The Swindon housing market has seen a huge shift since the start of the global coronavirus pandemic. 

During the first national lockdown in March the property market was put on ice for three months, but it opened again with the celebration of Rishi Sunak's announcement of a stamp duty tax holiday until March 31, 2021. 

After months of staying inside we all had a lot of time to re-evaluate what we wanted from our homes. 

As a result, people have been racing to get on the property ladder or put their home on the market and move elsewhere in Swindon. 

Ashley Cain, the director of Moovah in Swindon, gave us an insight into what people in the region are after when moving home since the first lockdown.

He said: “2020 has been a year like no other.

"Going into the first lockdown we expected the market to be dormant but due to technology like video tours, we were able to continue negotiations on sales and come out strong.

"Sadly with most solicitors closing for Christmas in a few weeks, the mad rush now is to get people into their new homes before settling in for Christmas, whatever that may be this year."

He warned that looking forward to the end of the stamp duty holiday, "buyers will need to be organised to start the process and get the sale completed in time" due to a backlog in conveyancing as a result of the property boom. 

A recent Rightmove report revealed that the average time to sell is now 50 days, which is 12 days faster than the same period last year.

The report compared the national UK property market in 2019 to 2020.

Moreover, a recent YouGov poll showed that a third of buyers said the pandemic has made having a garden more important to them.

Whilst three in ten buyers said the pandemic made a home workspace a priority. 

With the stamp duty holiday, home office space and a garden being the main priorties of buyers - here are some of the most popular properties on the market in Swindon right now: 

Three bed terraced house 

Melbourne Close, Lawn, Swindon SN3

£250,000

Swindon Advertiser:

This gorgeous mid-terrace home has two double bedrooms and a single which is ideal for a home office, a bathroom, lounge and kitchen plus separate dining room. 

The home is well-presented throughout with a patio area in the huge rear garden that is in excess of 120ft. 

For more information on this property visit Zoopla.

Three bed semi-detached house

Beech Avenue, Swindon SN2

£180,000

Swindon Advertiser:

This three-bed family home has bags of potential, in need of a little modernisation and a touch of TLC there is the opportunity to make this a five-bed property.

There is a huge rear garden which is ideal for families whilst also boasting off-road parking to the front. 

Find out more on Zoopla.

Two bed bungalow

Cheney Manor Road, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2

£180,000

Swindon Advertiser:

The epitome of chic and serene, this lovely bungalow has all you need to work from home whilst enjoying the finer thing in life.

Well-kept and neutrally decorated throughout, you can easily put your own stamp on this property. 

Offered with no onward chain this two-bedroom home also benefits from a separate garage.

Three bed end terrace house 

Emerson Close, Swindon SN25

£190,000

Swindon Advertiser:

A great example of a modern family home this  property boasts three bedrooms, a large living room as well as a fitted kitchen and dining room. 

This property has a garage and well-maintained rear garden with a decking area which is ideal for alfresco dining.

Find out more on Zoopla.

Five bed semi-detached house

Elm Road, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2

£260,000

Swindon Advertiser:

This huge five-bedroom home has all the space a busy family could need with the added benefits of being spacious enough to comfortably work from home. 

The property boasts a large driveway and garden as well as being well-looked after throughout so the new buyer could move in immediately.

Have you thought about moving since lockdown? Let us know in the comments.