16 December 2012 Last updated at 19:14 ET

Home buyers 'nervous about year ahead'

BSA director general Adrian Coles: "Housing affordability is very slightly improving"

One in four prospective first-time buyers believe it will take them at least 10 years to have a deposit in place, a survey has suggested.

The report from the Building Societies Association (BSA) said that pessimism in the market remained.

This was despite a 34% rise in lending in the mutual sector, the BSA said.

The findings contrast with the view of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, who last week predicted a more "positive" year in the housing market.

Barrier

The quarterly property tracker conducted by the BSA found one in five first-time buyers believed they would still be renting or living with family in 2022.

It said that before the financial crisis of 2008 hit, 88% of first-time buyers were able to raise a deposit in five years of less, but at the end of 2012 just 62% felt they would be able to save for a deposit in five years.

However, while it said raising a deposit was still the biggest barrier for all UK home buyers, the survey also pointed towards a small improvement in sentiment.

Around 59% of respondents said saving for a deposit was a barrier to buying a property in December, down from 62% in September and 64% in December 2011.