Homeowning life expected to begin at 40

Life begins at 40, so they say. That also seems to be the age many young people think they will have reached before they can afford to buy their first home.

HSBC UK's annual Beyond the Bricks survey has revealed that first-time buyers now expect to be aged 39 years old on average before they can get on the property ladder.

Those who already own their first home are on average 28 years old.

The survey revealed that FTBs are taking out mortgages over longer terms to make their first purchase affordable, while the loan-to-value (LTV) percentage has also increased.

According to the research, more than half of those who want to buy a home for the first time already have a family to support.

Two-thirds (64 percent) expect to buy with someone else, while one in 10 are clubbing together with a friend or family to buy.

The survey also showed that since January 2018, the average length of mortgage taken out by FTBs is now at 27 years and eight months, up by three-and-a-half years.

FTBs are also, on average, taking out mortgages that are six years longer than those who already own a home.

Meanwhile, FTBs who access the Government's Help to Buy ISA scheme save on average almost £3,500 before they buy and claim an average tax-free bonus of £866.

Aaron Shinwell, interim head of mortgages and savings at HSBC UK, said: "It is encouraging to see recent figures showing that first-time buyer activity is increasing.

"We have worked hard over recent years to provide first-time buyers with options to help them buy a property. With the [Help to Buy ISA] scheme no longer accepting new applications after November, opening an account before that could make a real difference to when a FTB gets the keys to their first home."