Buying your first house is a major step, one that just needs to be made — almost regardless of what type of home it is.

However, it turns out that many would-be buyers looking for that first ‘home of their own’ are being too picky or fussy, rather than just chalking up a first purchase.

They are overlooking the potential of cheaper areas, where they have to pay out less to buy and could benefit from rising prices and future regeneration.

With the average house price fast approaching £200,000 and interest rates at 5%, many aspiring home owners will have been unnecessarily deterred from setting foot on the property ladder.

A spokesman for Haart estate agents, which has several branches in the News area, said that by being more flexible and accepting fewer “ideal location criteria”, first-time buyers could bag a bargain, even paying below the £125,000 stamp duty threshold in some areas.

The agency also advises first-time buyers to do their homework, looking for key indicators of future growth including signs of regeneration, government designated growth points, expanding universities, improved road links and fast rail services to the nearest town or city.

Some residential areas can go from being unfashionable to a property hotspot within three or four years, which can net price increases as big as 35% to 45% — nice work if you can get it.

Buyers should take a punt on up and coming areas, especially those on the edge of more established hotspots benefiting from the “ripple effect”.

Haart managing director Russell Jervis said: “Buyers have to scale down their expectations for their first home if they want to get on the ladder.

“When it comes to buying their own property they cannot afford to be so choosy.

“Current affordability and future accessibility go hand in hand. First-time buyers need to widen their horizons and be more flexible with what they are prepared to accept.”