New era of confidence: MAB data reveals buyers expect to purchase homes sooner

The latest research from Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) has revealed that prospective homebuyers have increasing confidence and optimism about buying a property sooner. The study, based on data from their My MAB and Homebuying apps, shows a significant drop in the time buyers expect to go from browsing to buying.

The median time that aspiring buyers expect to purchase a property has plummeted over the last five years, dropping from 11.14 months in 2021 to 5.83 months in 2024 and 2025 to date. This signals a growing belief among prospective buyers that they’re in a strong position to purchase their first home, and can do so in line with their expected timeframes.

Instead of waiting for a return to the record-low interest rates of 2021, buyers have become more financially prepared, growing in confidence that they could find and purchase a property within a shorter, more achievable timeframe. The most significant acceleration occurred between 2022 and 2023, where the median expected purchase time dropped from eight months to just under six months, and has remained stable since.

The shift during this period from a seller's to a buyer's market, combined with the pressure of rising interest rates, created an environment where buyers were able to move more quickly to secure a property. This trend has since stabilised as the market has adjusted to the new economic reality.

More proactive approach

In 2025, 88% of first-time buyers expected to purchase their home within 18 months - a notable increase from 75% in 2021. This newfound confidence and proactivism is reflected in the fact that 88% of first time buyers in 2025 expected to purchase their home within 18 months, a significant increase from just 75% in 2021. 

This demonstrates that prospective homeowners are not only more confident but also more proactive and realistic in their approach. They're actively planning their path to homeownership, no longer waiting for market conditions to change but instead making the decision to move forward now.
Most notably, 97% of aspiring buyers expect to become homeowners within three years.

Beyond this, the trajectory flattens into a gentle long tail of buyers projecting 10+ years to purchase. This small group anticipates it will take more than three years to purchase a home - reflecting persistent affordability challenges in the market.

"Our latest research signals a new era of confidence for prospective buyers, who are taking more of an empowered approach to getting on the property ladder,” said Rachel Geddes, Strategic Lender Relationship Director at Mortgage Advice Bureau. “This proactive belief, coupled with the expertise and insight of a mortgage broker, can place prospective buyers in an even stronger position to streamline their homebuying journey.”

“The sharp reduction in expected purchase times also aligns perfectly with Project 28 - a new charter we’re supporting in collaboration with fellow industry bodies to significantly shorten the property transaction process. Through this, we're giving buyers increased confidence, helping reduce delays, and improving the homebuying process overall."