In 2024, the average age of recent first-time buyers in London was slightly higher than the England average. Across the UK, first-time buyers accounted for approximately ******* home sales. First-time buyer prices and mortgages In London, the average value of a mortgage for first-time buyers was far higher than all other regions in the UK. Apart from the initial cost of a down payment, those that can afford to, see monthly payment savings against those renting. In certain parts of the country, annual savings of buying against renting saw first time buyers amounted to over ************ British pounds. Help to buy To encourage first-time buyers, the UK government started the "Help to buy" scheme. The scheme sees people saving for a first-time home receive a ***********bonus to their savings when purchasing a house valued at ******* British pounds (******* British pounds in London). Between December 2015 and March 2018, the North West of England saw the highest number of Help to buy ISA bonuses paid.

Since 2011, the average age of British citizens buying their first home in the United Kingdom (UK) increased by two years. In 2011, the average age for the country was 29, while in 2024, it reached ** years. Nevertheless, the average age varied in different regions.

Approximately ** percent of Americans aged 26 to 34 who bought a home were first-home buyers, whereas ** percent of home buyers between 35 and 44 bought their first home in that year. Gen Z and Millennial first-time buyers It is no surprise that many Gen Z (18 to 24 years old) and Millennial (25 to 43 years old) home buyers are mostly first-time home buyers. These home buyers are in the early stages of their careers, or still studying in some cases, and often struggling to repay student debt, so they need to save for many years before they afford a down payment. When do they sell? These generations tend to stay in their first homes for several years, which means that the majority of home sellers are older than them. The share of income needed to afford a trade-up home is significantly lower than the money needed for a starter home. A trade-up home is a larger and more expensive home, which homeowners often buy after living in their starter home, or their first home, for several years. This progression generally happens when homeowners have climbed the career ladder and increased their incomes.

Data on resident buyers who are persons that purchased a residential property in a market sale and filed their T1 tax return form: number of and incomes of residential property buyers, sale price, price-to-income ratio by the number of buyers as part of a sale, age groups, first-time home buyer status, buyer characteristics (sex, family type, immigration status, period of immigration, admission category).

In 2024, the median income range between of more than 200,000 U.S. dollars was the largest share of homebuyers in the United States that year. Among them, almost ** percent were between 26 and 59 years old. The income range between 100,000 and 124,999 U.S. dollars was the second one with the largest share of homebuyers in the United States that year. Among them, ** percent were between 18 and 34 years old.

The homeownership rate was the highest among Americans in their early 70s and the lowest among people in their early 20s in 2024. In that year, approximately **** percent of individuals aged 70 to 74 resided in a residence they owned, compared to approximately ** percent among individuals under the age of 25. On average, **** percent of Americans lived in an owner-occupied home. The homeownership rate was the highest in 2004 but has since declined.

Graph and download economic data for Housing Inventory: Median Days on Market in the United States (MEDDAYONMARUS) from Jul 2016 to Jul 2025 about median and USA.

The majority of home buyers in the United States in 2024 across all age groups purchased a home between ***** and ***** square feet in size. ** percent of the young millennials (26 to 34 years old) and ** percent of the silent generation (79 to 99 years old) purchased a home about the same feet in size.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate in the United States (RHORUSQ156N) from Q1 1965 to Q2 2025 about homeownership, housing, rate, and USA.

The average sales price of new homes in the United States experienced a slight decrease in 2024, dropping to 512,2000 U.S. dollars from the peak of 521,500 U.S. dollars in 2022. This decline came after years of substantial price increases, with the average price surpassing 400,000 U.S. dollars for the first time in 2021. The recent cooling in the housing market reflects broader economic trends and changing consumer sentiment towards homeownership. Factors influencing home prices and affordability The rapid rise in home prices over the past few years has been driven by several factors, including historically low mortgage rates and increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the market has since slowed down, with the number of home sales declining by over two million between 2021 and 2023. This decline can be attributed to rising mortgage rates and decreased affordability. The Housing Affordability Index hit a record low of 98.1 in 2023, indicating that the median-income family could no longer afford a median-priced home. Future outlook for the housing market Despite the recent cooling, experts forecast a potential recovery in the coming years. The Freddie Mac House Price Index showed a growth of 6.5 percent in 2023, which is still above the long-term average of 4.4 percent since 1990. However, homebuyer sentiment remains low across all age groups, with people aged 45 to 64 expressing the most pessimistic outlook. The median sales price of existing homes is expected to increase slightly until 2025, suggesting that affordability challenges may persist in the near future.

Graph and download economic data for Average Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States (ASPUS) from Q1 1963 to Q2 2025 about sales, housing, and USA.

About 36 percent of homeowners in England were aged 65 and above, which contrasts sharply with younger age groups, particularly those under 35. Young adults between 25 and 35, made up 15 percent of homeowners and had a dramatically lower homeownership rate. The disparity highlights the growing challenges faced by younger generations in entering the property market, a trend that has significant implications for wealth distribution and social mobility. Barriers to homeownership for young adults The path to homeownership has become increasingly difficult for young adults in the UK. A 2023 survey revealed that mortgage affordability was the greatest obstacle to property purchase. This represents a 39 percent increase from 2021, reflecting the impact of rising house prices and mortgage rates. Despite these challenges, one in three young adults still aspire to get on the property ladder as soon as possible, though many have put their plans on hold. The need for additional financial support from family, friends, and lenders has become more prevalent, with one in five young adults acknowledging this necessity. Regional disparities and housing supply The housing market in England faces regional challenges, with North West England and the West Midlands experiencing the largest mismatch between housing supply and demand in 2023. This imbalance is evident in the discrepancy between new homes added to the housing stock and the number of new households formed. London, despite showing signs of housing shortage, has seen the largest difference between homes built and households formed. The construction of new homes has been volatile, with a significant drop in 2020, a rebound in 2021 and a gradual decline until 2024.

