Home Affordability Map reveals the locations where today’s FTBs can access the largest share of the market within budget
As affordability constraints force First Time Buyers to rethink where they can afford to live, reallymoving’s interactive Home Affordability Map reveals a new set of towns emerging as the UK’s most accessible housing market entry points.
The map shows the locations in each region, within a 60-minute commute of a major town or city, where buyers the average First Time Buyer budget for the region can afford the highest proportion of a 2-bedroom properties for sale – often more than 90%. While many locations remain unaffordable, in others almost the entire market of 2 bedroom homes is within reach, highlighting stark differences in affordability within just a few miles.
Homebuyers can search the map by budget and number of bedrooms to pinpoint the locations where they can access the greatest choice of properties, enabling buyers to home in on pockets of affordability within their search area – or pinpoint new locations they may previously have overlooked.
The UK’s 2026 First Time Buyer hotspots
In leading hotspots such as Grimsby in Lincolnshire, where 99% of homes are within the average £154,000 budget of a FTB buying a 2-bedroom home locally, Burnley in Lancashire (98%) and Tonypandy in South Wales (94%), First Time Buyers are able to choose from the vast majority of 2-bedroom properties on the market, significantly improving their chances of success.
Even within more expensive regions such as London and the South East, there are hotspots where most of the market is within reach, including Erith in the London Borough of Bexley (92%), Barking in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (90%) and the coastal cities of Southampton (92%) and Portsmouth (84%) in Hampshire. These are established urban centres and commuter towns with a wide range of amenities and transport links.
First Time Buyer is an exciting bi-monthly glossy which takes a stylish and comprehensive look at all the options available, setting them out in an entertaining and informative way, and helping potential customers navigate their way through what is often a daunting and complex process. We dispel the myths, reinforce the facts and arm the reader with the tools necessary to make their homeownership dreams a reality.