Recent research from the Halifax shows that first time buyers spent an average of £151,565 for their first home in 2006, compared to £137,122 in 2005. The average first time buyer had an income of £29,610 in 2006 and had to pay on average a deposit of £28,130 - 19% of the value of the property. The last five years have seen the average price paid by first time buyers almost double - in 2001 the average price paid was £77,914.

The research from the Halifax shows that first time buyers in Scotland paid the lowest price for their property, an average of £108,922. Five years ago, first time buyers were paying less than £100,000 excluding London and the South East.

The number of first time buyers has dropped 7%, falling from 340,000 in 2005 to 315,000 in 2006, said to be the lowest annual total since 1980. A decade ago there were 503,000 first time buys.

Commenting, Tim Crawford, Group Economist at Halifax said, 'First time buyers continue to struggle to climb onto the property ladder with the average house price paid by a new buyer entering the market now above £150,000. This is close to double the level of five years ago. First time buyer affordability is now an issue across the UK with the average house price paid by a first time buyer more than £100,000 in each region of the UK for the first time in 2006.'

Homeowners who would like to help their grown up kids on their way could consider taking out a secured loan to pay for the deposit on their first home. One of many options, a secured loan will provide the funds needed to help get offspring on the property ladder. Homeowners who'd prefer to keep their kids at home could consider a secured loan to extend their property, allowing a little more space for an extra reception room where offspring can entertain friends. Secured loans can usually be repaid over a term of 5 to 25 years.