New iPhone11 or mortgage deposit?

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The money to buy a new iPhone11 represents just over an eighteenth of a Brixton first-time buyers mortgage deposit

Many mature readers of this Brixton property market blog will remember buying their first home as 20 or 30 somethings, probably in Brixton many years ago, yet read the newspapers now and feel it is all doom and gloom for todays’ first-time buyers.

So, I wanted to look at the facts, instead of newspaper headlines.

Back in 1995, the average Brixton first time buyers house cost £34,250, whilst official figures state today it is £323,000

So, looking at today’s property prices, it could be perceived that owning a home is beyond the reach of most Brixton first time buyers and that renting is the only way for younger members of Brixton society to have a roof over their head .. or is it?

100% mortgages (so no deposit needed to be saved) were rife in the 2000’s and Northern Rock were famous for their 125% mortgages (i.e. you borrowed 25% more than what you were paying for the house, again with no deposit). Yet when the credit crunch hit in 2008 such mortgages disappeared overnight – ending the dream of homeownership for many. Yet would it surprise you to hear that 95% mortgages (i.e. the first-time buyer would need to save a 5% deposit) have been available since late 2009 and 100% mortgages (i.e. no deposit) were made available in 2016.

It is £298 per month cheaper to buy a typical Brixton first-time buyer home than to rent the equivalent property.

Prospective Brixton first-time buyers could make a saving of £3,580 per year on average if they moved from renting to owning. My calculations assume that first-time buyers raise a deposit of just 5 per cent and make mortgage payments over 35 years with the Barclays 95% mortgage with a fixed interest rate of 2.48 per cent interest. At this level…

Today, the average deposit needed by a
Brixton first-time buyer is £16,150

Those able to raise that deposit, would pay £1,139 pm on average in mortgage payments, while the average rent for the same property would be £1,437 pm and the household income to support such a mortgage would need to be from £68,189 pa.

Of course, buying your first home is a massive financial commitment and investment with up-front costs to ponder on, yet long-term the financial benefits can be substantial. With annual savings of £3,580 a year, this can really mount up over time and, of course, once the mortgage is paid off, one will have a valuable asset.

Yet, the elephant in the room is the raising of the 5% deposit

Well most first time buyers, even most of you who are now in your 50’s and 60’s may have used the Bank of Mum and Dad to help with the deposit, yet it’s only fair that most parents still expect their offspring to contribute to the deposit and this is where it comes down to choice. I have spoken to many of my friends and family to reconfirm my initial thoughts that it comes down to priorities and choices in life. To save the deposit mentioned above, sacrifices are required to save that amount of money.

According to a survey in 2018, the average millennial goes out two nights a week and spends on average £63.36 per night out, that’s nearly £6,600 per year – a very expensive hobby. Nearly a third of millennials surveyed had smashed their mobile phone in the last 12 months. Then there is the obsession of having the latest tech, with the need to constantly be upgrading one’s mobile phone. In fact, the cost of the brand new iphone11, recently released, is just shy of £900. Even those on contracts can expect to pay upwards of £80 per month for the newest phone upgrade, yet if they kept their old phone after two years, a sim only deal with the same minutes and data would set them back no more than £25 per month … it comes down to choices. Save for a deposit and reduce your expenditure on socialising and mobiles etc and have a valuable asset at the end of your mortgage or continue as you are.

I am not here to make a judgement – everyone is free to make their own choices in life – all I am doing is highlighting the real situation – so you are aware of the full story.

 


Matylda Nowak

Local Property Expert
AUTHOR OF BRIXTON PROPERTY BLOG, CEO, Kings Accommodation

Matylda Nowak

My name is Matylda Nowak I am an author of the Brixton Property Blog and in-demand industry trainer.
I am passionate about properties, most likely because I understand this industry from every angle, I was a tenant, landlord, vendor, buyer, investor, I am also running lettings management and sales agency
This also gives me experience which has given me opportunity to see all sides of the property business which is quite helpful when it comes to take an action.
London has several interesting areas, with South London providing a fantastic range of property and rental options. I fell in love with Brixton in 2006 when I have moved to one of London’s most popular go-to area. I will be posting here for you on a regular basis the price guides, conveyancing, surveys, mortgages, rental yields and vital latest property information, property legislations and compliance so please follow Brixton Property Blog if you would like to stay updated.
I love helping people achieve their dreams and helping them work through key obstacles, so that they can live life on a whole new level, we all deserve it!
I help YOU invest without the stress
So if you are looking for a property advise or find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of work or knowledge you have to know with all of the recent changes in Property Legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me. I have over a decade of experience in properties, I have done it for myself and for many of our landlords and I will be happy to help you too.
Matylda Nowak
Local Property Expert

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