Analysing newly released data from the Financial Conduct Authority, the housing company pulled out the top 10 local authorities with the largest increase in first-time buyer mortgage applications in the last 10 years. Most expensive UK cities to buy a house inBest UK places for first-time buyersAccording to Barrett Homes' report, here are the top 10 UK hotspots for first-time buyers, highlighting the spots with the largest increase in first-time buyer mortgage applications in the last 10 years. In the last 10 years, data from Barrett Homes also revealed that the East of England as a whole had 526,000 first-time mortgage applications. Tips for first-time buyersWhy these Essex areas are among UK's best for first-time buyersBoth the Braintree and Harlow areas made the list of the first-time buyer hotspots across the UK. Aside from the house prices, looking at both the towns and their wider areas, you can get an idea of why these areas are popular with first-time buyers.