Warrington first-time buyers struggle with property ladder

That's according to data from the Land Registry - with the average price of homes in Warrington increasing by £39,000 in just one year.

Now, first-time buyers have expressed their difficulties in getting onto the property ladder in the current market.

48% of adults with a mortgage were worried or very worried about the change in mortgage interest rates 🏠

Adults with a mortgage aged 50 to 69 were most likely to be worried about this at 57%, followed by adults aged 30 to 49 at 55%.

— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) October 28, 2022

Some properties in Birchwood, for example, have increased in price by more than £50,000 over the last 12 months - one three-bedroom property has increased in value by £71,000 since November 2021.

Jennifer Clare currently rents her accommodation, she said: "I've lived in Birchwood my whole life and it's next to impossible [to buy] on even a reasonable income. There aren't many properties and then the ones that are available are extortionate.

"I'm lucky that I've been able to rent for the time being.

"However, the lack of properties and affordable properties meant I was looking to move out of the area anyway which is a shame having grown up here."

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Latest figures show a continued rise in UK wide prices which rose by 13.6% in the year to Aug, down from 16% in the year to Jul. Between Jul - Aug 22, average house prices increased by 0.9% pic.twitter.com/4Eb51PLu3i

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Average house prices in Birchwood - according to Zoopla - are at £197,400 which is significantly lower than the average price of a property sold in Warrington, which is £248,700.

Joanne Hamby added: "Chance would be a fine thing on a budget!

"Everything is well out of our budget."

Sarah Kirkham-Slack moved to Culcheth this year, but previously lived in Birchwood - she said: "We bought our first house in Birchwood in 2015 and really loved it. Circumstances changed and we moved to Culcheth early this year.

"We couldn't have afforded our previous house now as first-time buyers, I don't think.

"We really would have loved to stay in Birchwood but there weren't many houses on the market and nothing with the extra space we needed."

Kim Wood said that it must be 'almost impossible' for first-time buyers at the moment, explaining how lucky she feels to have managed to buy her home in 2019.

Robin Eldridge bought his first house in Warrington in the 1980s, saying: "I bought my first house in Oakwood in 1988 for £39,000 when interest rates were 16 per cent, can't remember what my salary was then but less than £10,000.

"I gave up running a car, going out - and sometimes eating - for a few years.

"At least I re-discovered the benefits of using a bicycle for transport!"