According to its figures, the aspirations of property ownership are still high with 85% of non-homeowners wishing to purchase a property in the long term.

However, for reasons that we are all very much aware, the number of first-time buyers has more than halved since 2008.

Additionally, since 2005, the proportion of prospective homeowners who are able to make a purchase without assistance from the Bank of Mum and Dad has made a marked shift, with the majority of first-time buyers now needing financial help with their deposit in order to buy.

This information in itself is nothing new, until we reach the CML’s latest data on the average first-time buyer age.

It seems that, despite exaggerations in the press of prospective home owners reaching their early 40s before they can afford a home, the average age of a first-time buyer has remained fairly static at 29, although this figure rises to age 33 for those buying without assistance.

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This should go some way towards dispelling the myth that most first-time buyers are in their late 30s and encourage younger buyers to seek advice about their mortgage options.

There are clearly still challenges for buyers looking to get on the property ladder, but there are also opportunities.

We need to focus on the latter in order to instil confidence in would-be purchasers and offer a balanced view of the current market so buyers realise they might not have to wait to buy a home.

Although we have seen a slight reduction in the proportion of first-time buyers as a percentage of our overall mortgage business, the actual number of mortgages we have arranged for these buyers has increased. Indeed, in November we helped almost 60% more people buy their first home compared to the same month last year.

Mortgage brokers have a key role to play when it comes to combating negativity and educating first-time buyers on their options.

If, as seems to be the case, buyers believe they won’t be able to finance a home purchase and are therefore not looking to buy their first home, we need to get out there and change their view.

There are now more higher LTV products available and a range of products for affordable housing, not to mention potential help through the government’s recent mortgage indemnity scheme.

The CML’s report offers a clear and fair account of the market; let’s hope any coverage on its figures take the same approach, highlighting the opportunities for this group rather than focusing on their shortcomings.

Adrian Scott is mortgage services director at Connells