The study showed that, while the average person was prepared to travel for a maximum of 43 minutes each way, 15 per cent of FTBs would travel up to an hour, 7 per cent would be willing to face a commute of one hour and 30 minutes and 2 per cent would travel for two hours.
FTBs in London were prepared to travel for the longest time, with three times as many Londoners willing to travel for one hour and 30 minutes than the national average. However, the research showed the average London commute clocked in at 52 minutes.
The willingness to face long commutes differed across the country, with FTBs in Scotland wanting to travel no longer than 45 minutes, while Northeners were least prepared to travel for long periods at 39 minutes.
Sue Hayes, director of mortgages for Abbey, said: “The current prices inside Britain’s major towns and cities mean more FTBs are finding that they have to buy further than they’d like from their workplace. Even so, our research shows that many FTBs are still not fully aware of how far they might have to commute each day in order to get onto the ladder.”
Martin Wade, director of Mortgage Options, said: “Undeniably, it’s harder for FTBs, but people’s expectations of their first house are also unreasonable.”
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