Should/shouldn't DS1 buy a flat

[HelpsHeal]

Currently lives at home.

He has a good deposit. Runs a car that's paid for, no debt. Currently pays keep at home . Earns £30k

Round here he can get a small one bed flat in a nice block for c. £200k.

Entry level houses are £350k and often not in such nice locations.

He could afford the flat, in that he can raise the money, we haven't looked at monthly costs yet. The house is out of reach. His job is local and we're already in the cheapest town for miles around, so changing area not an option.

I've always really resisted buying flats because of the leashold/maintenance charge issues. Also, if there is a property crash, these tiny flats will become unsaleable (because houses become more affordable, at least that's what happened here last time).

However, realistically this is the only way he'll get on the ladder.

Ultimately I'll get no say anyway, but what would you advise?

He's OK living here, but he's 22 and has to go some time.

To be fair to have saved £50k by 22 is brilliant so by the time he's 30 imagine what he could have saved by then??

I mean maybe he doesn't want
To wait until he's 30 but he's obviously good at saving so he could probably easily save some more and lenders are more flexible the better deposit you have as a general rule.

Who wants to live at home until they’re 30?

plus a flat may appreciate by a similar amount over 8 years/he may have paid a big chunk of the mortgage.

it’s a risk because of properties go up faster than he can save he may never be able to afford more than a flat.

at least if properties go down he can still move up the housing ladder.