finance
monthly
Personal Finance. Money. Investing.
Updated at 15:50
Contribute
Premium
Awards

Benham and Reeves looked at the historic FTB property price data from the Land Registry and how this had changed month to month across each UK region and London borough, before projecting these monthly price changes forward 34 years to see what the average first-time buyer house price could hit for those born today.

With the average FTB now 34 years of age and today’s average FTB house price in England at £207,526, those born today could be looking at an average of £1,214,381 to get on the ladder in 34 years’ time.

This is, of course, much higher in the capital and despite the current market slowdown, the average FTB house price in London is now £412,679, although this could increase to a huge £4.5m over the next 34 years.

The data shows the average FTB house price would also top the £1m mark in the East of England and the South East, where the average house prices are currently £241,259 and £259,567 but could hit £1.9m by 2052.

The cheapest area to buy for FTBs born today would be the North East with a predicted price of £210,739, up from £110,645 today.

Looking into London, Kensington could be toppled as the capital’s most expensive borough, from an FTB perspective anyway. Despite the much higher price of property today, the slower rate of growth in FTB property prices in the last seven years means that Waltham Forest could overtake the PCL borough with an eye-watering average house price of £11.5m by 2052.

Kensington would still rank second with an average FTB house price of just under £8.4m, with Hackney (£6.8m), Westminster (£6.8m) and Haringey (£6.6m) all home to some of the highest prices when getting on the future ladder.

Hounslow has seen the slowest rate of growth in FTB house prices historically and ranks as the most affordable for an FTB born today, but even then they would need a whopping £2.8m to get on the ladder in 34 years’ time.

Benham and Reeves Director, Marc von Grundherr, commented: “This research considers the ups and downs of the first-time buyer market historically and how things could play out for the generation of first-time buyers being born today if these trends were to repeat themselves. 

Of course, it’s impossible to predict the future of the UK property market, particularly given the current turbulence caused by wider economic and political factors, however, this research acts as a warning of what could happen if we continue to fail in the delivery of affordable starter homes.

Not only does it show the huge jump in prices over previous years but how this could worsen further down the line. 

While we hope that prices won’t reach these dizzying heights, we’ve certainly seen stranger things happen across the UK property market in the last 34 years, so who knows what the next 34 may bring.”

Region Average FTB House Price
Jan-12 Dec-18 Dec-52
London £256,169 £412,679 £4,562,327
East of England £159,417 £241,259 £1,909,148
South East £173,993 £259,567 £1,907,352
South West £155,722 £210,977 £945,789
East Midlands £114,714 £162,200 £898,665
West Midlands £120,179 £166,881 £826,933
Yorkshire and the Humber £108,443 £141,520 £519,388
North West £105,748 £138,288 £514,293
Wales £109,838 £139,487 £443,639
Scotland £101,906 £121,331 £290,006
North East £97,313 £110,645 £210,739
       
England £145,361 £207,526 £1,214,381
       
Borough Average FTB House Price
Jan-12 Dec-18 Dec-52
Waltham Forest £214,718 £419,083 £11,565,911
Kensington and Chelsea £810,493 £1,207,159 £8,378,019
Hackney £311,042 £523,280 £6,825,031
Westminster £603,575 £895,636 £6,819,146
Haringey £284,508 £478,903 £6,627,641
Merton £264,034 £447,387 £6,086,550
Lewisham £208,529 £366,680 £6,069,420
Barking and Dagenham £157,097 £287,108 £5,620,292
City of London £555,616 £809,007 £5,465,194
Redbridge £215,044 £370,373 £5,428,181
Bexley £175,586 £310,631 £5,264,108
Lambeth £278,869 £453,022 £5,251,664
Greenwich £210,418 £352,939 £4,677,804
Camden £488,702 £706,879 £4,575,705
Enfield £213,313 £352,056 £4,308,058
Havering £186,160 £312,903 £4,251,056
Richmond £348,635 £528,510 £4,247,587
Hammersmith and Fulham £437,937 £641,542 £4,245,412
Southwark £284,136 £446,372 £4,233,466
Hillingdon £208,684 £341,413 £4,030,421
Bromley £216,935 £353,448 £4,005,025
Croydon £182,269 £302,758 £3,987,306
Newham £211,778 £342,734 £3,919,806
Sutton £194,578 £320,221 £3,899,370
Ealing £273,773 £426,620 £3,860,887
Kingston £265,393 £409,397 £3,682,426
Barnet £294,548 £446,786 £3,585,976
Tower Hamlets £275,938 £415,189 £3,484,293
Islington £413,846 £582,156 £3,409,486
Harrow £251,169 £386,293 £3,350,252
Wandsworth £359,897 £521,095 £3,318,529
Brent £274,150 £406,390 £2,960,547
Hounslow £232,753 £353,076 £2,847,158
       
London £256,169 £412,679 £4,562,327

 

(Source: Benham and Reeves)

Of course, there's the deposit, mortgage payments and estate agents fees to think about, but what about finding out the boiler is broken once you move in? Or realising you need to pay just shy of £1,000 for a homebuyer's report? Once you add moving day costs, like hiring a van and buying sturdy cardboard boxes, it really does all add up.

So, before you get carried away putting in an offer on a home that could leave you out of pocket, here are five hidden costs first-time buyers should be aware of. And, if you want to find out exactly how much your new home could cost you, use Totally Money's new interactive home buying tool.

  1. Stamp duty land tax

Stamp duty isn’t a problem for everyone – homes under £125,000 won’t incur it, and prices up to £500,000 for first-time buyers will be reduced or negated. But if you’re buying a more expensive home, or not your first, it can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

  1. Fixing leaks, cracks and rewiring electrics

Small faults with a property are easy to overlook when you’re buying it. But once you’re in, it’s natural to want to get the place just right – but with average costs of £180 for fixing leaks and cracks, and as much as £2,750 for rewiring electrics, it can be a real shock.

  1. Homebuyer's report

Even if you don’t want a full building survey, a homebuyer’s report can identify a lot of potential issues with a property – but it’ll still put you out a massive £786 on average.

  1. Solicitor costs

When buying your home with the help of a solicitor, their costs can be between £850 - £1,500, which is a sizeable fee to pay as you enter your new property.

  1. Moving day costs

Boxes, a removals company to help you pack up and shift your stuff, taking a day off work unpaid to wait for the broadband to be installed, moving day costs can often the most hidden of all. Plan ahead by asking family and friends to help you move, or buying boxes in bulk, and you could save yourself a small fortune.

Joe Gardiner, TotallyMoney’s Head of Brand and Communications, comments: “Buying your first home is an exciting step in your life, but it’s also an expensive one – and often more expensive than you initially estimate. We conducted this research to help first-time buyers make sure they are aware of all potential costs before they have to pay them.”

(Source: TotallyMoney)

About Finance Monthly

Universal Media logo
Finance Monthly is a comprehensive website tailored for individuals seeking insights into the world of consumer finance and money management. It offers news, commentary, and in-depth analysis on topics crucial to personal financial management and decision-making. Whether you're interested in budgeting, investing, or understanding market trends, Finance Monthly provides valuable information to help you navigate the financial aspects of everyday life.
© 2024 Finance Monthly - All Rights Reserved.
News Illustration

Get our free weekly FM email

Subscribe to Finance Monthly and Get the Latest Finance News, Opinion and Insight Direct to you every week.
chevron-right-circle linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram