First-Time Buyer Index: Beyond The Deposit
Could a 2.5% deposit be the key to getting more people onto the property ladder? Our latest First-Time Buyer Index puts the government's proposed Your First Home scheme to the test, plus the latest trends in mortgage affordability, house prices and the best UK cities for first-time buyers.
Beyond the Deposit: What we uncovered
The average first-time buyer profile
Mortgage repayments may be falling, but first-time buyers are getting older, earning more and saving bigger deposits to get onto the property ladder. Here's what the average first-time buyer looks like in Q3 2026.
How has the first-time buyer market changed?
From mortgage repayments to borrowing power, see how the key figures have shifted over the past two years and whether getting onto the property ladder is becoming more affordable.
Could Your First Home help buyers get the keys sooner?
A 2.5% deposit could bring homeownership over a year closer. But would it really make buying more affordable? Take a look inside to find out.
First-Time Buyer City Index: Q3 2026
| Rank | City | Score (out of 21) | Position Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Glagow | 5.95 | 1 |
2 | Belfast | 7.38 | 3 |
3 | Liverpool | 7.70 | 2 |
4 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 8.63 | 5 |
5 | Stoke-on-Trent | 9.45 | 4 |
6 | Leeds | 9.65 | 9 |
7 | Coventry | 10.23 | 15 |
8 | Hull | 10.35 | 6 |
9 | Bristol | 10.58 | 7 |
10 | Sheffield | 10.60 | 10 |
11 | Southampton | 10.65 | 12 |
12 | Derby | 10.73 | 16 |
13 | Nottingham | 10.85 | 8 |
14 | Bradford | 11.05 | 18 |
15 | Manchester | 11.10 | 11 |
16 | Edinburgh | 11.38 | 13 |
17 | Birmingham | 12.00 | 14 |
18 | Cardiff | 13.40 | 17 |
19 | Leicester | 13.93 | 19 |
20 | Brighton | 14.60 | 20 |
21 | London | 20.83 | 21 |
The latest for first-time buyers
Explore our previous First-Time Buyer Indexes alongside expert guides on mortgages, saving and the housing market, all designed to help you understand what's happening in the market.
