Older first-time buyers make up growing share of the market, Santander finds

by Aaron Strutt

Nov 19 2025

The share of older first-time buyers is growing, a major bank found, with more than a fifth aged 40 and over. Santander recently lowered its fixed-rate mortgages, and its most competitively priced mortgage rates are priced around 3.6%. 

• New data from Santander shows that the oldest first-time buyer it supported in 2025 was 70 years old.

• The number of buyers aged 60 and over rose by 14% compared to 2024.

• While the youngest to get onto the property ladder in 2025 was 18 years old, overall, the proportion of first-time buyers aged 25 and under has fallen by 23% since 2024.

London, 24 November 2025 – New data from Santander reveals that older first-time buyers are taking an ever-growing share of the market, with one in five (22%) first-time buyers (FTBs) in 2025 aged over 40, up from 18% in 2024. Click here to read our blog for the top ten first-time buyer schemes.

While the average age of FTBs has been creeping closer to 40 over the past few years, data from the lender also shows a sharp rise in those over 60 buying their first property, up 14% compared to 2024. The oldest FTB it helped in 2025 was 70 years old, compared to 67 in 2024. Despite welcome advances in lending policy and regulation aimed at helping younger people onto the property ladder, the proportion of buyers aged 25 and under has fallen sharply in the last year, down by almost a quarter (23%) from 2024 to 2025. Despite this, the youngest FTB this year was 18, highlighting that entry into home ownership doesn’t necessarily equate to age.

David Morris, Head of Homes at Santander, said: “Our recent data shows that it is never too late to realise your homeownership dream. This year has very much been the year of the buyer, with regulatory changes giving buyers renewed confidence that owning a home is within reach.  Whether buying with family gifts, relying on inherited wealth or simply saving across decades to secure a deposit, we’re pleased to have helped so many first-time buyers across the generations.“But there is still more that can be done, and our data also highlights a growing disparity for first-time home ownership, with the gap widening between younger and older generations as the market grapples with the impact of stamp duty changes and a lack of supply.” 

Are there many first-time buyer mortgage options?

One of the good things about the mortgage market at the moment is how keen the banks and building societies are to issue first-time buyer mortgages. They are constantly launching new schemes to help more people of all ages get on the property ladder.

These schemes are widely available across large and small mortgage lenders. Some options are suitable for borrowers with a larger deposit. Others help those who can get support from their parents. There are also low-deposit choices for borrowers who need to stretch their income and even low-deposit mortgages for those with credit blips.

Get expert mortgage advice from Trinity Financial

At Trinity Financial, our team of experienced London mortgage brokers specialises in helping borrowers secure the right deal. We work with all major lenders and can guide you through the full application process.

Call Trinity Financial on 020 7016 0790 to secure a mortgage or book a consultation

Your mortgage is secured on your property. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage