Sales to First-Time Buyers fall in January compared to previous month according to NAEA Propertmark.

February 28, 2018

Latest Housing Market report from NAEA Propertymark headlines ‘House-Hunters Flood The Market’

The report reveals that the number of house-hunters looking for new homes rose by 37 per cent in January.

January saw an influx of sellers marketing their properties, the supply of available properties increased to 36 per branch on average, from 33 in December according to NAEA Propertymark.

Mark Hayward, Chief Executive said:

“As we usually see in January, buyers and sellers have re-entered the market after the festive slow-down and triggered an uplift in the number of sales agreed. While this is good news for the market generally, the increased competition seems to have affected FTBs, who generally have less bargaining power when it comes to bidding for properties.

“Our members have noticed FTBs holding off on making purchases typically outside of London, and saving for longer to maximise the full stamp duty relief. They’re skipping the ‘first time home’ and moving straight onto their second homes, to avoid growing out of their property in four or five years and facing the cost of stamp duty. This is a smart move and an example of how FTBs are making legislation work to their advantage.“

Read the latest Housing Market report from NAEA Propertymark in full click here.

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Letting Agent Talk

How much to live along the London Marathon Route

Local lettings and estate agency, Kinleigh, Folkard & Hayward, reveal the costs to live along the iconic route – from the start in Blackheath to Greenwich all the way to Tower Bridge Sunday 26th April sees the iconic London marathon – the world’s biggest annual one-day fundraising event – return to the streets of London.…
Read More →
Home and Living

FIVE food cupboard cleaning products that beat the branded – all under £1.50!

Use white wine vinegar to get rid of yellow pillow stains Many cleaning products Brits already have in their food cupboards Cleaning expert on five cleaning products that can help clean your bedroom From limescale to stubborn stains, many household messes can be tackled with items that are probably at the back of your food…
Read More →
Breaking News

Taxing times for bereaved families as IHT receipts hit a fresh record

Inheritance Tax receipts for April 2025 to March 2026 are £8.5 billion, which is £0.2 billion higher than the same period last year. This surpasses the £8.2 billion recorded the previous year and marks a fifth consecutive annual record. Rising receipts come amid intensified enforcement and public criticism that the inheritance tax system is unfairly…
Read More →
Breaking News

UK property management sector tops £37bn

The latest research from Property Inspect reveals that the UK property and facilities management sector grew by 4.1% in 2025, with annual revenue surpassing £37.7 billion. Forecasts suggest that 2026 will see this figure continue to rise. Property Inspect has analysed data on the estimated market size of the UK’s facilities and property management industry,…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

How Estate Agents in Cambridge Support First-Time Buyers

Buying your first home can feel both exciting and overwhelming. If you are doing it in a city like Cambridge, you can probably dial that terror up a few notches. It is a place where historic charm meets a high-octane tech economy, and that combination creates a property market that operates differently from many other…
Read More →
Breaking News

UK House Price Index for February 2026

The latest UK House Price Index for February 2026 shows that:   The average monthly rate of house price growth in February was +0.1%. Average UK house price annual inflation was 1.2% in the 12 months to February 2026. As a result, the average UK house price currently sits at £268,000.   Damien Jefferies, Founder…
Read More →