Despite the recent downturn in the UK property market, 60 per cent of Brits still assume they will one day own their dream home.
Figures from the Nationwide illustrate the average price of a property has fallen for the last five consecutive months, but undeterred Brits are still one day dreaming of moving up the ladder to their perfect property.
For one in five of these would-be homeowners a country character house would be their ideal property.
A detached home with a garden in the suburbs was next choice along with or a self-build or self-designed home, which were each mentioned by 18 per cent of those surveyed, in research carried out by Legal & General.
The top location for a dream home is in a village according to the results, with 25 per cent of respondent selecting this idyll.
This is a jump of 17 per cent compared with the last survey, when only eight per cent mentioned this as the location for their dream home.
A life by the sea was also popular, with 22 per cent saying they would like to live on the coast, compared to just eight per cent seeking an inner-city life.
"The survey would indicate that people are still quite positive about the future housing market given the number of respondents who still wish to live in their dream home," said Garry Skelton, marketing director for Legal & General's general insurance business.
"However, probably reflecting financial concerns, the number of Brits who do not expect to ever live in their dream home has risen from just over 20 per cent to 30 per cent since the last survey."
The top five most sought counties for a dream home were: Cornwall; Devon; Greater London; Surrey and Yorkshire.
Chris O'Toole
