First-time buyers face years of delay due to rising costs

First-time buyers face years of delay due to rising costs

9:44 AM, 20th November 2024, About a month ago

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Nearly half of prospective first-time buyers in the UK are being forced to delay their homeownership dreams due to the rising cost of living and economic uncertainty.

That’s according to a report by Aldermore which reveals that 44% of aspiring homeowners have had to push back their plans.

The lender’s first-time buyer index shows that 22% of them are expecting to wait two years or more longer than originally anticipated.

Previously, the index showed that first-time buyers had spent around five years saving up for a deposit.

Applaud first-time buyers

The lender’s director of mortgages, Jon Cooper, said: “We really must applaud first time buyers and their resilience, especially as they’ve been hit with more obstacles and uncertainty than they would have in previous years.

“It’s not easy getting on the property ladder and it’s reassuring that people are taking proactive steps to realise their goals, either by delaying their plans in order to save more or compromising to find something more affordable.”

He added: “While it’s great that buyers are being so pragmatic, action needs to be taken to help make buying more achievable.

“We need to boost the supply of suitable properties to make the journey to homeownership easier, and until action to reform planning is taken then it will remain a challenging environment for young people looking to make their homebuying dreams a reality.”

Wait for buying was worthwhile

Despite the challenges, eight in 10 recent buyers believe the wait for buying was worthwhile and many first-time buyers had to make big compromises.

Those compromises include buying a cheaper home to offset higher interest rates and mortgage repayments.

And 53% are considering moving further away from friends, family and work to get on the ladder sooner.

Just under half (46%) of prospective FTBs are considering buying with someone else to improve their chances of getting a mortgage.


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