A first-time buyer couple on low incomes must save a year's worth of their take-home pay to buy their first home, say surveyors.
A first-time buyer couple on low incomes must save a year's worth of their take-home pay to buy their first home, say surveyors.
A couple in the bottom quarter of earners in the UK needs £27,738 to pay the up-front fees, says the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
A couple in the bottom quarter of earners in the UK needs £27,738 to pay the up-front fees, says the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Affordability has improved for those able to get onto the housing ladder, the group says.
Affordability has improved for those able to get onto the housing ladder, the group says.
But the credit crunch has made it more difficult to climb onto the first rung.
But the credit crunch has made it more difficult to climb onto the first rung.
"Access to the housing market has deteriorated as the credit crunch has taken hold of the mortgage lender sector," said Rics' senior economist David Stubbs.
"Access to the housing market has deteriorated as the credit crunch has taken hold of the mortgage lender sector," said Rics' senior economist David Stubbs.
"With mortgage approvals declining, the picture does not look like improving in the latter part of 2008 and first-time buyers will find their path to home ownership increasingly blocked."
"With mortgage approvals declining, the picture does not look like improving in the latter part of 2008 and first-time buyers will find their path to home ownership increasingly blocked."
Mortgage costs
Mortgage costs
Mr Stubbs said that those able to find a bigger deposit would benefit from reduced mortgage repayments as a result.
Mr Stubbs said that those able to find a bigger deposit would benefit from reduced mortgage repayments as a result.
But he added that rising fuel and food bills meant that household finances would still be stretched.
But he added that rising fuel and food bills meant that household finances would still be stretched.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders said that in May the average first-time buyers mortgage stood at £113,500.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders said that in May the average first-time buyers mortgage stood at £113,500.
Rics estimates that a bottom-quarter earning couple would jointly earn £27,316 a year after taxes, which would all be needed for costs such as a deposit and fees on a first home.
Rics estimates that a bottom-quarter earning couple would jointly earn £27,316 a year after taxes, which would all be needed for costs such as a deposit and fees on a first home.
This was much higher than the 21% of their income they would have needed to get on the property ladder in 1996.
This was much higher than the 21% of their income they would have needed to get on the property ladder in 1996.
London was the most difficult area to access the property market for low-income couples, followed by the south-east, east and south-west of England.
London was the most difficult area to access the property market for low-income couples, followed by the south-east, east and south-west of England.
Scotland and the north-east and north-west of England were the most accessible.
Scotland and the north-east and north-west of England were the most accessible.
Affordability
Affordability
Larger deposits and falling prices meant those low-income couples who did have a foothold were finding that affordability had improved in April to July this year.
Larger deposits and falling prices meant those low-income couples who did have a foothold were finding that affordability had improved in April to July this year.
They would have to spend 34.5% of their take-home pay on mortgage repayments, down from 37.2% during the first three months of the year and lower than the record high of 46.5% at the end of 1989.
They would have to spend 34.5% of their take-home pay on mortgage repayments, down from 37.2% during the first three months of the year and lower than the record high of 46.5% at the end of 1989.
The figures come as Woolwich - the mortgage arm of Barclays - cut some of its fixed-rate mortgage deals by up to 0.3%.
The figures come as Woolwich - the mortgage arm of Barclays - cut some of its fixed-rate mortgage deals by up to 0.3%.
Broker John Charcol also unveiled a two-year tracker deal on high-value home loans with a record arrangement fee of up to £137,500.
Broker John Charcol also unveiled a two-year tracker deal on high-value home loans with a record arrangement fee of up to £137,500.
Borrowers are being offered an interest rate 0.01% below the Bank of England base rate, available on mortgages of between £500,000 and £5m, but they will have to pay an arrangement fee of 2.75% of the amount being borrowed.
Borrowers are being offered an interest rate 0.01% below the Bank of England base rate, available on mortgages of between £500,000 and £5m, but they will have to pay an arrangement fee of 2.75% of the amount being borrowed.
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Are you affected by issues covered in this story? Are you a first-time buyer attempting to get on the property ladder? Do you work in the housing trade? Send us your comments using the form below.
Are you affected by issues covered in this story? Are you a first-time buyer trying to get on the property ladder? Do you work in the property business? Send us your comments using the form below.
