People hoping to get on the property ladder in Wiltshire are facing a tougher climb than ever. New figures reveal just how much house prices have soared in the last year, with first-time buyers feeling the heat the most.

The latest data from the Land Registry paints a stark picture for aspiring homeowners. In July 2024, the average price tag on a first-time property in Wiltshire hit £261,300. That’s a hefty increase of £7,500 compared to the same time last year. Looking back even further, prices have jumped a staggering £46,100 since July 2019.

The average price for all property sales in Wiltshire reached £329,279 in July, marking an £8,200 rise over the past year.

Wiltshire Outpaces National Trend

Wiltshire’s property market is even outpacing the national average. Across the South West, the typical house price in July was £320,415, while across the UK it stood at £289,723.

This upward trend in house prices puts pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer who previously vowed to make housing more affordable. Last year, he told Times Radio: “We want to make sure that many more houses are built and that the price comes down because of course what we want is good quality, secure houses, but also houses that people can afford.”

It remains to be seen what impact, if any, government policies will have on the ever-competitive Wiltshire property market.