THE UK housing market is no longer driven by 'traditional' 2.4-child families, says a report.
Same-sex couples and singletons are increasingly looking towards home ownership.
Research by the Birmingham Midshires Building Society found that 13% of people were planning to buy a new home in the next 12 months.
But instead of being dominated by the 'typical' family a new mainstream is taking over as the driver in the market.
Almost one in five singletons and 21% of same-sex couples are looking to buy a house within the next year.
And nearly a quarter of 20-somethings are planning to go into home ownership within 12 months.
With house prices continuing to rise at a heady pace, 28% of people planning to buy over the next year are doing so as an investment.
And more than one in 10 are planning to move to downsize to a smaller home.
Tim Hague, managing director of mortgages at Birmingham Midshires, said: "There is no such thing as an 'average' borrower in modern Britain.
"Yet many financial services companies continue to target mortgage products that respond to an outdated picture of British life.
"Our report looks in detail at how demographic and social changes in Britain today are creating an environment where being outside the mainstream is in fact the driving force for today's mortgage needs."
