Revealed: The West Midlands areas among nation's hotspots for first-time buyers
Sandwell has been named one of Britain's hotspots for first-time home buyers - one of three in the West Midlands which feature in the top ten.
Lloyds Bank analysed locations outside London where first-time buyers made up the highest proportion of mortgaged home purchases.
It says the percentage of first-time buyers in Sandwell during 2025 was 69.7 per cent, with an average price of £185,235 which was £45,491 lower than the average for the West Midlands region and almost £70,000 lower than the national average of £254,920.
Sandwell benefits from its affordability and excellent transport links to Birmingham, Wolverhampton and the wider Black Country.
The network continues to expand with new railway stations soon opening in Willenhall and Darlaston and the tram line being extended with a new section from Wednesbury to Dudley.
Only Manchester topped Sandwell, with 70.2 per cent of mortgaged first-time buyers during 2025 and an average first-time buyer price of £230,090.
It was a strong showing elsewhere for the West Midlands as Birmingham featured in joint third spot alongside Luton.
A total of 69.4 per cent of mortgaged purchases were first-time buyers in the Second City, with an average price of £214,825 which was £15,900 lower than the regional average.
Completing the trio was Coventry in seventh spot where the percentage of mortgaged first-time buyers was 66.5 per cent and an average price of £193,022 which was £37,703 lower than the West Midlands' average.
The other local authority areas making up the top ten were Thurrock, Leicester/Oadby, Harlow, Stevenage and Salford.
Glasgow has the highest share of first-time buyers of any local authority area in Scotland while Rhondda Cynon Taf is Wales' top spot.
While the biggest concentrations of first-time buyers are usually found in major towns and cities, the fastest-growing markets are often in smaller towns and more rural areas.
Lloyds' report said Worcester led the way in this respect, with first-time buyers accounting for 58.7 per cent of the local housing market in 2025, up sharply from 40.6 per cent in 2024.
The bank's head of mortgages Amanda Bryden said: "Choosing your first home is a huge moment. Affordability is the number one priority for most first-time buyers and we're seeing more people cast their net wider to find places that match both their lifestyle and their budget.
"That flexibility can quite literally open up more doors. Manchester is a magnet for those seeking modern city living while increasing demand for Worcester's more historic charm shows just how quickly new and unexpected hotspots can emerge."
