The number-one priority for first time buyers is not transport links or proximity to trendy restaurants, according to research carried out by Yorkshire Building Society. Research with over 2,000 potential and actual first time buyers’ found that having their own garden is the most important feature – potential first-time buyers (54%) and recent FTBs (51%).
Features with Long-Term Benefits
However, the findings reveal that the importance of some other features lessens once people settle in, suggesting compromise could pay off in the long-term for potential first time buyers. For example, while 36% of potential first time buyers see living near good public transport as key, it is far less of a factor for those who recently bought their first home (26%) which suggests this is a compromise they made and didn’t regret. Key Attributes of a first home:
| Criteria | Potential first time buyers | Recent (last year) homeowners | |
| It is important that it has a garden | 54% | 51% | |
| I want to live near good public transport | 36% | 26% | |
| The property needs to be low maintenance | 28% | 36% | |
| I want to live near my family | 26% | 36% | |
| Smaller house in a more desirable area | 23% | 9% |
Size Matters: While 23% of potential first
Article courtesy of Property Investor Today“”
