Fast Facts about HelptoBuy

What is Help to Buy and how can it help me?

Help to Buy is a new government scheme designed to boost the property market and help homebuyers get on or move up the property ladder. The government is lending homebuyers up to 20% of the purchase price of their new home via an equity loan, with the remaining portion paid through a traditional mortgage and a deposit of at least 5%. This means your mortgage repayments will be lower as you’ll need to borrow less. The Help to Buy scheme is only available on newly built properties to the maximum value of £600,000.

What is an Equity Loan and how is it repaid?

The Government will lend homebuyers up to 20% of the value of a new build property. The loan is interest free for the first five years. From year six a fee of 1.75% is payable on the equity loan, which rises annually by RPI inflation plus 1 %. The equity loan can be repaid at any time within 25 years (or the terms of the mortgage), or when the property is sold.

Who is eligible?

The scheme is open to both first time buyers and those who have previously owned a property.

To qualify you’ll need:

• A deposit of at least 5% of the purchase price
• A good credit history
• Proof that you can keep up with the repayments on your mortgage
• Enough money to cover the costs associated with purchasing a property, such as solicitor fees and surveys

• You will not be allowed to buy a second home through the scheme.

Where can I buy with Help to Buy?

Search SmartNewHomes for new build properties and keep an eye on our Help to Buy blog for details of developers holding Help to Buy information events.

Where can I register for updates on the scheme?

Sign up to SmartNewHomes to receive our newsletters and get the latest updates on properties in your area.

Move into a brand new home at Lawley Farm with HelptoBuy this September

Quick-off-the-mark home-hunters looking to move by the end of September can now choose from a select collection of properties at Taylor Wimpey’s stunning Lawley Farm development in Telford.

There’s a choice of one, two and four-bedroom properties which will be ready to move into at the development during September, including:

• One-bedroom Plot 150 ‘Cottage’, £159,995
• Two-bedroom Plot 142 ‘Damson’ coach house apartment, £139,995
• Four-bedroom Plot 37 ‘Wells’ terraced house, £169,995
• Four-bedroom Plot 140 ‘Elder’ detached house, £214,995
• Four-bedroom Plot 149 ‘Farmhouse’, £359,995.

Each property is available with the Government’s Help to Buy shared equity scheme, enabling first-time buyers and those looking to move home to purchase their new property for 80% of its full price, including a deposit as low as 5%.

Anne Wallace, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey, says: “Reserving a brand new home now for completion in September means purchasers can relax and enjoy the summer, secure in the knowledge that a stress-free move to their dream home will be the perfect antidote to the post-holiday blues!

“With just five September plots to choose from and the fantastic Help to Buy scheme available, I’d urge anyone hoping to snap up one of these beautiful properties to act now – or risk missing out!”

Under Help to Buy, a Government loan of up to 20% is provided to help eligible customers purchase any new-build property up to the value of £600,000. There is no salary cap for customers using the scheme and it is available to both first-time buyers and those with a property to sell.

With a loan-to-value mortgage of 75% all that’s required, purchasers can access a wider range of more competitive mortgage deals from lenders. Full details of the scheme are available from the Sales Executive.

Set on the edge of glorious open countryside, many of the new homes at Lawley Farm enjoy expansive views over Shropshire’s rolling fields. Each of the new properties boasts traditional features characteristic to the region, including full-height sash windows, cottage-style block paving and five-bar gates.

Lawley Farm is close to the exceptional local amenities available in Lawley Village, while a wide range of chain shops and boutique stores, plus restaurants, pubs, bars and leisure facilities are located in nearby Telford.

Commuters will appreciate that Telford is just 2.5 miles away from the development and that the M54 is easily reached for access to Shrewsbury, Birmingham and beyond. Telford Railway station is situated in the town centre for services to Birmingham New Street in 35 minutes.

To arrange a viewing, find out more or request a brochure, click here

Top HelptoBuy Homes to visit this week

The Woodlands

This small development, in a rural location on the edge of the Tyneside conurbation, offers 25 two and three bedroom homes for sale and four properties for social housing. House types include the two bedroom Normanby, the three bedroomed Ashby, Clarendon and Canterbury and the two and a half storey three bedroom Oakhurst.

