To ask if you are under 35

[Marmaladedandelions]

How you could afford to buy a house?

This is a genuine question: I have noticed a lot of people talking about how they can't afford to buy. I must admit that most people around my age (33) own.

We originally had a mortgage with money my dad gave us. Things have changed now due to inheritances but that was how we bought our first place, in 2005.

How about you? :)

I'm 31 and bought at 24. My parents downsized and split the profits between us children so that covered a deposit. We bought just at the beginning of the crash so were lucky enough to get an interest free mortgage and we bought from someone who had to sell because of the crash (). We're very lucky and wouldn't have been able to afford it otherwise.

We bought our flat when I was 26 and DH 36, and I'm now 29. Our deposit came half from my life savings (I worked a lot and lived with parents when I was younger, so squirrelled money away) and half from an ISA my mum put away for me years ago and cashed in. It was her wedding present to us and there's no way in hell we'd have got a deposit down without it. My folks aren't going to have any money to leave me and DSis (they're both still pretty young anyway!) but we all prefer it this way.

I really feel for those who cannot buy. I know why the banks and building societies act as they do but 10 years plus of rental payments always being done on time should show that you are responsible enough.

I bought my first flat when I was 21 with my now DH, who was 24 at the time. We got a 100% mortgage. We had never rented so left our parents home and went straight into our first flat together.

We stayed in the flat for 9 years before selling up and buying a bigger house 3 years ago when I was 30 and DH was 33. The equity from the flat payed the deposit in our new home.

I bought my flat in 2003 btw so banks were throwing money at people for mortgages at that point. If it was now we would have no chance.

We bought our house in 2007 (we were 28yo) with a 95% mortgage. My dad gave us £10k and we'd saved about £7k. The house was £156k.

We could have saved up the money my dad gave us but we would have missed the boat on 95% mortgages as the financial market went pear-shaped not long after our house purchase.

We moved at the end of last year and the equity in our old house paid for the deposit for this house (90% mortgage and a bigger house). We couldn't have afforded it otherwise as only had a small amount of savings due to the cost of childcare for DD, despite both having good f/t jobs.

I bought at 22 with a 25% deposit, all inherited. I know how lucky I am.

I dont want to derail the thread but my friend and I were talking about this today - how can people afford massive houses worth ££££, drive expensive cars, afford child care, go on holidays?!

I don't know where we go wrong!

(Although I should add that wearer trendily fortunate so this isn't a moan just more of an observation and wondering how other people do it...are they in debt?)

We are really fortunate! Bloody autocorrect

I bought mine in 2007 (yeah I know...) at the age of 27. Saved my own deposit working (12k) I have a modest end terrace and a very manageable mortgage.

If my younger brither is anything to go by it's not that they can't afford a house its that they can't afford that four bed roomed house they feel entitled to instead of buying modest and working up xxx

My dad died when I was 26 and left me £10k, which was enough for a house deposit in those days (in Leeds). My Mum was guarantor for my mortgage as I was temping at the time. I know I am incredibly lucky to have my own place.

I'm 29 and bought on my own last year I saved a 20% deposit and bought in a cheap village in the north east

I lived in a rented room, walked to work and generally cont to live like a student while working in my first professional job (in London) and saved at least £500 a month. I brought in 2006 in the midlands (at 26), I cont to live similarly and rented the house out until I met my OH, I cleared the mort in 2014.

My ds1 has bought a dooer upper he is 23.
Has saved all he could since being 16, lived very frugally and now it is paying off.
Not everyone's choice, but just adding to the posts.