First-time buyer prices and rents rise three times faster than pre-pandemic  

• New analysis finds that over the past two years both first-time buyer asking prices and average rents for equivalent properties have risen three times quicker than the previous two years:
  • Average monthly rental payments are 17% higher (+£128) than they were two years ago, compared to a 5% rise in the two previous years
  • Average first-time buyer asking prices are at a record of £224,943, 13% higher than two years ago, compared to a 4% rise in the two previous years
• Saving up for a deposit has become increasingly difficult for aspiring first-time buyers:
  • The average first-time buyer deposit of 10% has risen by £2,560 over the past two years, compared with a jump of £807 in the two years prior
  • Average monthly mortgage payments for new first-time buyers are 22% higher than two years ago
  • Those planning to buy their first home say that rising house prices and soaring energy bills are the biggest challenges they are facing, though nearly half (43%) hope to be able to have enough saved to buy within the next three years
• Demand for first-time buyer properties is up by 35% compared to the last more normal market of 2019, a sign that despite stretched affordability, many are determined to get on the ladder

New analysis from the UK’s biggest property website Rightmove reveals that first-time buyer asking prices and equivalent asking rents have risen three times faster compared with pre-pandemic years.

Average asking prices for first-time buyer type properties (two bedrooms and fewer) are up 13% (+£17,557) since July 2020, compared with the 4% (£8,069) rise between July 2018 and July 2020.

For prospective first-time buyers looking to save while renting, they face the challenge of record rents that are rising at the fastest rate ever recorded. Average monthly rental payments are 17% higher (+£128) nationally than they were two years ago. National average earnings are up by 14% over the same period.

First-time buyer type properties have hit a new record across Great Britain of £224,943. Therefore, an average 10% deposit needed now stands at £22,493. This is £2,560 higher than two years ago when the deposit needed was £19,934. Between July 2018 and July 2020, the deposit needed for an average first home only rose by £807.

For new first-time buyers who have been able to save a deposit, get a mortgage and secure a property, they now face average monthly mortgage payments that are 22% higher than two years ago, due to house price increases and interest rate rises.

Monthly mortgage payments for a new first-time buyer based on the current average rate is £976, £173 more than two years ago. Average monthly mortgage payments rose just £41 in the previous two years.

In a recent Rightmove survey to identify current home-mover attitudes, those planning to buy their first home said that rising house prices and soaring energy bills are the biggest challenges they are currently facing. Nearly half (43%) hope to be able to have enough saved to buy within the next three years, with two thirds already starting to save each month for their deposit.

Despite the challenge, there are still 35% more people enquiring to buy first-time buyer homes now than back in the last more normal market of 2019. This compared to a 26% increase for all property types.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Data Expert comments: “Our affordability analysis highlights the many challenges first-time buyers are trying to navigate right now. For would-be first-time buyers who are trying to save up a deposit, they are chasing a fast-moving target as average asking prices for first-time buyer homes hit another new record, and rise more quickly than they did before the pandemic. For those that aren’t able to live with parents or family members while saving, they also have to manage paying record rents both inside and outside of London. We understand how difficult this challenge can be, and something we’ve seen more of over the last couple of years, particularly with working from home becoming more common, is people looking further away or at a greater number of different areas when looking to move, to see what is available within their budget.

“Those that have been able to save up a deposit are now facing rising interest rates when considering what they can afford to repay each month. Given the economic uncertainty at the moment, first-time buyers may seek some financial certainty by locking in a longer fixed-rate mortgage term now, before interest rates rise again.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

For further information please contact Jamie McLean on 07527 995286 or email jamie.mclean@rightmove.co.uk

• The first-time buyer monthly mortgage payment is based on Bank of England data of the averages for 90% LTV two-year fixed mortgages from lenders, and the average asking price of a typical first-time buyer home (two bedrooms or fewer) using the Rightmove House Price Index. The equivalent monthly rent is calculated using the same property types (two bedrooms or fewer).
• The affordability to buy a first home is based on the Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) dataset from ONS multiplied by 4.5 to get the typical maximum that a person can borrow from a lender. The average asking price of a typical first-time buyer home is taken from the Rightmove House Price Index.