With rising house prices, getting on the property ladder has arguably never been harder. The average first-time buyer is now 30 years old and needs to save around £20,000 to be able to buy a home. Saving a deposit this large is no easy task and chasing rising property prices can put off even the most committed saver. One option for those keen to get onto the property ladder is buying a home with friends who are in a similar position. New research from M&S Bank has found that 60% of 18-35 year olds said they would consider getting a mortgage with a group of people, as a way to become a homeowner.