In England’s dynamic property market, first-time buyers are entering homeownership later in life. The South East leads this shift, with the average age now at 34—the highest across regions and reflecting the sharpest rise in recent years.
Analysis of more than 39,000 property transactions from the first half of each year between 2021 and 2025 highlights stark regional differences in buyer ages.
Regional Variations in Buyer Ages
The South East has seen the average age increase by nearly three years since 2021. In contrast, the East Midlands shows a slight decline to about 31 years. Northern areas like the North West have aged up from around 30 to 32, while the North East maintains younger averages overall.
High property prices in the South East and London delay purchases, as buyers need more time to save larger deposits. More affordable areas, such as County Durham, allow younger entrants to buy sooner due to lower costs.
Alistair Singer, director at My Home Move Conveyancing, attributes this trend to market changes and ongoing cost-of-living pressures. “The gradual increase in first-time buyer age over the past decade reflects the changing property market and how the cost-of-living crisis continues to affect this landscape,” he stated. Buyers now save longer and time entries strategically rather than giving up on ownership.
Key Challenges for First-Time Buyers
As of March 2026, the average asking price for first-time buyer homes (two bedrooms or fewer) in Great Britain stands at £226,955, per Rightmove’s House Price Index. The UK-wide average has climbed to £371,042, up from £321,064 in March 2021.
Solo buyers face a significant affordability gap when comparing prices to salaries, based on Office for National Statistics earnings data adjusted for typical borrowing limits.
Deposits increasingly come from personal savings rather than family help. TSB Bank notes a drop in first-time buyers using the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ from 34% in early 2024 to 30% in 2025, pushing the average borrower age from 31 to 32.
Government data reveals ethnic disparities: the England average is 32, with white British buyers at 31 and those from Asian or White Other backgrounds averaging 35.
Santander UK research indicates first-time buyers with dependent children now make up one in five—double the share from 15 years ago.
Harlow Emerges as a First-Time Buyer Hotspot
Despite southern England’s high prices, Harlow in Essex tops growth in first-time buyer activity. Mortgage applications have surged 87% since 2015, the largest increase across England, Scotland, and Wales.
Proximity to London appeals to commuters, with average home sales at £351,911 last year—less than half of London’s £656,665. Prices rose 2% from the prior year but remain below the 2022 peak of £349,579.
