For Kenyans living in the United Kingdom, the financial leap required to enter the property market has reached a historic new height, with average first-time mortgages surging to unprecedented levels.

New data reveals the average new buyer is now borrowing £210,800 (approx. KES 35.8 million). While this signals market confidence driven by higher wages, it highlights a fundamental shift where families are bypassing traditional starter flats for larger homes, a trend directly impacting the thousands of Kenyans navigating Britain’s housing sector.

The Diaspora Context

According to analysis by property agent Savills, first-time buyers accounted for 20% of all spending in the UK housing market over the 12 months leading to September. This represents the highest market share since at least 2007.

For the Kenyan diaspora—many of whom prioritize property ownership as a key wealth-building vehicle—the stakes have risen. Lenders disbursed a record £82.8 billion (approx. KES 14 trillion) to 390,000 first-time buyers during this period, marking a 30% increase from the previous year.

This surge is particularly acute in the capital, a hub for Kenyan professionals. Separate research from estate agent Hamptons indicates that first-time buyers were responsible for more than half of all property purchases in London this year.

Skipping the 'Starter' Home

The data suggests a change in strategy. Rather than climbing the property ladder rung by rung, buyers are increasingly leaping straight to larger family homes. This is facilitated by looser affordability tests and, until recently, stamp duty incentives.

The Mortgage Advice Bureau notes the changing demographics of these buyers:

• Average Age: The typical first-time buyer is now 34 years old.
• Family Status: 31% already have children before purchasing their first property.
• Property Type: A growing preference for houses over flats, bypassing the traditional entry-level apartment.

Many buyers capitalized on the stamp duty holiday, which exempted tax on the first £425,000 (approx. KES 72 million) of a property’s value. Although this threshold reverted to £300,000 in April, the momentum in the "buyer's market"—where prices in some regions have softened—has kept borrowing high.

While the ability to borrow more suggests financial resilience, it also implies a heavier long-term debt burden for new owners. As the UK market evolves, prospective buyers from the diaspora must weigh the benefit of securing a larger home immediately against the reality of servicing historically high mortgage principals.