17/11/2011

First Time Buyers Taking 'Desperate Measures'

First time buyers are resorting to second jobs, personal loans or sharing new homes with friends as they struggle to get on the property ladder, according to new research.

The study, by Santander Mortgages, has outlined difficulties many consumers are facing as they try to get onto the increasingly slippery property ladder.

Average housing deposits are nearly £37,3752, coming in at 17% of the overall property value.

A third of all non-homeowners said they believed they'd never own a property while one in four current non-homeowners said they were hoping to buy within the next five years.

Second jobs and extra debt.

Just over a quarter of hopeful buyers said they would take on second jobs or work overtime to secure the deposit they need and slightly more said they were prepared to take out a personal loan to help raise the money.

According to consumer group Which, the findings highlight a change in buying trends over the last decade: Of current homeowners, who purchased their properties an average of 12.5 years ago, just 5% relied on overtime or a second job to raise their deposit.

Only 4% had to take out a loan.

Over half of those questioned by Santander said they would use their savings to finance their first home deposit. However, the proportion of potential buyers relying on inheritance money has almost doubled, moving from 8% for current homeowners to 14% for aspiring first time buyers.

Some 7% of respondents said they'd rent out a spare room to raise the deposit cash - and 6% said they'd share the deposit payment with friends.

(DW)

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