Older first-time consumers take ever-growing share of market

Older consumers are making up a rising proportion of the first-time purchaser (FTB) market, with 22% of FTBs in 2025 aged over 40, up from 18% in 2024, in accordance with recent information from Santander.

Whereas the common age of first-time consumers edges nearer to 40, the lender’s information additionally exhibits a pointy rise in consumers over 60, up 14% in contrast with 2024. The oldest first-time purchaser Santander supported this 12 months was 70, in contrast with 67 in 2024.

In the meantime, youthful consumers have gotten more and more scarce. The proportion of FTBs aged 25 and underneath has fallen by nearly 1 / 4 (23%) over the past 12 months, though the youngest purchaser this 12 months was nonetheless 18, highlighting that first-time possession is just not solely outlined by age.

David Morris, head of properties at Santander, mentioned: “Our current information exhibits that it’s by no means too late to grasp your homeownership dream. This 12 months has very a lot been the 12 months of the customer, with regulatory modifications giving consumers renewed confidence that proudly owning a house is inside attain. Whether or not shopping for with household items, counting on inherited wealth or just saving throughout a long time to safe a deposit, we’re happy to have helped so many first-time consumers throughout the generations.

“However there’s nonetheless extra that may be executed, and our information additionally highlights a rising disparity for first-time residence possession, with the hole widening between youthful and older generations because the market grapples with the influence of stamp responsibility modifications and an absence of provide.”