The proportion of local authority areas in the South West with first-time buyer house prices below the England average has increased over the past decade, despite property values across the region rising by 32%.
Research by Lyons Bowe Solicitors found that 53.8% of local authorities in the South West recorded average first-time buyer prices below the national benchmark in July 2026, compared with 46.2% in July 2016.
Of the 26 local authority areas examined in the region, 14 now have average first-time buyer prices below the England figure of £245,515.
The findings suggest that the relative cost of entering the housing market has improved in parts of the South West, although the research measures prices against the national average rather than household incomes or mortgage affordability.
REGIONAL PRICE DIFFERENCES
Across England, the average price paid by first-time buyers increased by 33.8% over the decade, from £183,529 in July 2016 to £245,515 in July 2026.
In the South West, the equivalent figure rose from £188,684 to £249,123, an increase of 32%. The region therefore remains more expensive than England as a whole, although the gap between the two averages has narrowed.
The research also found considerable differences between individual locations within the South West.
Torbay recorded an average first-time buyer price of £191,919, compared with £199,461 in Plymouth. Other areas below the national benchmark include Gloucester at £211,588, Swindon at £224,943, Cornwall at £227,324 and Somerset at £232,238.
Exeter is among the areas where the relative position has changed. In July 2016, its average first-time buyer price of £189,736 exceeded the England average of £183,529. By July 2026, the city’s average had reached £243,505, placing it just below the national figure.
North Somerset has also moved from above the national benchmark to below it during the same period.
However, substantial price differences remain within the region. Bath and North East Somerset has an average first-time buyer price of £333,214, while Bristol stands at £313,331, both considerably higher than the England average.
NATIONAL PICTURE REMAINS STABLE
The analysis compared first-time buyer prices in July 2016 and July 2026 across England’s regions and 295 local authority areas, excluding the Isles of Scilly.
Nationally, the proportion of local authority areas with average first-time buyer prices below the England benchmark has remained largely unchanged, slipping from 49.5% in 2016 to 49.2% in 2026.
Average first-time buyer prices in the North East, North West, East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber remain below the England average.
London, the South East, South West and East of England continue to record regional averages above the national figure.
Paul Lyons, managing director at Lyons Bowe Solicitors, said: “First-time buyers have faced a difficult housing market, and rising prices are understandably a major concern for anyone trying to get on the property ladder. But looking at the figures over a decade gives us a more nuanced picture of affordability.
“Although average first-time buyer prices have risen across England, the proportion of local authority areas priced below the national benchmark has remained remarkably stable. In the South West, that proportion has increased, with some areas now sitting below the national average despite having been above it ten years ago.
“Of course, being below the national average does not automatically make a property affordable for every first-time buyer. Deposits, mortgage costs and individual financial circumstances all matter.
“But these findings show why it is important to look at the local market rather than assume that every part of the country has become less accessible.
“For prospective buyers, understanding the differences between local areas could be an important first step towards finding a route onto the property ladder.”
