Only 15% of people live in 'dream home'

People who live in the suburbs are eight times more likely to live in their dream home than those who live in the countryside, a survey showed today.

Around 34% of people who live in suburbia said they had found their ideal property, compared with just 4% of those in the countryside, according to insurer Legal & General.

Just 15% of people said they currently lived in their dream home, with those living in a detached property in the suburbs most likely to be happy at 34%.

But despite this 28% of people still thought their ideal home would be in the countryside, while 25% would like to live by the sea and just 11% said they would most like to own a home in suburbia.

Four out of 10 people said their dream home would have to be detached, while 9% said they would most like a cottage.

But 23% of people admitted they did not think they would ever find their dream home, although when asked how happy they were with their current property, the average person gave it a score of seven out of 10.

Three-quarters of those questioned said they would like to remain in the UK, with Australia the most popular choice for people who wanted to relocate abroad, followed by New Zealand.

Ruth Wilkins, of Legal & General, said: "There is a really interesting disconnect between where people say they want to live, and where people who are in their dream homes actually live."