Over 9 in 10 (91%) first-time buyers negotiated on the property purchase price, with £22,900 reduced on average from the asking price

• TSB’s Q4 2025 vs Q4 2024 report: Average age of first-time buyer 31, and average mortgage term 31
• Notable drop in average deposit – down from 23 percent to 18 percent
• Average first-time buyer age in London up to 34; regions with youngest age are West Midlands, Wales, Yorkshire and the North East at 30
• Polling: 91% of first-time buyers negotiated the asking price, with average reductions of £22,900
• 68% of first-time buyers made an offer on the property they eventually bought within a week, 14% making an offer the same day

A poll of recent first-time buyers reveals¹ the power of negotiation – with 91 percent of respondents having reduced the asking price, with an average of £22,900 saved.

Notably, younger people (18-34) made the biggest savings negotiating £24,400 of reductions on average. Only nine percent of first-time buyers were unable to negotiate a reduction.

TSB’s first-time buyer data Q4 2025 vs Q4 2024

TSB’s quarterly mortgage report ² finds that the average deposit size reduced by five percent last year – to a UK average of 18% (down to £40,000).

Regions saw notable drops, such as East Anglia (down 10% to 16%), North West (down 6% to 14%), West Midlands (down 6% to 14%), London, (down 5% to 24%) and the South East, down 5% to 20%)

TSB found that the average age of first-time buyers remained flat, at 31.

London saw an increase of one year – up to 34 years, and is the oldest region, followed by the South East (33). 

The North East, Scotland, West Midlands and Yorkshire & The Humber have the lowest age for first-time buyers, at 30.

Mortgage terms also remained flat at 31 years. Although, London dropped two years, to 30. As did the South West; down to 31 years. Scotland has the lowest term, at 29 years.

House-buying process

Censuswide for TSB also surveyed 1,000 first-time buyers who had bought a property within the last five years.

People typically viewed four properties before making an offer – and over 55s conducted the widest search, viewing five on average. One in 100 first-time buyers (1%) viewed over 10 properties before making an offer.

The house buying process – from first viewing to moving in – took five months on average. However, one in 20 (5%) took a year, while one in 50 (2%) took between a year and two years to move in.

Over three fifths of first-time buyers (68%) made an offer on the property they eventually bought within a week, while one in seven (14%) made an offer the same day. On average, it took two offers to be successful. One in 20 (5%) made four offers, or over.

Reflecting on the house buying process, a third (33%) of recent first-time buyers said they would negotiate even harder, followed by widening their search (31%) - and setting a clear budget (29%).

Looking ahead to the year, over two fifths (43%) of first-time buyers said that cost-of living concerns most concerned them, followed by base rate level (32%), and house price falls (27%).

Craig Calder, Director of Secured Lending, TSB, said:

“Most first-time buyers are successfully lowering a property’s purchase price through negotiations that can lead to notable reductions to the asking price, in some cases.

“It’s vital that house buyers build time into the process for enough viewings, alongside effective budgeting and negotiation. The right deal for the right home can be game-changing for your financial future and wellbeing.”

- ENDS -

Notes to editors

1. The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 1000 First time buyers (within 5 years) . The data was collected between 22.12.2025 - 05.01.2026. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council. 
2. TSB’s Mortgage Report analyses first-time buyer data, Q4 2025 vs Q4 2024

FTB Average Age

FTB Average Term (Years)

FTB Comps split by Region

FTB Average value of deposit

FTB Average deposit %