In the seven days following the earlier than planned launch of Help to Buy, the scheme has already seen a 28 per cent increase in the number of viewings arranged for properties across the UK, compared to the seven days preceding its introduction.
The increase was recorded by My Online Estate Agent and the company’s director, Richard Patterson, has said that enquiries have been flooding in from first-time buyers and second steppers kee
n to take advantage of the scheme.
“With all the hype surrounding the launch of the Help to Buy scheme, we expected to see a rise in interest levels but nothing on this scale”, added Patterson.
“Indeed the rush to step up or on the property ladder as a result of Help to Buy has also been witnessed by mortgage lenders. The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) reported taking 10,000 calls in the first 4 workings days and booking 5,000 mortgage appointments within just 3 hours of the scheme going live.
“With Barclays the latest bank to sign up to the scheme, over two-thirds of lenders in the UK mortgage market are now committed to helping those who can afford mortgage payments but are struggling to raise the deposit to get onto the ladder.
“It is very encouraging to see the likes of RBS/NatWest, the Halifax, Santander, HSBC, Virgin Money, Lloyds, TSB, Aldermore and now Barclays all committed to offering Help to Buy mortgage products by the start of January 2014.
“All too often past government housing market stimulation initiatives have fallen flat on their face due to a lack of external support but this time, things might just be different and allow every day, hardworking Britons the opportunity to own their own bricks and mortar.”
