The number of first-time buyers looking to buy a new build property has declined by 10% over the last four years, research from new homes website newhomesforsale.co.uk has found.
In 2021 68% of buyer enquiries were from first-time buyers, while this dropped to 61% in 2025.
Vernon Pethard, founder and director of newhomesforsale.co.uk, said: “This latest data is both interesting and telling and effectively highlights that the UK government needs to be doing more to support first-time buyers in securing their first home.
“While the First Homes Government Scheme is certainly a positive, it doesn’t benefit or apply to all first-time buyers.
“As such, I believe key changes like stamp duty reform or wider affordability initiatives, such as the previous Help to Buy scheme, would prove far more impactful, particularly if aspiring home owners are looking in property hot spots like Greater London and Manchester.”
There was also a lower number of enquiries, at 228,000 in 2025 compared to 383,000 in 2021, reflecting how the market has cooled in recent years.
Regions synonymous with higher house prices actually recorded more interest from first-time buyers, with Greater London and Kent leading as first-time buyer hotspots, followed by Greater Manchester, West Midlands and Essex.