Older first-time buyers (FTBs) are making up a bigger share of the market, with one in five (22%) FTBs in 2025 aged over 40, according to data from Santander.
The oldest first-time buyer it supported in 2025 was 70 years old; the youngest was 18, but the proportion of buyers aged 25 and under fell by 23% since last year.
Buyers aged 60 and over increased by 14% compared to 2024.
David Morris, head of homes at Santander, said: “Our recent data shows that it is never too late to realise your homeownership dream.
“This year has very much been the year of the buyer, with regulatory changes giving buyers renewed confidence that owning a home is within reach.
“Whether buying with family gifts, relying on inherited wealth or simply saving across decades to secure a deposit, we’re pleased to have helped so many first-time buyers across the generations.”
Morris added: “But there is still more that can be done, and our data also highlights a growing disparity for first-time home ownership, with the gap widening between younger and older generations as the market grapples with the impact of stamp duty changes and a lack of supply.”
