Homeownership just got easier – here’s what’s changed

Traditional barriers to homeownership may be starting to ease, according to Barclays’ latest Property Insights report, with buyers putting down smaller deposits, showing sustained demand for lower-priced homes and increasingly opting for higher loan-to-value mortgages.

The research highlights growing confidence among younger buyers, with more than a third of Gen Z (34%) hoping to purchase a new or first home in 2026 – more than double the national average. While affordability pressures persist, particularly around house prices and mortgage rates, many aspiring Gen Z buyers already have savings in place and expect to build further towards a deposit over the year ahead.

On average, Gen Z savers report having accrued £19,442, excluding financial assistance or inheritance, compared to £25,760 among all hopeful buyers. Gen Z adults expect to add a further £8,998 to their deposit pot throughout 2026, versus a national average of £11,023.

While the Bank of Mum and Dad remains influential – supporting a third (34%) of recent Gen Z buyers – perceptions around the necessity of support from family or friends appear to be easing, with four in 10 (43%) Gen Z saying inheritance or financial assistance is now essential, compared to 635 at the start of 2025.

Across all age groups, perceptions around the barriers to homeownership eased over the course of 2025, driven by a rise in transactions involving more affordable properties and smaller deposits. While property prices (41%) and the cost of a deposit (39%) remained the greatest obstacles, these concerns were notably lower than in January 2025, when over half (51%) pointed to house prices and 44% to deposit costs.

Barclays Mortgage Book data also shows that deposits below £20,000 accounted for more than a fifth (22%) of first-time buyer purchases in December 2025, up from just 13% a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the average first-time buyer deposit fell by 14% year-on-year, alongside increased appetite for higher loan-to-value borrowing. Over two-fifths (44%) of first-time buyers opted for 85-90% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages in December, compared to 41% the previous year.

This shift to smaller deposits and higher LTVs suggests that first-time buyers are finding it easier to get on the property ladder, as lenders continue to introduce innovative mortgage products to help more people access the market.

The changes to stamp duty bands in April 2025 also concentrated demand at the lower end of the housing market. Homes priced under £300,000 made up 72% of first-time buyer purchases in May 2025, up from 60% in April. This preference has continued; homes under £300,000 accounted for around two-thirds (65%) of FTB purchases in December 2025, and average nearly seven in ten purchases (67%) since the change in thresholds.

Looking ahead through 2026, many homeowners will reach the end of five-year fixed-rate deals secured in 2021 during the lower interest rate environment ahead of the 2022 Mini-Budget. The latest research suggests that just over a fifth (22%) of mortgage holders expect to remortgage in 2026, with nearly two-thirds (64%) of this group anticipating an increase in their monthly repayments. In response to rising payments, four in 10 (39%) say they plan to cut back on small luxuries, while close to three in ten (28%) will review their monthly budgets to reduce household bills.

Beyond refinancing, housing remains a key financial focus for many homeowners, with over a third (34%) planning housing-related changes in 2026. Half (51%) of homeowners are actively saving for housing-related expenses, including home improvements (28%), building an emergency fund (19%), and investing in energy efficiency upgrades (9%).

Jatin Patel, head of Mortgages, Savings and Insurance at Barclays, said: “Our latest data shows clear signs that confidence in the housing market is beginning to stabilise, despite ongoing affordability pressures. Younger buyers, particularly Gen Z, are highly motivated to get on the property ladder and lenders are helping to meet this demand by providing innovative products that increase how much customers can borrow.

“Many existing homeowners are preparing for higher borrowing costs in 2026 as they roll off five-year fixed-rate deals, prompting a renewed focus on budgeting, saving and longer-term planning. Whether it’s building an emergency fund, remortgaging, or investing in home improvements and energy efficiency, households will be taking a more considered and proactive approach to managing their housing costs in 2026.”

Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, commented: “One of the biggest barriers first-time buyers face is raising a deposit, particularly in London and the South East, where property values are higher. With wage growth failing to keep pace with property price increases and rising rents, first-time buyers without financial assistance from the Bank of Mum and Dad are not able to save for a deposit fast enough. Instead, they find themselves further priced out.

“While the average first-time buyer deposit is 20%, lenders are doing their bit by offering more choice of mortgage at higher loan-to-values at competitive rates with broader criteria. This is important; the higher cost of living, including high rents, means it is hard to save significant sums, particularly for those who don’t have help from the Bank of Mum and Dad. Having the option of raising a smaller deposit is crucial in making home ownership more affordable and accessible.”

Julien Lafargue, chief market strategist at Barclays, added: “The UK economy continues to recover as the uncertainty surrounding the budget has dissipated. The recovery is slow yet real, which keeps us optimistic over the UK economy’s prospects in the first half of 2026.

“That said, the recent upward move in the unemployment rate is worth monitoring closely.  But with additional interest rate reductions expected, we believe this headwind can be overcome.”