Ways to help first time buyers enter the housing market
PRESS RELEASE: Longer fixed-rate mortgages, more affordable housing and a less stringent mortgage criteria are just a few of the suggestions to help FTBs. FTBs who are ready to start their housing search are holding off to maximise their budgets, to make the most of the stamp duty reforms, reveals NAEA Propertymark.
Although recent figures show the number of first-time buyers (FTBs) has reached its highest level in a decade1, there’s still a lot to be done to help those who are struggling to purchase their first home.
NAEA Propertymark today outlines suggestions to help FTBs onto the housing ladder.
1. Introduce longer fixed-rate mortgages
Although more lenders have introduced 95% LTV mortgages, the fixed-rate periods are low, and interest rates are high. FTBs are needing to save £33,0002 on average for a deposit for their first home, so anything that brings the overall cost down is needed. FTBs need access to mortgage products that give them affordable monthly repayments, and a longer fixed-rate, but don’t require a huge sum of money up front.
2. Offer help to the other end of the market
There’s so much focus on FTBs that it’s easy to forget the struggles being faced by buyers and sellers alike further up the property ladder. Property which would be suitable for those looking to buy their first home is currently occupied by first-time sellers who can’t afford to move up the ladder, so they’re staying put. Offering incentives to those at all ends of the market will mean more suitable FTB properties will be freed up.
3. Build more affordable housing
The imbalance of supply and demand in the UK has caused house prices to spiral out of control, pushing homeownership out of reach for many. More affordable housing is the key to helping FTBs entering the market3, according to three in five (58 per cent) estate agents, and until the Government fulfils its housebuilding promises, the situation will not improve.
4. Lower the costs of moving
Although the Government’s stamp duty relief for FTBs has lowered the associated costs of buying a home, there are many other additional costs which put a financial strain on FTBs. NAEA Propertymark agents think introducing discounted surveyors costs (11 per cent) and a form of grant to subsidise solicitors’ fees (11 per cent) would make things easier for the group3. Or by giving FTBs the option to borrow additional funds from their mortgage lender to cover these costs could provide them with that extra helping hand.
5. Less stringent mortgage criteria
In order to help FTBs, lenders need to approach their criteria differently. Those who are self-employed, or work as contractors are currently snubbed because they might not fit their lending criteria. They are also required to produce three years of accounts to prove they earned what they claimed, which makes the process stressful and feel impossible. Furthermore, for aspiring FTBs who are currently renting, proving you can successfully pay your rent is not sufficient to make you eligible for mortgage repayments. We hope in the future, lenders will be able to take more sources into account when reviewing mortgage applications.
Mark Hayward, Chief Executive, NAEA Propertymark comments:
“The Government’s announcement to abolish stamp duty for FTBs has helped buyers feel like the process is more affordable. FTBs are struggling, particularly when it comes to saving for a deposit, and this needs to be addressed. Positively, however, FTBs are being practical. Since the stamp duty reforms we have seen evidence that outside of London in particular, they are delaying their search until they have more money saved, in order to purchase a bigger property. This means they’ll be able to stay in the property for longer, making the most of the stamp duty saving and, helping their money go even further.”
Kindly shared by NAEA Propertymark
