The first quarter of 2025 has registered a significant increase in first-time buyer searches for mortgages, including a rise in older buyers looking to step onto the property ladder for the first time, according to Legal & General (L&G).

New proprietary data from L&G’s Ignite platform revealed a significant uptick in first-time buyer searches in Q1 2025, compared to Q4 2024.

Total searches for first-time buyers increased by 45%, with the 18-30 and 56-65 age categories recording rises of 53% and 80%, respectively. This was followed by the 51-55 category, which saw a 44% increase, and the 31-40 category with a 37% increase.

L&G suggested the uptick in first-time buyer searches in Q1 – which was sustained across all generational groups – may have been driven by the stamp duty deadline on 31 March. It also added that buyers may have taken advantage of the increased availability of sub-4% products to step onto the ladder.

Managing director, mortgage services at L&G, Kevin Roberts, said: “A strong start to the year for first-time buyers is more than encouraging – it’s a positive sign of the market’s health as we head into spring, a traditionally busy period for property sales and new listings.

“Lower mortgage rates have been a feature of the first quarter of the year, with several major lenders now offering products at rates below 4%. Although the artificial stimulus of the lower stamp duty threshold is now over, the outlook is positive. It’s great to see first-time buyers in a position where they can really engage with the market.”

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