In the second of two pieces from Aldermore Bank for our First Time Buyer week, Jon Cooper, Director of Mortgages, looks at how geography is now one of the biggest determinants of first-time buyer opportunity. Drawing on Aldermore’s latest First Time Buyer Index, he explores why some regions continue to offer a workable path onto the ladder, where affordability pressures are intensifying, and what an increasingly uneven map means for buyers and advisers alike.
Location has never mattered more for first-time buyers, and for the fourth year running, our First Time Buyer Index ranks Glasgow at the top, alongside strong performances across northern cities such as Liverpool, Newcastle and Hull. These areas continue to offer a more workable balance between prices, deposits and long‑term prospects.
The bigger story is where pressure is building. Southern commuter belts and many coastal towns remain at the bottom of the rankings, with affordability stretched even for higher earners. In these markets, buyers are taking on larger loans, leaning harder on gifted deposits and relying more heavily on family backing.
We’re also seeing widening gaps within regions. Cities like Sheffield and Sunderland are climbing the rankings thanks to affordability and demand, but buyers often face trade‑offs around property type, housing quality and local job markets.
For advisers, this uneven landscape makes local knowledge and realistic expectations critical. Where opportunity exists, acting early can make a real difference. Where it doesn’t, honest conversations about compromise, timeframes and financial resilience are becoming increasingly important.
