Supporting your first-time buyer clients: the reality behind ‘boomeranging’ home

As a broker, you’ll know just how many clients are struggling to take that first step onto the property ladder. Rising rents, soaring house prices, and the ever-increasing cost of living means that saving for a deposit can often feel out of reach.

The result? More and more young adults are living with their parents for longer. For many, moving back in – or never moving out in the first place – feels like the only way to save enough.

But the reality is, it’s not even that simple.

Even with savings and a deposit, plenty still find that once they move into their new home, mortgage and living costs are simply too much to manage comfortably.

The reality behind the front door

Research shows just how stuck first-time buyers are feeling right now:

• Around five million adults still live with their parents in England and Wales**.
• And 98% of them can’t afford to buy the average first-time buyer home in their local area, based on their own financial situation*.

And it’s not only adult children feeling stuck. Parents often put their own plans on hold when kids live at home for longer. Many who want to downsize can’t – even though doing so could free up around £72,400 in equity, or save them £2,400 a year in rent^^.

For households with lower incomes, that equity could make up as much as 60% of their total non-property wealth*. That could make a big difference – especially for parents who want to give their child a boost onto the property ladder.

Fairer access to mortgages, now.

At Skipton Building Society, we don't think access to the housing market is fair. First-time buyers deserve a better chance, and brokers deserve better tools, insights and products to help make that happen.

That’s why we’ve developed our Home Affordability Index – to shine a light on the real challenges first-time buyers face. We want to support you with products and insights that could make a genuine difference for your clients.

A full range for first-time buyers

We know the housing crisis won’t be solved by lenders alone. Until first-time buyers can both afford to buy and live in their homes, the system isn’t working.

Currently, it feels like many first-time buyers are at risk of being permanently locked out of the housing market. But that’s where you come in – as a broker, you’re the bridge between the challenge and the solution. This is why it’s so important you have the right tools, research and products to help you present realistic and responsible solutions to your clients.

That’s why we’re also campaigning for bigger changes from the government – like more tax-free savings products, making sure stamp duty land tax thresholds keep up with inflation and turning the government’s homebuilding targets into reality. We’re pushing for a housing market that truly works for first-time buyers.

^{*Skipton Group Home Affordability Index 2025.}

^{^72Point Survey 2025, commissioned by Skipton Building Society.}

^{**Office for National Statistics (2021)}

^{^^ Equity release is estimated using HOA data and adjusted to account for differences between the house prices observed in the dataset and those reported by the ONS. The figures shown are based on the median value of equity that would be released through downsizing across this group.}

^{For intermediary use only.}

^{The Skipton Group Home Affordability Index is not a benchmark for the purposes of UK Benchmark Regulation, nor for the purposes of any other legislation or regulation. The Skipton Group Home Affordability Index is produced for information purposes only and must not be used or relied upon for commercial purposes including any decisions and/or advice. Skipton Building Society is not responsible for any decisions made based on this information.}