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England

Report: the flyers and the triers

By: Adam van Lohuizen and Rachael Emmett
Published: March 2015

Report: the flyers and the triers

This research aims to give us a stronger understanding of the causes of this divide, and how it impacts people's lives. Firstly, we used financial modelling to predict the lifetime economic effects of being able to buy early, compared with later or never. Secondly, we interviewed people across England to understand their different experiences in depth.

The report identifies two groups based on the amount of choice they had about becoming home owners:

  • the 'Flyers' have made minimal sacrifices to buy a home, having received substantial help from family

  • the 'Triers' have, on the other hand, struggled for longer to buy a home (if they got there at all) and have had to rely more on their own efforts

These two groups reveal financial, social, and psychological differences between them that occur throughout their lifetimes.