THE number of people intending to buy a new home in the next two years has remained stable at 11 per cent for the third consecutive quarter, according to the latest findings from Alliance & Leicester's quarterly movingimproving index.

While housing market reports are sending conflicting messages to owners and prospective buyers, the new findings bring calm to the house price debate.

Some commentators claim that prices are on the brink of collapse, while others believe a “soft” landing can be expected, if there is to be any correction at all.

The index also found that reasons for moving continue to be driven by lifestyle factors such as changes in family circumstances, rather than economic reasons such as financial gain from the sale of property.

A&L's quarterly movingimproving index asked a representative sample of 4,000 people whether they intended to buy a new home and, if so, when and why.

Key findings: The number of people intending to buy a new home in the next two years has remained stable at 11 per cent for three consecutive quarters. The findings suggest there has been a measured cooling among prospective homebuyers.

Those in their 20s are the most likely age group to be moving in the next two years (20 per cent), but this group also showed most uncertainty.

Six per cent said they were unsure whether they would be moving within the next two years. Men are significantly more likely than women to be planning a move (13 per cent versus eight per cent). The gap has widened since the autumn, when 12 per cent of men were moving compared to 11 per cent of women. Singletons are more likely than their married counterparts to be planning to move (14 per cent versus 10 per cent).

Reasons for moving: The need for more bedrooms topped the list of reasons for moving (18 per cent). Despite a falling rental market in some areas of the country, many people still view buying as cheaper than renting: 15 per cent of prospective home buyers cited this as their reason for moving.

The number of people moving to make money on their property has risen slightly from 10 per cent three months ago 12 per cent now. Paul Cooper, head of mortgages at Alliance & Leicester, said: “For a long time we have observed that home-buying decisions are largely driven by non-financial factors and this continues to be the case. For most of us, a property is a home not a financial investment.”