The northern powerhouse city is seeing a surge in the number of first-time homebuyers

In order to find homes that fit their lifestyles and budgets, first-time buyers are "casting their nets wider"

For first-time buyers, we examine the most popular areas.

For first-time buyers, climbing the property ladder has become difficult due to high rents, mortgage costs, and house prices. Nonetheless, a large city in northern England is becoming well-liked by those looking to enter the market.

According to recent Lloyds Bank research, the largest percentage of homes purchased by first-time buyers outside of London in 2025 were in Manchester, the "Capital of the North." People moving up the property ladder accounted for 70.2% of all home purchases in the city.

In the analysis, the areas outside of London where the largest percentage of all mortgaged home purchases were made by first-time buyers were examined.

According to Lloyds, the variety of property types and relative affordability in Manchester when compared to the rest of Britain are what are attracting buyers. Manchester's thriving economy and plenty of job opportunities attracted buyers even more.

It stated that the average price of a home for a first-time buyer in Manchester is 230,090, which is nearly 25,000 less than the national average of 254,920.

"For most first-time buyers, affordability is the top priority, and we are seeing more people cast their net wider to find places that match both their lifestyle and their budget," stated Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at Lloyds.

It is literally possible for that flexibility to lead to more opportunities. Manchester is a popular destination for people looking to live in a modern city. A "

Where else do first-time homebuyers buy real estate?

According to Lloyds research, properties in the Midlands and East of England are also being sought after by first-time buyers.

Eight of the top ten regions in England, Wales, and Scotland with the largest percentage of first-time buyers were located in these two regions.

First-time buyers accounted for 69.7 percent of the market in Sandwell, West Midlands, compared to 69.4 percent in Birmingham, West Midlands, and Luton, East of England.

Other cities that made the top 10 list were Coventry (West Midlands), Leicester and Oadby (East Midlands), and Thurrock (East of England).

In 2025, 68.2 percent, 66.9 percent, and 66.5 percent of all home purchases in these regions were made by first-time buyers.

Rhondda Cynon Taf had the largest first-time buyer market share in Wales, accounting for 57.9% of all home purchases.

First-time homebuyers were acquiring the greatest percentage of homes in Glasgow, Scotland's largest city by population (57.9%).

Lloyds Bank is cited.

First-time buyer tips.

Nick Mendes, mortgage technical manager at broker John Charcol, gave BFIA his best advice for first-time buyers navigating a challenging market.

One. Be aware of your actual borrowing capacity.

Determine how much you can truly afford to borrow before deciding that a property is out of your price range.

Although online mortgage calculators are helpful for estimating your borrowing capacity, they typically do not account for factors such as childcare expenses, student loans, overtime, and bonuses.

You can avoid the disappointment of seeing a property that you later discover is out of your price range by using a broker to help you sense-check the numbers early on.

Be aware that brokers might bill you for their services, accept a commission from the lender or bank, or even do both. As stated by Unbiased . co . uk, fees can range from 400 to 500.

2. . Establish a deposit plan.

It's not always worthwhile to try to accumulate a sizable deposit, but generally speaking, the larger the deposit, the better the mortgage rate you'll be offered and the more equity you'll hold in your home.

"If rents are high and prices in your target area are rising, it may make sense to buy with a 5% or 10% deposit sooner," Mendes stated.

3. Maintain control over your credit score.

With poor credit, you can still get a mortgage, but you'll probably be charged more and have to pay a larger down payment.

Therefore, during the six to twelve months prior to applying for a mortgage, monitor your credit profile and make sure you don't do anything that could damage it.

Mendes stated that minor problems such as late payments, excessive credit utilization, or obtaining new financing can have a disproportionate effect.

By avoiding new credit applications and maintaining low credit balances, you can combat this. A high number of bank switches can also affect your score, so be cautious.

4. . Seek methods to extend affordability.

Individuals with higher incomes may be eligible for enhanced mortgage income multiples from certain lenders. Your annual income multiplied by the mortgage income multiple is what a lender uses to calculate the largest mortgage loan amount you can afford. A higher multiple indicates that they are prepared to give you a larger maximum loan amount.

For instance, Barclays recently raised the maximum loan-to-income (LTI) for borrowers with a combined income of at least 75,000 to six times income.

On the other hand, because longer fixed-term mortgage agreements are exempt from the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) more stringent stress-testing regulations, a lender may grant you a larger loan amount.

Remember that if you fix your mortgage for a longer period of time, you will typically be offered a higher interest rate because lenders are taking a greater risk by allowing you to fix for a longer period of time because they are unsure of where the market will be in five or ten years.