One in five (20%) prospective homebuyers rate peace and quiet as the most important consideration when choosing where they will buy, according to the latest findings from Alliance & Leicester's quarterly movingimproving index.

The new findings shatter the assumption that home buying habits are largely driven by house price trends and in some cases the race to find the next 'up and coming' area to make a property fortune. Only three percent of people rated house price movement as the most important consideration when choosing the area where they will purchase. Lifestyle factors outweigh financial considerations with proximity to family and friends (17%) and the local quality of schools and universities (16%) more influential than house prices to prospective homebuyers.

The latest findings, from A&L's quarterly movingimproving index, asked a GB representative sample of 4,000 people whether they were intending to move and if so what factor most influences the decision when choosing the area where they will buy their home.

Key findings from the survey include:

• One in five Britons (20%) rated peace and quiet as the most important consideration when choosing the area where they will buy a home. The importance of this factor increases with age although this was the first or second most important factor across all ages - with 17% of buyers in their 20s and 30s and 28% of buyers in their 50s rating this as the most important consideration when buying a home.
• Proximity to family and friends was the second most important consideration for 17% of prospective homebuyers followed by quality of local education facilities (16%). Proximity to family and friends was slightly more important to women than men (18% v 16%) as was quality of local education (19% v 14%).
• A low level of crime was the most important consideration for 11% of people. This figure was highest for homebuyers in their 20s (13%).
• Quality of local shopping facilities and local bars and restaurants are not important to homebuyers, with only 1% and 2% respectively citing these as the most important consideration.
• Nature was also surprisingly unimportant for most homebuyers, with only 6% citing proximity to beaches, parks or nature reserves as their most important consideration when buying a home.
• Women were more concerned with education facilities with 19% rating this as the most important consideration compared to 14% of men.
• Although much attention is given to house price movement, only 3% of prospective buyers say that this is the factor most likely to influence the area where they will buy.
• Being near family and friends is most important for homebuyers in the East Midlands (25%) whereas those in the North of England seem less reliant on family and friends (8%).
• Low levels of crime is a high consideration for prospective homebuyers in the North West with 19% rating this as the most important consideration when choosing an area to live.

Paul Cooper, Head of Mortgages at Alliance & Leicester, commented: "For the majority of people it seems that 'going home' is all about being able to relax in a peaceful environment. These new findings highlight the fact that the majority of homebuyers are not motivated by financial gain but instead the quality of the local environment with factors such as schools and crime levels playing an important role in the homebuying process."