To arrange a viewing and fine out more ring Keepmoat Homes on 01913759266 quoting the reference ‘HelptoBuyAdvice’ or click here

Leighfield Park 

Leighfield Park offers a range of traditionally styled one, two, three, four and five bedroom properties to suit those looking for a quality home in rural surroundings.

To arrange a viewing and fine out more ring Larkfleet Homes on 01572897322 quoting the reference ‘HelptoBuyAdvice’ or click here 

Awel y Coed

To arrange a viewing and fine out more ring Persimmon Homes on 01792293289 quoting the reference ‘HelptoBuyAdvice’ or click here 

Help to Buy helps Merseyside newly weds onto the Property Ladder

After years of looking the Faircloughs were finally able to buy their first home at Taylor Wimpey’s Cunningham Grange development in St Helens, thanks to the Help to Buy scheme….

Lyndsey, out-patient staff nurse and Mark, who manufactures heat resistant parts, are among the first in the country to purchase their home under the scheme following years of renting in the town. The couple both have good jobs but had been finding it hard to get onto the property ladder because of the size of the deposit required to secure a property on the open market.

Mrs Fairclough, 36, said: “We were finding it difficult to save the amount needed for a deposit when a large proportion of our income went into paying rent and bills every month. It had been a real barrier to us getting on the property ladder.”

The couple, who married last year, had been looking to buy their own property for some time when a friend pointed them in the direction of Taylor Wimpey’s Cunningham Grange development in St Helens. They went to visit the marketing suite and were delighted with how the figures stacked up.

Mr Fairclough, 50, said: “We chose a Bancroft home – a three bedroom end of terrace property which was ideal for us and our dog Molly. The home cost £149,995 and in normal circumstances we would have struggled to raise the deposit required for a house worth that amount of money. However, under the Help to Buy scheme we could pay a 5% deposit which was an amount we had saved. The scheme also means we have a 75% mortgage which makes our monthly payments less than when we rented and that means we can save for the 20% equity loan which we’ll pay off in five years’ time.”

Mr and Mrs Fairclough were able to reserve, exchange and complete in five weeks and are now settling into their new home. Mrs Fairclough said: “We’re delighted with how quickly and smoothly the whole process has gone. And it feels so homely here.

“It makes a huge difference to own your own home. It means we can make plans and put our personality into it. We’d like to spend some time making the garden nice and we’ll be putting up pictures and photos and making it ours.”

The recently launched government-backed Help to Buy scheme equity loan scheme which is available on new build properties up to the value of £600,000. There is no salary cap for purchasers, and it is available to both first time buyers and existing home owners. Eligible purchasers receive a government loan of 20%, which means that they only need to put down a 5% deposit and obtain a 75% loan-to-value mortgage.

Cunningham Grange has something for everyone. Our apartments are priced from just £89,995 and are perfect for first time buyers. For growing families we have a range of three bedroom homes priced from £165,995 and our four bedroom properties are priced from £176,995.

Cunningham Grange is close to a wide range of local amenities for day-to-day living, both in the immediate area and nearby Eccleston. There’s also an excellent range of restaurants, pubs and bars locally. In addition, there are fantastic educational facilities for all ages, including several primary and secondary schools along with sixth form colleges.

                     

To find out more, arrange a viewing or request a brochure, click here

Home buyers urged not to miss the boat at Vivo

Home buyers in Stockton-on-Tees are encouraged not to miss the boat this summer at the riverside development, Vivo, where only three homes remain for sale on the phase one of the development.

Lovell and sister company, Muse Developments, now have only three sustainable three-bedroom homes available at the Northshore Road development, which overlooks the River Tees and the iconic Infinity Bridge.

Available homes are built to a Level Four standard of the Code for Sustainable Homes and benefit from a number of eco features, including photovoltaic roof tiles, rainwater harvesting, smart utility metering and heat ventilation recovery system. Anita Onal, Sales Adviser at Vivo, comments: “The only way to spend summer in Stockton is by the riverside, but with just three of our high specification homes now available we’re encouraging buyers not to miss the boat at Vivo.

