Spain Tops The Table Of Dream International Moves

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Spain Tops The Table Of Dream International Moves

Brits are dreaming of a new life in the Spanish sun, according to new research carried out by Opinium on behalf of AnyVan.com, the home moving company.

Spain Tops the Table of Dream International Moves

Spain is the most popular destination for UK residents fantasising of a move overseas, with 13% of the respondents picking it as their number one choice according to AnyVan.com. Those dreaming of living in the Spanish sun would join nearly 300,000 British citizens already living in the country.

The world might not feel as big as it once did, and with 19 hour non-stop flights to Australia now available from the UK, it’s easy to see why Australia and New Zealand ranked joint second in the dream move table, with 12% each. Other popular moves on the wish list included USA (10%), Canada (9%), Italy (7%) and France (6%).

The data shows age is a major factor in determining the popularity of a dream move abroad. Young adults prefer countries with more opportunities for lucrative career prospects and lavish lifestyles. The USA came out top choice for under 34s, with 16% listing this as their favourite, followed by Australia and then Spain. Dubai was also more popular with younger adults, with 4% dreaming of a move to the Middle East. For older adults over the age of 55, New Zealand (14%) came out top of their dream move.

Brits living on the south coast of England seem more keen to keep their coastal lifestyle, with Italy being more popular with people living in Southampton (12%) and Brighton (15%) than the UK average of 7%. For Londoners, New Zealand was the top pick with 13% followed by USA and Canada both at 11% and Australia at 10%.

Angus Elphinstone, CEO of AnyVan.com commented “It’s nearly a national sport in the UK to dream about moving. From flicking through property prices and listings on Rightmove to sitting down to watch one of the vast number of primetime TV shows offering advice to those looking to change homes for a place in the sun.

“Our research highlighted where people dream to move to, but there were still 16% of residents that didn’t want to move anywhere. With such a vast number of different landscapes, coastal views and green spaces, it’s easy to see why so many are living their dream in the UK and don’t feel they need to move elsewhere.”

The survey indicates the following top ten international dream moves:

Spain
New Zealand
Australia
USA
Canada
Italy
France
Portugal
Germany
Dubai

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.