Looking to downsize - how about an apartment in rural Rutland?

A new survey reveals that downsizing is the biggest reason for moving home in nine out of 10 regions in England and Wales.

According to independent property website Rightmove, some 40 per cent of sellers say they are looking to move to a smaller property, compared with 25 per cent who hope to upsize.

And something to tick the boxes of people looking for a smaller, manageable, quality home in a fantastic location is the exclusive range of two-bedroom apartments at Linden Homes Orchid development in Oakham, Rutland.

The rural location has already proved popular with homebuyers, with a recent flurry of three and four-bedroom home sales at the development.

However, interest in the apartments – which start from £127,000 – has also soared, with two of the nine ready to move into properties already reserved.

Perfect for downsizing or an ideal bolthole for those who have a property overseas, the apartments offer convenience and versatility.

Linden Homes sales director Steve Garton said: “The apartments are a wonderful addition to our stunning portfolio in Oakham, and offer a slightly different style of living.

“The open plan design of the apartments gives a feeling of space and airiness, and the overall style lends itself perfectly to buyers looking for a quality home but on a slightly smaller and easier to manage scale.”

According to research by Investc Wealth & Investment (Sept 2011), around 4.7 million homeowners are looking to downsize over the next five years.

It also suggested that over the past five years, around 3.2 million homeowners in the UK have moved to a smaller home – and of that number, two thirds were aged over 55.

Visit lindenhomes.co.uk to find out more.