Vivo is a unique development for the town and sits in an enviable position beside the River Tees, but within easy reach of the town centre and local amenities, making it a highly desirable place to call home. “These are also the only sustainable homes in the area and due to the high standard of the integrated eco features, home owners may find they save money on their energy bills. The feedback we have had from home buyers that have already made the move to Vivo has been very positive and the fact that these homes have been so popular shows that we’re offering just what buyers in Stockton want from a newly built home.”

Available properties are the Calder-style home, which benefits from an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, fully fitted kitchen with integrated appliances and a single garage. The Calder is well-designed for summer living, thanks to its garden and highly desirable roof terrace, which is accessed via the master bedroom. Anita adds: “The Calder is perfect for a range of home buyers who want a spacious, modern home that is designed for 21^st Century living.

“Come and visit our Calder show home to find out more about our highly desirable homes and the fantastic location – we’re sure that once you’ve seen the view you’ll never want to leave. Phase 2 at Vivo is soon to be released and offers a selection of two, three and four-bedroom homes – register your interest now!!”

The Calder is available from £149,950.

Find out more about this development, arrange a view and/or download a brochure on SmartNewHomes by clicking here 

Live a designer lifestyle in a Lovell show home

First time buyers in Nottingham can live a designer lifestyle thanks to Lovell, as its stylish Glades show home is now available to purchase….

The Upton-style home at the Top Valley development is now available to buy with everything included, allowing one lucky buyer the chance to purchase a stylish ready-made home. The two-bedroom, semi-detached house, on Bakewell Drive, comes with all of its furniture, fixtures, fittings and finishes, making it an ideal choice for a first-time buyer.

Plus, the house builder is also offering the Help to Buy scheme on The Upton, which allows buyers to secure a home with a 5% deposit and 75% mortgage, backed up with a 20% equity loan from the Government.

Beverley Johnson, Sales Adviser at The Glades, comments: “This is a great opportunity for a first-time buyer to walk into a ready-made home, as The Upton comes with all of its stylish accessories included. “There’s no need to worry about furniture or decorating, as the show home comes complete with many things you may need to set up home, which means the owner could only have to pack a suitcase to start enjoying life at The Glades. “All of the home comforts you could want are included, from the furniture to the soft furnishings, ornaments and artwork, so it’s an easy way to set up your first home.” The sleek and stylish show home, which sits at plot 63, has been given the professional finishing touch with a vibrant pink and green colour scheme that is sure to wow buyers.

As with all Lovell homes, buyers can expect to find a high quality, fully fitted kitchen, complete with integrated Bosch cooking appliances.

The Upton also benefits from a spacious lounge with French doors opening onto the garden, wardrobes to the master bedroom and has a designated parking space. Beverley adds: “Home buyers interested in owning The Upton are advised to visit as soon as possible to find out more, as interest in this ready-made home is already high.”

The Glades features 14 homes, including a range of two and three-bedroom houses. The Upton show home is priced at £119,950.

Find out more about this development, arrange a view and/or download a brochure on SmartNewHomes by clicking here 

David Wilson Summer Roadshow – Win exciting prizes this summer

David Wilson Homes North West is on tour and heading to a town near you this August. Look out for our summer roadshow as it travels across the region for your chance to grab goodies and win prizes, including an Apple iPad and £500 worth of M&S vouchers!

As part of our campaign to support the region’s bee population, we’ll be handing out special ‘bee friendly’ bookmarks at the roadshow. Each bookmark will include a unique promotion code giving you the chance to win a fantastic prize, from vouchers to iPads, and wild flower seeds for you to plant a ‘bee friendly’ garden at home.

Our roadshow will be out and about every day in August and special events are also being held at all our developments each weekend throughout the month, where you can pick up advice as well as enjoy refreshments.

What’s more, take your bookmark to your nearest David Wilson Homes development and receive a fantastic £2,000 worth of free landscaping when you reserve your dream home before the end of September.

              

 To view their latest offerings in the North West, visit SmartNewHomes

To enterm, visit our Facebook page

Barratt West Midlands invite you to their HelptoBuy Weekend

There is only one place to turn this weekend for information on the new Government-backed Help to Buy scheme and that’s leading housebuilder Barratt West Midlands…..

