More than one in three Latvians (35%) has considered moving due to COVID-19 and would choose to move to a suburb or the countryside according to the survey carried out in January by research agency Norstat for Citadele bank, surveying 1,000 residents of each Baltic country aged between 18 and 74.
Of the 35 % of Latvians who have considered moving their place of residence due to the situations caused by the pandemic, many were families with children who want to live in a house or larger apartment, while young people and seniors would often prefer a more economical home, according to the survey.
The countries neighbouring Latvia were less likely to consider moving—30 % of Lithuanians and 20 % of Estonians—and were more likely to want a house or larger apartment.
Estonians were half as likely to consider moving to an urban neighbourhood: 5 % compared with 11 % in Latvia and Lithuania. Meanwhile, Lithuanians were more likely to choose to move to a small town: 16 %, compared with 12 % in Latvia and 9 % in Estonia.
Estonians are much more willing to purchase a property remotely—71 % of Estonians, 62 % of Latvians and 47 % of Lithuanians—and sign contracts remotely—69 % in Estonia, 39 % in Latvia and 36 % in Lithuania.
Due to the pandemic, our daily lives have changed, and it has caused people to reconsider the suitability of their existing home for these new conditions. 18 % of Latvians would like to live in a house and 11 % would choose a larger apartment, and these people are more likely to be families with children.
Meanwhile, 4 % would choose to live in a more isolated location, according to the survey by Citadele. However, not everyone who considered moving during the pandemic would like a larger home; 3 % stated that they wanted a more economical or smaller home, and this was significantly more likely among young people under the age of 30 and those aged over 60.
Life in the city centre or old town interests Latvians the least, with 10 % wanting to live there, while 15 % of Lithuanians and Estonians chose this answer. Estonian are least likely to choose an urban neighbourhood—5 % of respondents—compared with 11 % in Latvia and Lithuania. Meanwhile, Lithuanians are more likely to select a small town: 16 % compared with 12 % in Latvia and 9 % in Estonia.
