Upsizers are back

Spring has sprung — or at least as far as meteorological weather forecasting is concerned. The daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses are coming into bud and bloom, the sun has made a rare appearance in recent days, and the early mornings and evenings are getting noticeably lighter.

For many, the beginning of spring marks a time when their mood is lifted, and they consider doing different things with their lives — an extension of what was started at New Year.

For some, it might be the desire to push for a promotion or even to change jobs or careers completely. For others, it's time to get moving — quite literally. Whether it's to cater for the commute to work, the size of the family, the desire for more rooms or outside space, the reasons for wanting to move home are almost endless.

We often hear of the word "downsizing", which simply means selling a current property and buying a smaller place, perhaps because the children have fledged and flown the family nest, or the garden and home have become too much to manage. Whatever the reason, the focus has always seemed to be on selling a home to buy a smaller property.

But what of the other angle? What about those who want to get a bigger place? What has happened to upsizing?

Reallymoving, the online provider of quotes for home-moving services, has analysed data from the information filled in by their users, focusing on requests where the homeowner confirmed they are buying a property at a higher price than the one they are selling.

What the data shows is that the desire to upsize took a significant hit in the aftermath of the pandemic — almost certainly due to the necessary measures to manage the domestic budget, which means that stretching to buy a bigger place, while desirable, might not have been financially prudent at that stage.

With that global impact receding into the past, and the downward trend coming to its nadir in 2023, the number of people wanting to buy a bigger property has gradually been increasing. In 2026, such purchases have now almost reached the same levels, on average, as 2020 when lockdowns became the norm.

In part, this is because of the greater sense of financial security as everything has stabilised, and people can feel less concerned about income and household budgets. It has also been helped by the easing of borrowing costs over the period, making larger properties more affordable.

Scotland and Northern Ireland lead the way, with nearly three in four movers there buying a bigger home. Yorkshire and The Humber saw a peak in 2024 before dropping back, but is now creeping upwards again, while the North-East had a peak in mid-2025 and is currently on the way down. The East of England and Wales both recently peaked at the end of 2025 and are easing slightly.

Overall, the data shows that upsizing is the dominant reason for moving home in all regions and, while some areas are experiencing local fluctuations that don't match the general trend, the upsizer is back with a bang.

Whether you are buying your first home, upsizing to a bigger property, downsizing to something smaller and more manageable, or simply looking to remortgage to release some of the equity you've built up, you'll want an expert conveyancing service with an experienced solicitor by your side.

Our conveyancers at Homeward Legal will start work on your plans as soon as you agree to the quotation and appoint them to represent you. The quote we provide will not change — what you are quoted is what you pay for the standard conveyancing process, so you can budget with confidence.

There are some unforeseen items that might arise during the purchase or sale, such as a specialist flood assessment report, but your solicitor will discuss these and their cost as they come up. And for additional peace of mind, Homeward Legal operates a no completion, no fee promise: should the purchase or sale not reach completion, no payment is required.

Call us now on to get your conveyancing quote started, or use our quick online quote generator to get an instant figure.