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First-time buyers, priced out of Wales' fastest-growing city, say they're 'losing faith'
TL;DR
Newport, Wales, is experiencing rapid growth, particularly among younger residents. However, the booming housing market is making it difficult for first-time buyers to afford homes, leading to feelings of frustration and loss of faith in the market.
Key points
- Newport is Wales' fastest-growing city.
- The city has a young population compared to national trends.
- Housing prices are rising due to increased demand.
- First-time buyers feel priced out of the market.
Mentioned in this story
NewportJade HuntJamie Hine
Nowhere in Wales is growing as fast as Newport.
And as the number of people in their 20s and 30s in the city increases, it is also bucking a national trend - as the country gets older, Newport remains young.
Sandwiched between economic powerhouses Cardiff and Bristol, its booming population has been fuelled by incomers from both directions, reshaping Newport's property landscape.
But the expanding housing market in Wales' fastest-growing city means it has also been stretched thin, with some first time buyers feeling priced out.
Jade Hunt and Jamie Hine, a house-hunting couple both in their 20s, say it is becoming increasingly difficult "to progress to that next stage in life" in the city.
Jade said: "Obviously we're at that age now where we'd like to get a property, but it's just too difficult - where do you start?"
Housing is one of the key issues, particularly for young people, in the Senedd election.
Many people across Wales have been in touch with BBC Your Voice to say they are concerned about the issue, with affordability as well as shortages cited by people across the country ahead of the election.
Newport will be represented by the new constituency of Casnewydd Islwyn in the next Senedd, with Islwyn, Newport East, and Newport West combined into one area.
Jade, 27 and Jamie, 26, say they want to build their life in their hometown, but have found their house-hunt in Newport hard going.
They said their search for the perfect property has been "very difficult", and has been made harder, said Jaime, because he is self employed.
"Especially if you go down the sole trader route - people who are sole traders or early into their limited company days, it's really difficult", he says.
"I think for a sole trader you need to have 24 months of work completed, which can be difficult if you're trying to get a house."
Jamie says a lot of young people are "just losing faith".
"No matter who you pick nothing really goes the way you want", Jade adds.
Newport and the surrounding area has been seen as a more affordable alternative for first‑time buyers from the Welsh capital looking east and their counterparts on the English side of the Severn looking west.
Some commuters have noted it can be just as quick to travel from Newport to Bristol, than from some of Bristol's own suburbs.
And this is playing into the city's demographic change - Newport has seen the largest population growth of anywhere in Wales, according to Welsh government figures published last year.
Q&A
Why are first-time buyers struggling in Newport, Wales?
First-time buyers in Newport are struggling due to the rapidly increasing housing prices driven by a growing population and demand.
What demographic is driving Newport's population growth?
The population growth in Newport is primarily driven by people in their 20s and 30s, making the city one of the youngest in Wales.
How does Newport's housing market compare to other cities in Wales?
Newport's housing market is expanding faster than other cities in Wales, making it a unique case amid a national trend of an aging population.
What are the concerns of young couples looking to buy in Newport?
Young couples like Jade Hunt and Jamie Hine express concerns about being priced out of the housing market, hindering their ability to progress in life.
