In England’s dynamic property market, first-time buyers are increasingly entering the scene at older ages. The South East leads this shift, with the average age reaching 34—the highest nationwide and reflecting the sharpest rise in recent years.
Research analyzing over 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 First-Time Buyer Ages
The South East has seen the average age climb nearly three years since 2021. In contrast, the East Midlands experienced a slight dip to about 31 years. Northern areas show mixed results: the North West rose from around 30 to 32, while the North East maintains younger averages overall.
High-cost regions like the South East and London delay homeownership due to elevated prices and larger required deposits. More affordable locations, such as County Durham, allow younger buyers to purchase earlier thanks to lower house values.
Factors Influencing Buyer Ages
Alistair Singer, director at My Home Move Conveyancing, attributes the rise to evolving market conditions 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 their purchases strategically rather than giving up on ownership.
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 average asking price has surged to £371,042, up from £321,064 in March 2021.
Solo buyers face significant affordability challenges, with Rightmove’s analysis comparing prices to salaries based on Office for National Statistics data. TSB Bank notes a drop in family-funded deposits—from 34% in early 2024 to 30% in 2025—pushing more buyers to self-fund and extend saving periods. Average borrower age rose from 31 to 32 accordingly.
Government data reveals ethnic disparities: England’s overall average first-time buyer age is 32, with white British buyers at 31 and those from Asian or White Other backgrounds averaging 35. Santander UK reports the proportion of first-time buyers with dependent children has doubled in 15 years, now at one in five.
Hotspots for Younger Buyers
Harlow in Essex stands out in the South, with first-time buyer mortgage applications up 87% since 2015—the fastest growth across England, Scotland, and Wales. Proximity to London and average sale prices of £351,911 (versus London’s £656,665) attract commuters. Prices rose 2% last year, below the 2022 peak of £349,579.
