Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

Aldermore: Lack of Awareness Keeps First-Time Buyers Off Property Ladder

Many potential first-time buyers are unaware of the mortgage options available to them and believe they cannot get onto the housing ladder, according to a discussion during Aldermore’s Mortgage Market Insight in collaboration with Mortgage Solutions.

David Hollingworth, associate director of communications at L&C Mortgages, highlighted that there has been significant innovation around loan-to-value (LTV) and loan-to-income (LTI) limits. He noted that the specialist mortgage market could do more to promote options for people with credit issues.

Jon Cooper, director of property distribution at Aldermore, stated that even when lenders offer LTVs as high as 95%, most borrowers only borrow up to around 82%. He attributed this to brokers advising clients not to overstretch themselves and to general borrower caution amid uncertainty and affordability pressures.

Cooper also pointed out that, over the last five years, house price growth has outpaced wage growth by 10%, making it harder for first-time buyers to save for a deposit. He described the perception among many potential buyers that they cannot get on the housing ladder as a significant issue.

Both Cooper and Hollingworth emphasised the role of brokers in providing guidance, suggesting options, and challenging lenders, especially in the specialist lending space. Hollingworth added that brokers should nurture relationships with clients, even if homeownership is not immediately possible.

This discussion was part of a video filmed in May 2026, the fourth in a series produced by Aldermore and Mortgage Solutions.