Are buyers increasingly getting together to share a home or invest in a jointly owned property? And what price bands get the attention of trusts and other non-natural buyers?
A quick look at data from Lightstone suggests the answer to the first question is no. The percentage of single owner house buyers had increased marginally since 2013, from 51% to 55% by the end of 2023, while joint home ownerships had fallen from 36% to 30%.
Single vs joint home ownership – 2013-2024
And while natural persons are drifting towards buying on their own in greater numbers, the data shows more non-natural buyers – a company, trust or an organisation – in the more expensive property price bands (see graph below).
Difference in ownership type per price bands – 2013-2024
In fact, non-natural buyers and transactions involving two buyers accounted for most deals in the Super Luxury category with around 60%, while in the Township and Affordable price bands it’s the other way around with single ownership leading the way at around 65-68%.
Interestingly, the graph below shows that the purchase price was always higher when non-natural buyers were involved, and mostly two-owner transactions were higher than one owner deals.
Average purchase price comparisons
