Taylor Scott International News
The age of first time buyers in England has increased over the past 20 years, up from 30 to 33, according to the latest English Housing Survey published by the Government. In 2014/2015 the majority of first time buyers, some 61%, were aged 25 to 34 and this was similar to 1994/1995 but between 1994/1995 and 2014/2015 the proportion of first time buyers aged 16 to 24 fell from 23% to 10%, while the proportion aged 35 to 44 increased from 11% to 20%. The survey, from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) also shows that more first time buyer households were couples than single people, compared with 20 years ago. The proportion of first time buyers that were single households halved from 29% in 1994/1995 to 14% in 2014/2015 meaning 80% of all first time buyers were couple households, a marked change since 1994/1995 when it was 63% and 2004/2005 when it was 62%. The report suggests that this may be due to an increasing need for two incomes to be able to buy. The analysis shows that among first time buyers that were couples, those with dependent children have increased the most from 20% to 31% and first time buyers had higher incomes and more help with funding their deposits than was required 20 years earlier. Some 72% of first time buyers were in the fourth and fifth quintile income bands in 2014/2015, up from 62% in 1994/1995 and there was an increase in the proportion of first time buyers that had help from friends and family from 21% to 27% while those that used inherited money for their deposit increased by 3% to 10%. Expectation to buy declined among private renters between 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, after a period of relative stability since 2006/2007. A breakdown of the figures show that in 2014/2015 some 57% of private renters were more likely to expect to buy property at some point in the future than social renters at 24%. Since 2006/2007 the proportion of private renters who expect to buy a home has remained relatively consistent. However, there was a decline from 61% in 2013/2014 to 57% in 2014/2015. There was no such decline in the proportion of social renters who expected to buy over the latest year. This was in large part due to the fall in the proportion of 25 to 44 year old private renters who expect to buy in the latest year. Expectation to buy for 25 to 34 year olds in the private rented sector was relatively stable from 2008/2009 but the 71% of 25 to 34 year olds expecting to buy their own property in 2014/2015 signified a decrease from 78% in 2013/2014. A similar pattern was evident among private renters aged 35 to 44 years, with a decline from 68% to 60% in the latest year. There were more older social and private renters expecting to buy than in 2010/2011. Among social… Taylor Scott International
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