'Britons_hooked_on_property_websites' - Silver Surfer Today

'Britons_hooked_on_property_websites' - Silver Surfer Today

Ten million Britons are each spending an average of 17 hours a month browsing property websites and almost two-thirds of these (62%) admit that the properties they look at have price tags that well exceed their budget.

That is the verdict of research from property portal PrimeLocation.com which reveals the extent of the nation’s addiction to property.

One in five Brits confessed to surfing the web for hot properties for an average of four hours each week, although some admit to spending far longer.

Around 800,000 say they spend between seven and nine hours each week (equivalent to 30-40 hours a month) looking at property sites and just under half a million (452,000), dedicate 10-14 hours a week (43-60 hours each month) to their guilty pleasure.

Around 6.2million of the 10 million regular property website viewers admitted to looking at properties that are significantly out of their price range.

The justifications for doing so ranged, but the most popular included "searching for their dream property", as cited by 37%, "envy and curiosity (18%), and to find design and decorative ideas (18%).

In addition, 14% say they ogle expensive properties because it inspires them to work harder and save money and 7% do it just to pass the time.