Information for Buyers
Help to Buy - Is it for me?
Most of us have seen the advertisements for the government’s Help to Buy scheme, but (particularly if you're already a home owner) you have probably not considered it because you thought the circumstances didn't apply to you. Unfortunately, because of this, many people are missing out on an amazing opportunity. It's a myth that this generous incentive only applies to first time buyers! It also applies to homeowners looking to step up the property ladder. There are, of course, some criteria the property must meet – Help to Buy is available on new build homes with a maximum purchase price is £600,000 depending on area.
It's such a simple method too. For most people, the biggest problem when buying a house isn't the monthly payments but the enormous deposits lenders now require. On a £250,000 house the deposit needed would typically be £50,000 (20%), not a sum we all have easily to hand. But with Help to Buy you only need 5% of the purchase price (on the same property this would be just £12,500) which is much more manageable. Through a Help to Buy Equity Loan, the government will then lend a further 20% of the purchase price (interest free for the first five years) meaning you only need a 75% mortgage to make up the rest! The smaller loan-to-value mortgage will also mean a better rate and lower monthly mortgage repayments.
This scheme is opening doors for first time buyers eager to get onto the ladder and it's also ideal for growing families who own their home already but perhaps don't have the equity in it to get the bigger house they need. When you look at the figures it really is a fantastic opportunity that makes financial sense. With Help-to-Buy owning your dream home could be closer than you think.