Figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed the age of first-time buyers in the UK today is 34 ‘ up from 30 in 1974. This has further increased to 36 in the South East and East Anglia. The average first-time buyer paid £85,000 in 2001 compared with £141,300 in London and £53,100 in the North East. Some 40% of buyers were first-time buyers in 2001, compared with 54% in 1994.