First time buyers

New homes developer Countryside Properties has witnessed an increase in the volume of first time buyers purchasing affordable homes at its East City Point development in Canning Town E16.

With 28 new homes sales since the start of marketing in late October there is substantial demand with many purchasers realising that it can be cheaper and more desirable to buy an affordable home than simply rent.

Orbit Homebuy Agents report that they have seen a significant increase in the volume of first time buyers purchasing new homes ahead of the end of the "stamp duty holiday" which ends in March.

Orbit HomeBuy Agents saw a record 175 new homes go through to completion last month through HomeBuy - the government's affordable housing scheme.

New homes development Fabrik by Notting Hill Housing, located in Brixton, south London, is selling out fast, illustrating strong demand for affordable homes in London.

A new 100% mortgage for first time buyers is now available for those seeking to buy a new home in Colchester at Linden Homes' Northfields development in the town.

Over 3,000 people looking to rent or buy an affordable home in London attended the inaugural FIRST STEPS London Homes Show last week at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, in Westminster, where over 25 of London's major affordable housing providers gathered.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has announced the allocations for its FirstBuy scheme, announced earlier this year by Chancellor George Osborne in the Budget of 2011. The scheme is set to assist thousands of first-time homebuyers, who will benefit from an equity loan for up to 20 per cent of the price of a new home jointly funded by the housebuilder and FirstBuy.

New home builder Explore Living has launched the final phase of new homes at its Grand Ocean development in Saltdean, near Brighton.

The new phase will feature 76 one and two bedroom apartments, due for completion in December 2011. The new apartments in the final phase are priced from £179,995 for a one bedroom apartment and £299,995 for a two bedroom apartment.

First time buyers seeking to take advantage of the government's FirstBuy initiative in order to buy a new home are being urged to register their interest in the new loan equity scheme now to avoid disappointment.

New home developers generally expect applications for the new scheme to outweigh supply, which in turn should increase demand for new homes to buy.

Homebuyers in Suffolk hoping to take their first step on the property ladder soon should make a beeline for a special event being held at Barratt Homes' development of new homes in Ipswich, called Aspire, on Saturday 7th May, from 10am.

With a growing number of would-be first time buyers struggling to buy a new home, many parents are looking carefully at ways in which they can provide a potential nest egg for the future of their children, by supplying the necessary funds required to help them get that crucial first foot onto the property ladder.