Posh London postcodes see surge in US house-hunters

  • Recent London buyers include American fashion designer Tom Ford

By ANNE ASHWORTH

Updated:

Estate agents in prime areas of central London have seen an increase in prospective buyers from the US, including from so-called ‘Donald Dodgers’ keen to put an ocean between themselves and Trump.

Others, regardless of political affiliation, are simply attracted by a bargain. 

For dollar buyers, high-end London property is 43 per cent cheaper than in 2014, according to the latest Wealth Report from estate agent Knight Frank.

In 2024 house prices in Belgravia, Knightsbridge and other posh parts of the capital slipped by 2 per cent, according to separate data from rival agency Savills. 

Prices ended the year 20 per cent below their peak in 2014.

Recent buyers of early 19th Century townhouses and de luxe contemporary apartments include American fashion designer Tom Ford.

Bargain buys: In 2024 house prices in areas like Knightsbridge, the home of Harrods, slipped by 2% – attracting US dollar buyers who are getting even more of a bargain

Some of the affluent American home-buyers are buying a second property, but others are making a more permanent move. 

A record 6,100 Americans applied to become UK citizens in 2024, a year-on-year rise of 26 per cent.

Post-election US buyers make up one in five of purchasers at The Whiteley apartments in the former department store near London’s Hyde Park. 

The 139 flats range in price from £1.8 million to £39.5 million.

Americans made up a quarter of those who snapped up a London property worth £15 million or more in 2024, but they do like to negotiate.

A US tech billionaire is said to have bought the Holme – a mansion in Regent’s Park nicknamed the White House due to its similarity to the building in Washington. 

He paid £139 million, having secured a £111 million discount on the asking price.

DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS

Easy investing and ready-made portfolios

AJ Bell

Easy investing and ready-made portfolios

AJ Bell

Easy investing and ready-made portfolios

Free fund dealing and investment ideas

Hargreaves Lansdown

Free fund dealing and investment ideas

Hargreaves Lansdown

Free fund dealing and investment ideas

Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month

interactive investor

Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month

interactive investor

Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month

Get £200 back in trading fees

Saxo

Get £200 back in trading fees

Saxo

Get £200 back in trading fees

Free dealing and no account fee

Trading 212

Free dealing and no account fee

Trading 212

Free dealing and no account fee

Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.

Compare the best investing account for you

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

Read More

  • Related Posts

    Mayor of London Sadiq Khan receives his knighthood from King Charles at Buckingham Palace

    Sadiq Khan received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace today despite a backlash at ‘reward for failure’. The London Mayor was given the honour by the King at Buckingham Palace, saying the monarch…

    London judge to rule on whether mining company is liable in Brazil’s worst environmental disaster

    This page either does not exist or is currently unavailable. From here you can either hit the “back” button on your browser to return to the previous page, or visit…

    You Missed

    Lucy Letby ‘used as scapegoat for failings of senior doctors’ according to her childhood friend

    Lucy Letby ‘used as scapegoat for failings of senior doctors’ according to her childhood friend

    Distraught woman admits to using ‘homeless man’ from viral AI prank to file fake sex abuse report

    Distraught woman admits to using ‘homeless man’ from viral AI prank to file fake sex abuse report

    Reform UK gets first House of Lords member as Tory donor jumps ship

    Reform UK gets first House of Lords member as Tory donor jumps ship

    ‘See me one more time before I die’: Thomas Markle issues desperate plea to Meghan from hospital bed  

    ‘See me one more time before I die’: Thomas Markle issues desperate plea to Meghan from hospital bed  

    ‘I don’t want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids and Harry’: Thomas Markle speaks to the Mail’s CAROLINE GRAHAM from his hospital bed in this world exclusive interview

    ‘I don’t want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids and Harry’: Thomas Markle speaks to the Mail’s CAROLINE GRAHAM from his hospital bed in this world exclusive interview

    Multiple homes DESTROYED as out-of-control bushfires wreaks havoc on suburbs north of Sydney

    Multiple homes DESTROYED as out-of-control bushfires wreaks havoc on suburbs north of Sydney