Wealthy Americans Reshape Cotswolds Housing as North American Buyers Above £1.5 Million Jump to 13%
Updated
Updated · inews · Sep 12
Wealthy Americans Reshape Cotswolds Housing as North American Buyers Above £1.5 Million Jump to 13%
1 articles · Updated · inews · Sep 12
Summary
North American buyers accounted for 13% of Cotswolds home purchases above £1.5 million last year, up from a 3.5% long-term average, as wealthy Americans increasingly base themselves in rural England.
A weaker pound and migration after Donald Trump’s re-election have accelerated the shift; one agency focused on £2 million-plus homes reported a 50% year-on-year rise in American clients by March.
The influx is becoming highly visible through celebrity arrivals including Meghan and Harry, Ellen DeGeneres and other U.S. stars, alongside tourism pressure that pushed Bibury to curb coaches after weekends drew up to 20,000 visitors.
A June report for Cotswold District Council said wealthier outsiders are outcompeting local households through second homes and holiday lets, squeezing lower-cost supply and weakening village shops and services.
Rural housing strain is widening beyond the Cotswolds: temporary accommodation in county and rural areas has risen nearly 80% in six years, while around 1 in 10 Cotswolds properties are often vacant.