Potential first-time buyers on average earnings can now afford to buy a home in nearly four out of 10 regions of the UK, the Halifax has reported.According to the lender’s research, 39% of the UK’s local authority districts are accessible to those wanting to buy their first property, compared to 6% when the housing market [...]

More: First-time buyer affordability best in 25 years

That's weird because I've just read an article in the Financial Mail by Jeff Prestridge that tells of the expected woes of First Time Buyers. The gist of which was that although house prices are coming down (depending who you believe, where you live, relativity, etc.). There is still the matter of a 15% deposit and the stamp duty if you pay more than £125,000 for the property.

There are 90% mortgages available for first time buyers and the situation was improving at the end of last year, so let us hope that the tidings of joy from Mr Prestridge are a little premature and we continue to see more lenders offering higher LTV's in the next 12 months.

I don't agree with the Halifax report either - it used to be the case that FTB's required 30% earnings as deposit in the year 2000 - now it's 100%. That's not affordable!

Someone at the Halifax requires a slap!

That's the problem with making assumptions based on statistics, the real world is often very different.

I couldn't agree with you more. Stats are something you can spin to prove any point you want - it's all down to half truths and clever wording, isn't it?

There are even statistics that show statistics prove nothing.