Barratt is inviting local homebuyers to a dedicated Help to Buy event on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August, taking place at its developments in the Black Country.

Between 10am and 5pm visitors will be able to come and talk to the experts about the new Help to Buy scheme which is available to existing homeowners as well as first time buyers. Better still anyone choosing to reserve a property over the weekend can do so for just £1 and will receive free fitted carpets and flooring in their new Barratt home.

Graydon Worthing, Sales Director for Barratt West Midlands, comments, “We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors during our Help to Buy event this weekend and explaining this exciting new scheme.”

Help to Buy is open to any homebuyers purchasing a new build property up to the value of £600,000. All you need is a five per cent deposit, and combined with a Government funded equity loan of 20 per cent, buyers only need a mortgage of 75 per cent.

Graydon continues, “Our expert Sales Advisers are ready to talk you through and answer any questions you have on Help to Buy. This weekend only, buyers just need £1 to reserve a home at any of our developments in the Black Country.

“And there’s more! As an extra we are also giving those reserving this weekend free fitted carpets and flooring in their new Barratt home, which will save a significant amount of money.

“There has never been a better time to purchase your dream home and we’re confident that local homebuyers in the Black Country will be pleasantly surprised by how easy it could be to move to a Barratt home with Help to Buy, so come and visit us this weekend!”

Barratt Homes is currently selling properties at the following developments in the Black Country:

The Pavilions

Coombs Road, Halesowen, B62 8AF

The Pavilions offers a range of two-bedroom apartments priced from £124,950, three-bedroom houses priced from £220,000 and four-bedroom houses priced from £274,950. For more information please contact the sales centre on  o0121 559 4540 quoting ref: SmartNewHomes

Horizon

Broad Gauge Way, Wolverhampton, WV10 0BA

Horizon offers one-bedroom apartments priced at £89,950 and two-bedroom apartments priced from £96,950. For more information, please contact the sales centre on 01902 454 616 quoting ref: SmartNewHomes

Dukes Park

Constantine Way, Bilston, WV14 8GX

Dukes Park offers a selection of three-bedroom houses priced from £161,950, four-bedroom houses priced from £189,950 and six-bedroom houses priced from £229,950. For more information, please contact the sales centre on 01902 491 221 quoting ref: SmartNewHomes

The Lyng

Lyttleton Street, West Bromwich, B70 7SF

The Lyng offers a single two-bedroom apartment priced at £126,950 and three-bedroom houses priced from £154,950. For more information please contact the sales centre on 0121 553 0419 quoting ref: SmartNewHomes

Get Help to Buy in Rock Ferry

………and say hello to bright lights without the bustle 

As pop princess Duffy once sang, ‘I’d move to Rock Ferry tomorrow’, and homebuyers who are looking for a brand new home near Birkenhead could do just that.

Lovell’s Sevenoaks development is a delightful collection of three-bedroom homes, well placed for commuters travelling to Liverpool and Chester with easy road links including the A41 and M53. Rock Ferry train station is just a stone’s throw away. The village itself offers residents a host of amenities, including popular restaurants The Refreshment Rooms and Rock Station situated nearby. For families with children, Sevenoaks is within walking distance of a number of schools such as Rock Ferry Primary School, Sure Start Ferries nursery and Well Lane Primary School.

Anne-Marie O’Doherty, Lovell’s field sales manager: “Rock Ferry has a lot to offer homebuyers who are looking to move somewhere with quick links to the fabulous cities of Liverpool and Chester. Thanks to the location, residents can enjoy the benefits of living close to the bright lights of the cities, but without the price tag and the hustle and bustle.

“It is an up and coming location with a lot to look forward to in the coming years. There is also a strong sense of community and homebuyers who decide to move to Sevenoaks will be able to enjoy being part of that community. I would urge any interested buyers to come along to the development and see it for themselves, we have a lot to offer at very affordable prices and house hunters will be able to clearly see that we mean business when it comes to style, quality and value.”

