Getting a foot on the ladder

When you think of first-time buyers young couples in their twenties may spring to mind, but the property landscape is changing. First-time buyers range from those relying on the bank of Mum and Dad, to young families all the way through to people in their mid-40s and beyond.

The average deposit needed for a first-time buyer doubled in 2016 to £32,321 with a four-fold increase to £100,000, it’s no wonder the makeup of your average first-time buyer is changing. So what can you do if you have dreams of owning your own home but you don’t know where to start?

A good starting point would be the First Time Buyer Home Show. Now in its eighth year and taking place on Saturday 30 September 2017 at the Croydon Conference Centre and on Saturday 7 October at the Lancashire Country Cricket, Old Trafford in Manchester, both events promise to demystify the home-buying landscape for first-time buyers.

Lynda Clark, editor of First Time Buyer says visitors can expect to find accurate information that will cover everything they need to know. From how to save for a deposit and ensuring you have a good credit score so you can get the best mortgage to the conveyancing process and have the opportunity to have a one-to-one with a financial advisor. Visitors can also have the opportunity to meet with housebuilders, private developers and get the low-down on the government-backed Help to Buy scheme.

To get a fuller flavour of what to expect on the day – find out what Lynda Clark has to say about this year’s event in our exclusive one-to-one interview.