England: average age of first time home buyers from 2005 to 2022

In 2022, the average age of recent first-time buyers in London was slightly higher than the England average. Across the UK, first time buyers accounted for approximately 409,000 transactions during 2021.

First time buyer prices and mortgages

In London, the average value of a mortgage for first time buyers was far higher than all other regions in the UK. Apart from the initial cost of a down payment, those that can afford to, see monthly payment savings against those renting. In certain parts of the country, annual savings of buying against renting saw first time buyers amounted to over two thousand British pounds.

Help to buy

To encourage first time buyers, the UK government started the help to buy scheme. The scheme sees people saving for a first-time home receive a 25% bonus to their savings when purchases a house valued at 250 thousand British pounds (450 thousand British pounds in London). Between December 2015 and March 2018, the North West of England saw the highest number of Help to buy ISA bonuses paid.