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Struggles for second-time buyers disrupting the property chain

Journalist: Tom Dunstan, FTAdviser

ended 28. May 2026

Issues with second-time buyers is causing delays across the entire property chain, according to John Charcol mortgage technical manager Nicholas Mendes.

“The interesting part is that second-time buyers can look more experienced on paper, but in practice they are often under more pressure than a first-time buyer because they have to keep both sides of the transaction moving,” he says.

“The big issue with chains is that one delay rarely stays isolated. If one buyer is waiting on a mortgage offer, one solicitor is still working through enquiries, or one survey throws up an issue, that can quickly affect everyone else in the chain. For second-time buyers, that pressure is greater because they may be relying on the sale of their current property to fund the deposit, stamp duty and costs on the next one.”

Do you have similar experiences with your own clients? Have you experienced issues with second-time buyers? What should these clients do?

2 responses from the Newspage community

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Nouran Moustafa
Practice Principal & IFA at Roxton Wealth
Second-time buyers are not just “buyers with experience”. They are often the liquidity risk in the chain. Their deposit is usually trapped in the property they are selling, their affordability is affected by existing commitments, and their onward purchase may depend on a very specific completion date.
The problem is not always the mortgage itself. It is the sequencing. Sale price, redemption figure, porting penalty, stamp duty, estate agent fees, legal costs and moving costs all have to line up at the same time. One small valuation issue or slow enquiry can turn a perfectly affordable case into a chain problem.
My advice is simple: do the mortgage work before accepting or making offers. Check the true equity, not just the estate agent estimate. Understand whether porting is genuinely best or just emotionally easier. Keep a cash buffer, get documents ready early and do not stretch affordability to the absolute maximum.
Second-time buyers need strategy, not just a Decision in Principle.
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Michelle Lawson
Director at Lawson Financial
This is where we as an industry can come together and educate and help the public better. They should be encouraged, regardless of their experience, to prepare before marketing, not after. Some agents are too keen and target driven to get that signature or sale and sort the rest out later. More preparation and information at the outset will help mitigate potential delays while mortgages are sorted, figures are calculated etc. We should be using our experience and knowledge to guide and retain the chain. We should be demonstrating our worth and added value. Equally, constantly chasing for updates will also not make lenders and lawyers work any quicker. None of us get paid in the transaction until it completes so not all delays are intentional. It is down to all parties to manage expectations accordingly rather than add additional pressure and confusion which can further exacerbate these situations.