Help to Buy is also available on the properties, which makes owning a home easier than ever before and means potential buyers don’t have to remain stuck in the rental trap. The Help to Buy scheme could make moving home easier than previously thought as the scheme reduces the initial cost of owning a home and helps those wishing to take their first step onto the property ladder with just a 5% deposit. Thanks to this attractive incentive, customers at Sevenoaks can defer paying 20% of the initial price, which is covered by an equity loan from the Government.

Anne-Marie added: “With the addition of Help to Buy, we’re making moving home easier than ever before. But we can also tailor incentives to suit different purchasers’ needs and there’s no obligation for those who just want to visit our development and find out more.”

All properties at the development come complete with modern fitted bathrooms and kitchens, giving them the edge over second hand homes. With the potential to save residents even more money on their fuel bills, the homes also include a number of eco-friendly features such as energy efficient gas boilers.

To arrange a viewing register your interest here or ring them on 01519092989 and tell them we sent you.  

To view more of Lovell Homes’ latest homes, click here

Lovell goes for gold when it comes to customer services

Glowing feedback from North West house hunters has led to house builder Lovell scooping a gold award for customer service in an independent national survey. The accolade, awarded by In-house Research, is given to house builders if at least 90% of their customers would recommend them. In Lovell’s case this was an impressive 96.6% in the North West. It follows on from Lovell’s receipt of the gold award for customer satisfaction last year, cementing the company’s outstanding reputation.

Clare Noakes, regional sales manager for Lovell in the North West, said: “We are extremely pleased to have struck gold with our customers for the second year running. As a region, we’re extremely proud of this award and will use it as motivation to continue to strive for the highest levels of customer satisfaction again next year. Customer recommendation is one of the strongest indicators that we are offering the right level of service and to achieve this standard with 96.6% of our customers is really something to be proud of.”

Through an independent survey undertaken by In-house Research, all customers were asked whether they would recommend Lovell based on the whole experience of purchasing a new home. Malcolm Pitcher, managing director of In-house Research, said: “It’s great to see yet again during 2012 that our clients are achieving high scores for overall customer satisfaction and recommendation. New home owners want to talk about their experience. Our clients take the customer experience very seriously; they want to be the best and ensure that their customers experience the best possible service and support throughout the whole process of purchasing their new home. Their investment and perseverance has resulted in high recommendation levels.”

Lovell is building high quality, affordably priced new homes across the North West and North Wales, including Wirral, Liverpool, Manchester and Carlisle.

View their latest offerings on SmartNewHomes here

Own a Lovell home from £78 per week

Lovell is making it possible for buyers in Doncaster to own their own home from just £78 per week…..

The house builder is making it more affordable to buy a newly built home at Lincoln Gardens by offering the Government-backed Help to Buy scheme on a two-bedroom Bosley-style home at the South Street development. The 20% equity loan provided by the Government through Help to Buy will allow home buyers to secure a home usually only a 5% deposit and 75% mortgage.

The £78 per week figure is based on home buyers purchasing The Bosley at £92,700 with a 25-year mortgage with the Halifax at an interest rate of 3.19% using the Help to Buy scheme. Sue Bowker, Sales Adviser at Lincoln Gardens, comments: “We are offering home buyers an easier route into home ownership thanks to this scheme, which will allow them to own their own home from just £78 per week. By using this equity loan scheme, buyers are able to defer payment on 20% of the property and there is no rent to pay, making it the best way to spread the cost of purchasing a new home.

“We’re encouraging people to come and find out more about the home buying schemes that can help make home ownership a reality for everyone. Those who are currently renting may even find that purchasing a Lovell home using this Government-backed shared equity scheme is cheaper than renting and is a more manageable way to get on the property ladder.”

The Bosley, which can be viewed as a show home, sits at plot 77 and features an open-plan living area and fully fitted kitchen with integrated appliances. The mid-mews house also benefits from a parking space and a number of eco features, including photovoltaic panels. Sue adds: “The best way to find out more about this fantastic opportunity and whether you might be eligible to purchase using Help to Buy is to visit me here at the Marketing Suite. “Buying a home is such a huge commitment that people can often feel overwhelmed when looking to purchase, but I will happily talk you through what the scheme entails, how it might suit your needs and the benefits it can offer.” The Bosley is priced at £92,700.

To arrange a viewing register your interest here or ring them on 01302638824 and tell them we sent you.