The Average First-Time Buyer Is Nearly 34 Years Old – What Does That Mean for the Property Market?
Read our blog below to discover why the average first-time buyer is now nearly 34, what’s driving people to buy later in life, and how this shift is reshaping demand, affordability, and opportunities across the property market.
For many people, buying their first home used to happen in their twenties.
Today, the average age of a first-time buyer in England has risen to almost 34 years old.
Why Are People Buying Later?
Several factors have contributed:
Larger Deposits
The average first-time buyer deposit recently exceeded £60,000.
For many households, accumulating this level of savings can take years.
Higher House Prices
The average first-time buyer property purchase is now around £226,000 nationally.
Changing Lifestyles
More buyers are renting for longer, travelling, pursuing higher education and building careers before purchasing their first home.
A Surprising Trend
Santander recently reported that 22% of first-time buyers are now over the age of 40, while the number of first-time buyers aged over 60 has increased significantly.
The oldest first-time buyer they helped in 2025 was 70 years old.
This highlights how home ownership journeys are becoming increasingly varied.
Why This Matters for Existing Homeowners
Many first-time buyers today arrive with:
Larger deposits
Better financial planning
More stable careers
Greater willingness to negotiate
In fact, research suggests 91% successfully negotiate on asking prices.
This means sellers need to understand that today's first-time buyers are often highly informed and financially savvy.
The Opportunity
Despite affordability challenges, there were still approximately 967,000 first-time buyers in the UK during 2025.
That represents a substantial pool of buyers actively looking to get onto the property ladder.
For sellers of starter homes and family properties, this remains an important market segment.
