Research
From about 2.9 years in the North East to 11.0 years in London: what a first-time buyer deposit costs, and how long it takes to save, in every region.
Starterly research · 5 min read · Updated
The short answer
Saving £400 a month from scratch, a first-time buyer in the North East could have a 10% deposit plus tax and fees in about 2.9 years with a Lifetime ISA. In London it would take 11.0 years, and the average first-time buyer home there costs too much for a Lifetime ISA.
We took the average price first-time buyers paid in each part of Great Britain in August 2026, from HM Land Registry, and worked out the cash you'd need on day one: a 10% deposit, any Stamp Duty, LBTT or LTT at first-time buyer rates, and the usual fees for a solicitor, survey and mortgage. Then we worked out how long it takes to save that, starting from nothing, putting away £400 a month at 2.5% interest, with prices staying where they are.
Cash for a 10% deposit, tax and fees, and how long it takes to save at £400 a month
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Region | Average first-time buyer price | Cash needed | Normal savings | With a Lifetime ISA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | £145,026 | £17,483 | 3.5 years | 2.9 years |
| Scotland | £162,166 | £19,267 | 3.8 years | 3.3 years |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £181,305 | £21,251 | 4.3 years | 3.5 years |
| Wales | £186,313 | £21,781 | 4.3 years | 3.6 years |
| North West | £191,727 | £22,343 | 4.4 years | 3.7 years |
| East Midlands | £206,771 | £23,907 | 4.8 years | 3.9 years |
| West Midlands | £213,012 | £24,551 | 4.8 years | 4.1 years |
| South West | £250,662 | £28,476 | 5.6 years | 4.7 years |
| East of England | £278,459 | £31,366 | 6.1 years | 5.1 years |
| South East | £300,015 | £33,602 | 6.5 years | 5.4 years |
| London | £473,051 | £60,247 | 11.0 years | Not allowed |
Years to save from nothing at £400 a month, using a Lifetime ISA where it's allowed
The government adds 25% to the first £4,000 you pay into a Lifetime ISA each year, up to £1,000 a year. In most regions that takes months off the wait. But it only works on homes costing £450,000 or less, a limit that hasn't changed since it started in 2017. London's average first-time buyer price is now £23,051 over it.
Prices are HM Land Registry's average for first-time buyers, which is a typical price, not the price of any one home. Cash needed uses Starterly's own fee estimates, the same as our costs calculator, and tax at first-time buyer rates for England, Scotland or Wales. Saving assumes starting from nothing, putting away £400 a month at 2.5% interest, with prices staying where they are, all of it going into a Lifetime ISA up to its yearly limit, and the 12 month wait before a new one can be used. You have to open a Lifetime ISA before you turn 40. Northern Ireland isn't included because the index doesn't give a first-time buyer price for it. It's a guide, not a promise: a lender will also look at your income, spending and credit history.
A guide, not financial or legal advice. Rules and rates change, so check with your lender, broker or solicitor. Where our numbers come from.
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