Help is at hand for first-time buyers looking to buy their first home in London

Aspiring first-time buyers can find out everything they need to know about getting onto the property ladder at the First Time Buyer Home Show in Stratford this Saturday (February 17).

Visitors can expect free mortgage and legal advice, as well as information on a range of properties available through helpful purchasing schemes such as Shared Ownership and Help to Buy.

Lynda Clark, managing director of First Time Buyer Group comments: “Londoners still face some of the biggest challenges when it comes to buying a first home.

“This appealing part of London is a massive draw for aspirational homebuyers looking to benefit from better value for money, yet enjoy the ever-increasing benefits of the ongoing regeneration.”

In the capital, where first time buyers face the largest hurdles to buying their first home, getting onto the ladder is now reported to take Londoners up to 10 years to save for a deposit.

But with stamp duty taxes now axed on properties up to the value of £300,000, and reduced for those up to £500,000, as well as a vast range of schemes available designed to help boost homeownership, there are many routes to owning your own home.

The free-to-attend First Time Buyer Home Show is designed to help any first-time buyer looking to get onto the housing ladder, offering a variety of new schemes which help reduce some of the upfront costs of homeownership.

It will be attended by some biggest names in the property market, including supporting sponsors SiteSales, L&Q, Which? Mortgage Advisors, Berkeley Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Help to Buy London, Metropolitan, Southern Home Ownership, Direction Law, Lawcomm Solicitors, Notting Hill Sales, Currell, Redloft, Stepladder, Southern Home Ownership, The Leasehold Advisory Service and mortgageshop.com.

Free financial advice will be available so visitors know exactly what they can afford with whatever amount they have saved. Lower deposit purchasing schemes which only require a 5% deposit will also be explained in the day, alongside leasehold and legal experts present to help explain the entire buying process.

Murray Smith, managing director of SiteSales, a new homes sales agent, says: “We are delighted to be involved in what promises to be another great First Time Buyer Home Show. Our large team of property experts will be on hand to offer first time buyers advice as they start their journey towards home ownership.

“We have a number of developments available in many parts of London and the home counties, many of which we develop ourselves.

Practical seminars will also be held throughout the day at the First Time Buyer Home Show which will explain purchasing schemes, outline legal issues and other homebuying related matters.

The First Time Buyer Home Show will be held at Stratford Town Hall, 29 The Broadway, Stratford, London, E15 4BQ from 10am until 4pm.

For further details about attending the show, first time buyers can register their interest at ftbhomeshow.com