According to Coventry Building Society, this will cover the forecast average house price in England, which the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicts will rise from £245,515 today to £269,377 by the end of the decade.
The mutual said someone putting down a 10% deposit on an averagely priced home would need to save £56 extra per month from now until 2030 to fill the gap.
Homeownership will be more affordable for some
Coventry Building Society found regional differences in how much a potential first-time buyer would need to save to buy a home by the end of the decade.
This would be most affordable in County Durham, where house prices are expected to rise from £132,748 to £145,650 by 2030, requiring additional savings of £30 per month, or £1,185 in total, to meet the £14,565 for a 10% deposit.
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Surrey was one of the least affordable regions, requiring an additional £88 per month, or £3,413 in total, for a 10% deposit of £41,949. This would support the purchase of a home valued at £419,494, rising from £382,334 today.
In Greater London, average house prices are projected to rise from £496,302 to £544,539, meaning buyers would need to save an additional £114 per month for a 10% deposit.
Top 10 most affordable counties for first-time buyers
|
Ranking |
County |
Average first-time buyer house price (ONS July 2026) |
Projected average first-time buyer house price by January 2030 (YOY compounded) |
10% deposit |
Extra deposit |
Extra monthly deposit savings needed (by January 2030) |
|
1 |
County Durham |
£132,748 |
£145,650 |
£14,565 |
£1,185 |
£30 |
|
2 |
Tyne and Wear |
£155,522 |
£170,638 |
£17,064 |
£1,388 |
£36 |
|
3 |
East Riding of Yorkshire |
£155,797 |
£170,939 |
£17,094 |
£1,391 |
£36 |
|
4 |
Lancashire |
£167,992 |
£184,319 |
£18,432 |
£1,499 |
£38 |
|
5 |
South Yorkshire |
£170,103 |
£186,635 |
£18,664 |
£1,518 |
£39 |
|
6 |
Cumbria |
£172,426 |
£189,185 |
£18,918 |
£1,539 |
£39 |
|
7 |
Northumberland |
£174,820 |
£191,811 |
£19,181 |
£1,560 |
£40 |
|
8 |
Lincolnshire |
£176,283 |
£193,417 |
£19,342 |
£1,573 |
£40 |
|
9 |
Merseyside |
£179,836 |
£197,314 |
£19,731 |
£1,605 |
£41 |
|
10 |
West Yorkshire |
£182,212 |
£199,922 |
£19,992 |
£1,626 |
£42 |
Top 10 least affordable counties for first-time buyers
|
Ranking |
County |
Average first-time buyer house price (ONS July 2026) |
Projected average first-time buyer house price by January 2030 (YOY compounded) |
10% deposit |
Extra deposit |
Extra monthly deposit savings needed (by January 2030) |
|
1 |
Surrey |
£382,334 |
£419,494 |
£41,949 |
£3,413 |
£88 |
|
2 |
Hertfordshire |
£370,456 |
£406,462 |
£40,646 |
£3,307 |
£85 |
|
3 |
Oxfordshire |
£351,485 |
£385,647 |
£38,565 |
£3,137 |
£80 |
|
4 |
Berkshire |
£344,080 |
£377,522 |
£37,752 |
£3,071 |
£79 |
|
5 |
Buckinghamshire |
£315,834 |
£346,531 |
£34,653 |
£2,819 |
£72 |
|
6 |
Bristol |
£313,331 |
£343,785 |
£34,378 |
£2,797 |
£72 |
|
7 |
Essex |
£303,353 |
£332,837 |
£33,284 |
£2,708 |
£69 |
|
8 |
West Sussex |
£300,330 |
£329,520 |
£32,952 |
£2,681 |
£69 |
|
9 |
Kent |
£291,119 |
£319,414 |
£31,941 |
£2,598 |
£67 |
|
10 |
Cambridgeshire |
£282,897 |
£310,393 |
£31,039 |
£2,525 |
£65 |
Jonathan Stinton, head of intermediary relationships at Coventry Building Society, said the deposit challenge was a “moving target” for first-time buyers.
He added: “People are not just saving for the price of a home today, they are trying to keep pace with where prices could be by the time they are ready to buy. Even modest annual increases can add up over several years, meaning buyers may find their goal has shifted significantly.
“Starting to save early can make a real difference. These projections aren’t about putting people off buying a home but highlighting the importance of planning ahead and understanding how much you may need by the time you’re ready to take that step.”
Stinton said: “Buying a first home remains a major milestone for many people and understanding how your target could change over time is an important part of preparing for that journey.”
