In recent years it has become increasingly tough for first-time buyers to get a foot on the property ladder, especially for those who are doing it alone. Relying solely on one income and one pot of savings means that getting a mortgage and a good enough deposit together can often feel like an impossible task for solo buyers.
But one first-time buyer, who managed to buy her first home in Stockport on her own aged 24, shows that it can possible with good money management and some sacrifices along the way. Sarah Yates, 27, spoke to us as part of our Where I Live series, where each week we hear from a different homeowner to find about their home-buying journey, the costs involved and look at how they've made their home their own.
Sarah from Hazel Grove has been eager to save money ever since starting her first job as a 'paper boy' at just 14. She continued her paper round right up until her first year of college, but the embarrassment of being spotted by one of her classmates made her quit.
