Second home 'bottleneck' in housing market, BoS survey shows

People looking to buy their second home are facing a number of barriers

Homeowners who are unable to buy their second home are causing a "bottleneck" in the housing market, the Bank of Scotland has warned.

Research suggests that two-thirds (65%) of those looking to move up the property ladder in the past year were unable to do so.

These "second steppers" faced a number of barriers when looking to move.

Three quarters of those surveyed (76%) believed the government should help people trying to sell their first home.

Carol Anderson, head of mortgages at the Bank of Scotland, said people being unable to move up the ladder could have a "knock-on effect across the whole of the housing market".

"First-time sellers in Scotland are now faced with some very tough challenges when trying to make their next move on the property ladder," she said.

"Almost two-thirds of Scottish second steppers have wanted to climb up the ladder in the past 12 months but have been unable to do so as they face an increasing number of challenges.

"It is vital that this group of home movers receive more support and attention as they play an intrinsic role in getting the housing market moving again."

She added: "To achieve a sustainable housing market in Scotland we need to see movement throughout the market.

"If second steppers get stuck on the first rung, movement at the bottom half of the ladder comes to a standstill and this bottleneck will not only restrict the supply of starter properties but will have a knock-on effect across the whole of the housing market."

The main problems for those trying to buy a second home are a lack of offers from first-time buyers (40%) and a shortage of affordable homes (31%).

Two-thirds (65%) of those looking to buy their second home worry about the size of deposit needed, often because of the amount of equity in their current property.

Lack of equity

The Bank of Scotland Second Stepper report said the typical person buying a second property needed an average deposit of £60,670 in 2011, more than double the average required a decade ago.

Meanwhile, the average price paid by first-time buyers has fallen by about £29,000, leaving 18% of those looking to move up the housing ladder without enough equity in their first home.

The cost of moving is at a four-year high, with fees and charges associated with buying and selling property cited by 44% as one of the main problems when trying to buy their second home.

About a quarter of second steppers (27%) believe it is now harder to move up the property ladder than it is to get on it in the first place and 44% say making the move to their second home will be as hard as it was to buy their first.

Almost half (45%) believe it will be harder to sell their property this year than in 2011.

Just over half (56%) predict no improvement in the housing market in 2012.