Number of first time buyer houses increased in 2021

The number of UK first time buyer houses continues to rise year on year. In 2021, the number reached the highest level since 2002.

As buyer confidence returned, the number of buyers went up.

It was estimated there were 408,301 first-time buyer transactions in 2021, which was a 35% increase from the 303,000 first-time buyer transactions in 2020. Both of these figures were more than twice the levels that were seen during the 2007/2008 financial crisis.

As previously mentioned, this was a magnificent increase from 2002, which marked the first peak in first-time buyer transactions. 531,800 households purchased a property and entered the housing ladder for the first time.

It took more than 15 years for those numbers to repeat themselves. Interestingly, despite a prosperous year in 2002, 2006 saw a sharp decline with only 400,900 first-time buyers.

It is always interesting to take a note of how first-time buyers interact with the property market at different periods in time. House prices hit record highs in 2021, which did deter the bulk of first-time buyers. There were many who found it difficult to purchase their first home. Understandably, the coronavirus pandemic, which took place during this time, was considered to be a compounding factor in preventing more first-time buyer interactions. People had to change financial situations, massive debt, and uncertainty about the future of certain industries and jobs, which did slow down the number of first-time buyers.

However, it is worth noting that a broad range of factors routinely influence first-time buyer interactions and dictate how many people manage to successfully navigate the property market. There are many schemes on a regular basis such as government guarantees for mortgages, low borrowing costs, and holidays on stamp duty which help first-time buyers to successfully enter the market by saving as much money as possible.

When examining the property market, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic cannot be ignored. It continues to influence the property market in small ways to this very day.

Naturally, as the pandemic had serious economic consequences for the UK, it’s not difficult to see how the property market would be similarly affected.

To give an example, the pandemic meant that there was reduced spending across the board. Many people were not able to spend as much money as they normally would because the bulk of retail services was closed down, which meant that there were much higher savings going on. People were, therefore, able to get larger deposits than they initially thought possible because they didn’t have as many outgoing costs.

The first-time buyer is always an important part of the property market, but in 2021, half of all purchases with a mortgage were from first-time buyers. This is roughly the same percentage that was seen in 2020 but is a radical step up from past years. Between 2006 and 2011, the figure for first-time buyers who had a mortgage was only 40% at best.

If you are looking at first time buyer houses in Twickenham and looking for mortgage advice, get in touch today.

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Hannah D
Hannah D
07:42 09 Sep 19
I would fully recommend Greg and Greenacre Financial Services. As a first time buyer I was daunted by the process of... finding the right mortgage for me however Greg made the process really simple, clear and quick. He was always available to answer any questions and happy to explain everything. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Greenacre FS to my friends and family.read more
Jessica Cohen
Jessica Cohen
19:33 26 Aug 19
We first met with Greg in May for advice as we had adverse credit and irregular pay and didn't think a mortgage was in... our reach. Less than two weeks later Greg had fully arranged a great deal for us on our first mortgage. He was available whenever we needed him, 7 days a week and in the evenings. We cannot thank Greg enough for helping us buy our first home!read more
Seren Fletcher
Seren Fletcher
08:56 24 Aug 19
Would highly recommend Greg and Greenacre Financial Services. Was extremely professional and helpful. Our mortgage... wasn’t straight forward due to my husband being self employed but Greg was very knowledgable and managed to find us a really good mortgage. Looking forward to working with him again in the futureread more
Kane
Kane
13:24 23 Aug 19
Graham at Greenacre was excellent in helping me get a mortgage for my house purchase. He was always available when... needed, provided an efficient service and was very knowledgeable. Highly recommended!read more
Ian Hatter
Ian Hatter
11:07 16 Aug 19
What can I say, Greg has been absolutely amazing in sorting out a mortgage for me I never thought was possible. It has... meant I have been able to buy a house, a few months ago, I would never have dreamed of being able to buy after talking to high street lenders. He worked exceptionally hard and always kept me updated with every step of the process. Buying a house is extremely stressful, but Greg took all that stress away from me. I cannot recommend Greg enough to anyone looking to buy a property. Thank you so much for your help Greg, it's greatly appreciated.read more
Sean Kelly
Sean Kelly
15:27 30 Jul 19
10/10 EXCEPTIONAL service and result. Highly recommend. Greg and the Greenacre Financial Services team were fast,... knowledgeable, and honest. All the qualities you want and need. Very pleased I was recommended to Greenacre. Customer for life!read more
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