The government has announced plans to extend the Help to Buy Scheme to help house-hunters get on the property ladder. Will the initiative help you make the move from renting to owning your own home?
While the launch of Help to Buy has offered some encouragement to those looking to take their first step on to the property ladder, it is not the only – or necessarily most competitive – option available. Our research shows that it is still less than clear where first-time buyers can find the most suitable mortgage for their circumstances.
Only a handful of lenders are offering Help to Buy-backed mortgages at the moment. This includes RBS, Natwest, Halifax and Bank of Scotland. HSBC said it would join the scheme later in the year, with Virgin Money and Aldermore saying they would offer Help to Buy mortgages from January.
Navigate the mortgage maze
When you factor in the existing range of first-time buyer products from other lenders such as guarantor mortgages – as well as a number of other 95% LTV home loans – it’s not immediately apparent what the best option is.
What works for you will of course depend on your personal circumstances. We would always recommend that you shop around and seek independent, impartial mortgage advice to help navigate the mortgage maze.
After all, lenders not involved in the scheme may well adjust their rates too and borrowers may find that a Help to Buy-backed mortgage is not necessarily right for them.
The devil is in the detail
If you’re considering the scheme you’ll also need to be mindful that while there may be more mortgages available with a smaller deposit, lenders will still apply tough criteria requiring them to prove their suitability for the mortgage.
You’ve had mixed views on the scheme in the past. When the plans were first unveiled Bechet told us:
‘This encourages fragile purchases which could unravel when interest rates return to more normal levels and house prices plateau or slide. With minimal deposits the lucky buyers could soon find themselves in negative equity. Since the banks, who will process the mortgage applications, are not bearing the risk (unlike the taxpayer) they will have little incentive to refuse risky applications.’
Is the Help to Buy scheme offering you a lifeline to get on the property ladder? Or are you worried that the scheme will have a wider impact on the rest of the mortgage market?
Loading ...
