In the UK it’s common for people to move home multiple times throughout their lives. Whether it’s for a change in lifestyle, work, or family circumstances, people in the UK are often on the lookout for new places to live.
But buying your first home gets harder over time as house prices continue to rise much faster than inflation.
We’ve analysed the latest housing data below to shine a light on when people in the UK actually buy their first home, and who can really afford a £2 million+ property.
You’re unlikely to buy a house until you’re 30
Only one out of every five house purchases are from someone under the age of 30.
After 30 the tide starts to turn
People in the age of 30 to 35 buy a total of 17% of homes in the year, and this is the largest age bracket for buying homes.
The majority of homes are bought by people under the age of 45 (60% of the total)
Middle age buyers are the most active
The next 20 years of age between 45 and 65 are responsible for another 29% of home purchases.
(Some) retirees keep on buying
Following the retirement age of 65, 11% of homeowners are buying homes. This is from people trading down from larger properties to smaller homes.
Home Values
Young People Take the Cheaper Homes
Cheaper home purchases are dominated by younger age groups. For homes worth £250,000 and less there are twice as many buyers aged 25 – 29 than there are in any other age bracket from 40 up to 65.
Between the next house price bracket of £250,000 to £500,000 the dominant group moves up slightly to the 30 – 34 year olds.
In either of these price bands, half of all homes are bought by people under the age of 40.
40 Year Olds Dominate Higher Priced Homes
As home prices increase, a larger slice of the pie is dominated by the 40 – 49 year olds. One in every three homes valued between £1.0m to £1.5m is bought buy someone in this age group.
It’s also worth noting that although this is the age segment growing fastest in the £1.0m+ category, one third of home purchases at this price point is still purchased by people who are older than this.
10% of purchases in the £1.0m to £1.5m range are by people aged 65 years and older (which is typically the retirement age in the UK).
Super Prime Homes
As the purchase price of a home goes above £2m more and more buyers will be older.
Less than one in 20 homes at this price are bought by anyone under the age of 30.
Only 30% of buyers are even under the age of 40 when buying a home at this price.
The 40 to 50 year old bracket holds the majority with 40% of buyers in this age buying a £2m home
Final Thoughts
One of the most interesting insights form the purchase data is that people of all ages are buying homes at varying different price points. Although some age brackets dominate in certain areas, no individual age group has the majority in any. So if you find yourself in a bidding war for your next home, don’t be surprised if your rival is a fresh 25 year old or a retiring worker!