, more people in their 50s are considering retiring abroad - 13% of prospective buyers in this age group are considering it in the next two years.

This compares with only 6% of this group questioned in a similar survey earlier in the year.

Regional loyalty

While the South East continues to be a magnet, other regions are not so popular.

According to the survey, the most unpopular regions for home buyers are the north of England and Wales.

Meanwhile homebuyers in Yorkshire and Humberside appear the most loyal to the region, with only 3% looking to move elsewhere.

But not everyone is happy with their surroundings in the South.

Londoners are most likely to be looking to move away from a city, with 38% of them looking to escape the capital.