Yorkshire Bank's recent House Buyers Report has found that 23% of first time buyers are delaying getting onto the property ladder until local councils announce their charges for the year ahead.
But the report has also found that many are looking to buy for the first time in 2006, with one in six saying that though market uncertainty put them off in 2005, they believe a better year lies ahead.
Another factor encouraging first time buyers is Gordon Brown's U-turn in Self Invested Personal Pensions. Before the pre-budget speech, 24% said they thought that competition from buy-to-let investors would drive house prices beyond their reach, and 35% said they though that it would be even harder to buy after April, as pensions investors would be targeting similar properties.
Our view
It shows that people are becoming more astute. Some councils are run appallingly and waste much money on unworthy projects and then just increase 'rates' when they need some more money.