Over half (52%) of new first-time buyers will be 65 or older by the time their mortgage matures, according to new data released by Experian.
The figures reveal the UK’s widening ‘homebuying gap’, as the average age of a first-time buyer creeps closer to 35 (34.7 years, up from 33.7 in 2024). The data highlights a significant demographic shift, with the proportion of 18 to 24-year-old buyers falling (from 9.1% to 7.3%), while those buying between the ages of 35 and 44 have surged to over 30%. As buyers wait longer to get on the ladder, they are also borrowing more.
The average mortgage for a first-time buyer now sits at £230,000 – a 5.5% increase – compared to £202,000 for non-first-time buyers. In 2025 alone, first-time buyers borrowed a staggering £115 billion in mortgages, representing 39% of all mortgage volume.
To tackle the mounting stress, jargon, and confusion that causes many would-be buyers to delay their property journey, Experian has today announced the appointment of SNL UK comedian Al Nash as its first-ever ‘Head of Mortgage Enlightenment.’
Starring in a new content series alongside Experian’s Consumer Affairs Expert, John Webb, Nash will help to demystify the process in a lighthearted and accessible way. The campaign, which launches today, seeks to empower the next generation of buyers to get their credit scores “mortgage-ready” earlier in life.
“The data shows a clear trend: the goalposts for first-time buyers keep moving. With buyers taking on larger loans later in life, and many facing the prospect of paying off their mortgage into retirement, getting your financial ducks in a row early has never been more critical. The mortgage market is intimidating, but your credit score doesn’t have to be. We brought Al Nash on board because humour is a powerful tool to break down the taboo of financial anxiety and help people realise that with the right data, they have more power than they think.”
John Webb, Consumer Affairs Expert at Experian, commented:
“Looking at a mortgage application usually feels like trying to read ancient Latin while someone shouts numbers at you. My job is to ask John the questions many people are too shy to raise or simply assume are fact. The goal is to hopefully bring the stress levels down from a 10 to a manageable 3 – let’s get those keys in hand. Despite the age shift, the data offers a glimmer of hope: the overall credit quality of first-time buyers has risen by 0.4%, and average monthly payments have fallen slightly to £1,157 (down from £1,232), reflecting recent reductions in interest rates.”
Al Nash, ‘Head of Mortgage Enlightenment at Experian