The distribution of all owner-occupier households in England in 2024 varied per age group, as well as the type of home financing. The older the age group, the larger the share of owner-occupier homeowners who purchased their home outright. A share of 2.1 percent of own outright homeowners were between the ages of 25 to 34, whereas a share of 62.1 percent of own outright homeowners were aged 65 and over. Although this is the case, the largest share of homeowners who purchased their house with a mortgage was in the age range of 35 to 44 years old.

In the presented European countries, the homeownership rate extended from 42.6 percent in Switzerland to as much as 95.9 percent in Albania. Countries with more mature rental markets, such as France, Germany, the UK, and Switzerland, tended to have a lower homeownership rate compared to the frontier countries, such as Lithuania or Slovakia. The share of house owners among the population of all 20 euro area countries stood at 64.5 percent in 2024. Average cost of housing Countries with lower homeownership rates tend to have higher house prices. In 2024, the average transaction price for a house was notably higher in Western and Northern Europe than in Eastern and Southern Europe. In Austria, one of the most expensive European countries to buy a new dwelling in, the average price was three times higher than in Greece. Looking at house price growth, however, the most expensive markets recorded slower house price growth compared to the mid-priced markets. Housing supply With population numbers rising across Europe, the need for affordable housing continues. In 2024, European countries completed between one and six housing units per 1,000 citizens, with Ireland, Poland, and Denmark responsible for heading the ranking. One of the major challenges for supplying the market with more affordable homes is the rising construction costs. In 2021 and 2022, housing construction costs escalated dramatically due to soaring inflation, which has had a significant effect on new supply.

In 2024, around ** percent of 14 to 19-year-olds lived in rented properties. Numbers were highest among 20 to 29-year-olds. In general among the German population, most rented.

As at February 2025, couples aged 25 to 34 years old in Sydney, Australia spent an average of around **** percent of their household income on mortgage repayments for an entry-priced unit. In comparison, couples in the same age bracket in Perth were spending around **** percent of their household income on mortgage repayments for a unit.

As of **************, passenger cars in Japan had an average age of approximately **** years. Over the past decade, the average age of passenger cars increased steadily, hinting at improved durability of vehicles owned in Japan. The Japanese automobile landscape The Japanese automotive industry developed rapidly during the 'economic miracle' post-World War II, making the country one of the largest motor vehicle producers in the world. While international competition within the automobile sector is tight, Japanese engineering is highly valued in its home market and abroad. Domestically produced cars are primarily exported to North America, whereas imported passenger cars arrive predominantly from Europe, followed by imports from Africa and other Asian regions. Domestic passenger car usage Japan’s usage rate of passenger cars was much higher among car owners from rural regions compared to those living in the country’s metropolitan areas, such as Tokyo or Osaka. Due to rising environmental awareness, green vehicle technologies, and car-sharing services that started to pick up in Japan, a new approach to vehicle usage and purchase behavior has likely been sparked.

To obtain a mortgage, first-time homebuyers in the UK need to save a deposit amounting to about ** percent of the property purchase price. The higher the property value and the loan amount, the higher the deposit. In 2024, the average first-time buyer deposit in the UK was about ****** British pounds, but in the most expensive region, Greater London, the deposit amount was more than double. The share of the deposit was also much higher than in other regions in the UK. How has the house price for first-time buyers changed over time? Housing bought by first-time buyers has become increasingly pricier since 2000, making it harder for renters to get on the property ladder. By 2024, the average house price had tripled. The price also varied in different regions, with the North East being the least expensive and Greater London – the most expensive. Which are the most affordable areas for first-time buyers? While housing in certain areas can be pricy, this does not necessarily make it unaffordable, as the standard of living may also be higher. In 2020, the most affordable towns for first-time buyers were found in the North West region (Burnley) and Scotland (East Ayshire, North Ayshire, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire).

The homeowner vacancy rate in the United States reached its lowest value in 2022, followed by an uptick in 2023. The rate shows what share of owner-occupied housing units were vacant and for sale. That figure peaked in 2008, when nearly three percent of homes were vacant, and gradually fell below one percent after the 2020 housing boom. Homeownership is a form of living arrangement where the owner of the inhabited property, whether apartment, house, or type of real estate, lives on the premises. Due to usually high costs associated with owning a property and perceived advantages or disadvantages associated with such a long-term investment, homeownership rates differ greatly around the world, based on both cultural and economic factors. In Europe, Romania is the country with the highest rate of homeownership, while the lowest homeownership rate was observed in Switzerland. Homeownership attitude in the U.S. Individuals may have very different opportunities or inclination to become homeowners based on nationality, age, financial status, social status, occupation, marital status, education or even ethnicity and whether one is local-born or foreign-born. In 2023, the homeownership rate among older Americans was higher than for younger Americans. In the U.S., homeownership is generally believed to be a good investment, in terms of security (no risk of eviction) and financial aspect (owning a valuable real estate property). In 2023, there were approximately 86 million owner-occupied housing units, a stark increase compared to four decades prior. Why is homeownership sentiment low? The housing market has been suffering chronic undersupply, leading to a surge in prices and eroding affordability. In 2023, the housing affordability index plummeted, reflecting the growing challenge that homeowners face when looking for property. Insufficient income, savings, and high home prices are some of the major obstacles that come in the way of a property purchase. Though affordability varied widely across different metros, just about 15 percent of U.S. renters could afford to buy the median priced home in their area.