UK house sales: demand from movers set to outpace first-time buys

Researchers predict that existing homeowners will retake lead in driving property market in 2021

A potential home buyer looks at properties displayed in an estate agent window
Researchers predict that existing homeowners will retake lead in driving property market in 2021
(Image credit: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

First-time buyers have been a “driving force” for the UK property market over the past decade but according to new data, the proportion of sales to newcomers is on track to be overtaken by those to existing homeowners.

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Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.