Tag Archives: government
Survey confirms UK Help to Buy is popular with first time buyers
The UK Government’s Help to Buy scheme is now the most popular way for first time buyers to get on to the housing ladder, new research suggests. As well as helping first time buyers who can afford to pay a mortgage but are struggling to save a deposit it eases the pressure on families to plug gaps in savings, says the study from mortgage and loans provider Ocean Finance. It found that half of first time buyers would use the Help to Buy equity loan or mortgage guarantee schemes to overcome the barrier of having a small deposit at a time when deposits are the biggest barrier to getting on the housing ladder. The Government started the Help to Buy scheme in 2013 in an attempt to kick start the housing market following the financial crisis which saw lenders tighten their mortgage lending rules and most 95% mortgages disappear. This meant borrowers needed to fund deposits of at least 10% and often, up to 25%, which took home ownership out of the hands of many first time buyers. Almost 40% of first time buyers questioned said being able to save a big enough deposit is the main barrier to owning their own home. This is following by rising house prices, which makes it harder to fulfil tough affordability checks and at the same time, pushes the amount needed for a deposit even higher. Alongside its equity loan and mortgage guarantee schemes, the Government is set to launch a Help to Buy ISA this autumn. The ISA is designed to boost the savings of first time buyers with a top up from the Government of 25%, up to a maximum of £3,000 on savings of £12,000. Almost a quarter of those questioned by Ocean said they planned to open a Help to Buy ISA. That compares with 14% who expect to rely on help from their families to fund their deposit. ‘The Help to Buy scheme is doing its job and helping to remove the deposit barrier that many first-time buyers face. Too many first time buyers have been frozen out of the housing market because they couldn’t save the 25% needed to get the best deals and make their mortgage affordable,’ said Gareth Shilton, Ocean’s spokesperson. ‘It’s interesting to see appetite for the new Help to Buy ISA also, and we’re looking forward to seeing take up levels of this scheme once it’s launched. The big question, of course, is what will happen when the Government steps back from supporting schemes to get the housing market moving. House builders and lenders need to be having conversations to see how they can work together to ensure the momentum isn’t lost,’ he added. Continue reading
UK affordable housing target exceeded as next five year target is announced
More than 260,000 affordable homes have been delivered in the UK since April 2010 and a further 275,000 will be built in the next five years, it has been confirmed. In the last 12 months some 60,000 affordable homes were delivered, a rise of 63% on the previous 12 months, according to UK Housing Minister Brandon Lewis. He said that there will be £38 billion public and private investment for the Affordable Homes Programme between now and 2020 and he added that the 2011 to 2015 programme has exceeded expectation with 186,000 affordable homes since it started, some 16,000 more than originally planned. ‘This government is determined to ensure anyone who works hard and aspires to own their own home should have the opportunity to turn their dream into a reality. Our affordable housebuilding efforts are exceeding our ambitions and delivering more than 260,000 affordable homes,’ said Lewis. ‘It’s a boost to families across the country, providing them with new quality homes that are available at an affordable rent or to buy through our shared ownership scheme. This is real progress but we know there is more to do. That’s why £38 billion of public and private investment will be made available over the next five years to deliver 275,000 extra affordable homes, the fastest rate of delivery for 20 years,’ he explained. The Affordable Homes Programme includes social rented homes, affordable rented homes and affordable home ownership schemes, and is a key part of the government’s long term economic plan. The data shows that nearly a third of affordable homes delivered last year were in London. Council areas that have seen some of the biggest numbers of affordable homes delivered since 2010, include Cornwall with 3,750, Birmingham with 3,460, Wiltshire with 3,420, Leeds with 2,360, Liverpool with 2,270 and Manchester with 2,160. Continue reading
Younger UK home buyers think they will still have a mortgage into retirement
A new survey has found that around half of 25 to 34 year olds in the UK believe they may need a mortgage that lasts into retirement and are concerned they won’t be able to get one. Some 27% of people in this age group also think they may struggle getting a mortgage into retirement because their credit history, income level or age will count against them, the poll from the Building Societies Association says. ‘We are all now living much longer and getting on to the property ladder later in life. Many younger buyers are realising that they may not be able to pay off their mortgage until after they retire. As the average age of a first time buyer increases, borrowing into retirement is becoming the new normal, rather than a niche form of lending,’ said Paul Broadhead, head of mortgage policy at the BSA. He also pointed out that the Mortgage Market Review, introduced just over a year ago, has had an impact on borrowing. ‘The application process is much more rigorous and borrowers now have to contend with strict affordability assessments that factor in other commitments,’ he explained. ‘This means they may have to borrow over a longer term to secure a mortgage. These demographic and regulatory changes mean some borrowers may find their mortgage application is rejected if they need to borrow into their anticipated retirement. The mortgage market needs to change to cater for this shift in borrowing,’ he added. However, he also pointed out that despite the concern shown by younger home buyers, it isn’t all doom and gloom. ‘The building society sector tends to be more flexible and willing to offer mortgages that extend into retirement,’ said Broadhead. ‘ Some societies do not have upper age limits, tend to take the case by case approach to applications and are keen on developing long term products that cater to first time buyers who may want or need to borrow into older age. The sector is also keen to debunk the myth that once you are over 40 you are too old to get a mortgage,’ he added. ‘Given that the population is aging and house purchase later in life is more common, the Government, regulators and the financial services sector needs to cater for this change. Paying off a mortgage by the age of 65 is no longer a reality for many,’ he concluded. Continue reading
