Property professionals are placing most confidence in the first-time buyer (FTB) sector for 2025, according to a new study by Countrywide Surveying Services (CSS).

A CSS webinar poll found that half of respondents (50%) identified FTBs as the sector they are most confident about this year.

This was followed by new build (18%), later life lending (13%), buy-to-let (3%), and foreign national and expat lending (2%). Notably, 14% of respondents selected “none”, which CSS suggested could signal some uncertainty within specific lending segments.

When asked more broadly about confidence in the UK housing and mortgage market in 2025, CSS said the outlook was “cautiously optimistic”. Over half of respondents (54%) expressed confidence in the year ahead, while 37% said they were neither confident nor not confident, and only 9% said they were not confident.

The research was carried out among an audience of over 250 property professionals, including brokers, lenders, developers, and surveyors.

Managing director at CSS, Matthew Cumber, commented: “These insights paint a picture of a market that is still navigating economic pressures and grappling with fundamental issues but is starting to see signs of stabilisation and resilience.

“It’s encouraging to see such strong confidence emerging towards first-time buyers and new build, but the message from the industry is clear in that affordability and housing supply must be prioritised if we want to see sustainable growth.

“Our role is to continue supporting informed decisions and facilitating honest conversations across the sector, and we’re proud that our webinar series is helping to lead that dialogue and shape the right conversations across the industry.”

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