First-time buyers underestimate cost of home, survey shows

First-time buyers end up paying over £44,000 more than they originally intended for their property, a survey has found.

The typical "reality gap" between the sum people taking their first step on the property ladder have in mind and the actual amount that ends up being spent comes to £44,240, a survey from property website Zoopla found.

The findings were made from a survey of more than 1,000 first-time buyers, to find out how their expectations had compared with reality.

There is also a reality gap when it comes to saving a deposit, with people underestimating how much they will need to secure their first home by £3,444 on average, Zoopla found.

The research also found it takes the average first-time buyer more than two years, at 26 months, to gather a deposit - four months longer than those intending to buy their first home had predicted, at 22 months.

Lawrence Hall, spokesman for Zoopla, said buyers should make sure they have added up all the costs associated with buying a house.

He said: "Buying a home can be a daunting process, and for first-time buyers with little knowledge of the property market, it can be easy to underestimate the true cost of a home."