The proportion of first-time buyers looking to acquire property has reached its lowest level in a year, according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).
The monthly market survey of the NAEA members found that in November, only 19% of registered buyers were first-time buyers, the lowest since December 2008 when levels were only 11%.
Six months ago however 43% of the market was made up of first-time buyers.
President of the NAEA Gary Smith said: “The decline in the first time buyer segment is exactly what the NAEA anticipated and warned the Government about some months ago.