Homeownership dream rebounds but confidence gap remains
There’s a strong desire among current non-homeowners to own their own home, with 73% saying they want to get onto the property ladder.
This is according to the 2026 HomeOwner Report compiled by the HomeOwners Alliance (HOA) and published in July 2026.
What’s more worrying for aspiring homeowners is that just over half of those responding to the survey, 52%, believe they’ll never be in a position to make that dream a reality. Meanwhile, first-time buyers as a group are particularly pessimistic. 51% think now isn’t a good time to buy, compared with 35% of UK adults as a whole.
A confidence problem as much as an affordability one
What HOA has found underlying these figures is a lack of certainty and misunderstanding around mortgage products, which may be why many potential buyers are ruling themselves out of the housing market before they’ve even investigated what’s available.
Common misconceptions include assuming a 10% deposit is always required, that borrowing is capped at four or five times income, and that a low headline rate automatically means a cheap mortgage overall. We covered these mortgage myths in detail in an earlier piece, and this latest report confirms the same misunderstandings are still holding buyers back.
What’s stopping existing owners from moving
It isn’t only first-time buyers who are stuck. Among existing homeowners, 74% point to financial factors, mortgage rates, stamp duty and finding the funds for a deposit among them, as the main barrier to moving.
37% believe planned housing reforms would make the process of buying a home easier, citing a quicker, more digital process and making transactions legally binding earlier as the main improvements they’d like to see. There’s also the question of whether the right properties are available at the right price for those looking to upsize or downsize.
As Paula Higgins, Chief Executive of the HOA, said of the findings:
“It is deeply concerning that more than half of aspiring homeowners believe they will never get onto the ladder. Some face very real affordability barriers, but others may be counting themselves out because of outdated assumptions about deposits, borrowing limits or their eligibility for a mortgage.
“At the HomeOwners Alliance, we provide free, independent guidance to help people understand their options and make informed decisions about buying and owning a home. But information alone will not solve the problem. The government and industry must also tackle the high cost of moving, improve the buying and selling process and ensure the right homes are being built for people at every stage of life.”
What you can do now
Work is currently underway by the Government to overhaul many aspects of the homebuying process, but it will take time and discussion between interested parties before anything comes to fruition.
In the meantime, if you’ve thought about buying your next home but have been put off by what you think you know about mortgages, it’s worth talking to a mortgage broker or financial adviser to find out what’s actually available to you.
And if you’re serious about moving, get an Agreement in Principle, the document a lender provides based on your circumstances, confirming roughly how much they’d be willing to lend. It shows sellers and their estate agents that you’re serious, so your offer is treated as genuine.
Getting the right solicitor in place matters just as much. It’s a clear necessity when you’re buying a home, but you can still find a value-for-money firm that provides a focused, quality service, like Best Value Conveyancing, while keeping a firm control on costs.
Ready to move?
With Best Value Conveyancing, the full legal service keeps moving without sacrificing quality. We’ll assign you one of our best solicitors to look after the legal side of your move, keeping things progressing as quickly as possible.
All our quotes are fixed price, with the cost of standard disbursements confirmed upfront, and we offer a no completion no fee guarantee should your sale or purchase fall through, even if you’re gazumped. Call us now on 0800 0387 007, free from mobiles, or get a quick quote to get your transaction moving today.
