So far over 86,000 bonuses have been paid out by the government, totalling £54 million. This works out as an average bonus payment of £627.90.
The figures reveal that the mean value of the property purchased through the scheme was £170,000 compared to an average first-time buyer house price of £182,000. The January data from HM Land Registry shows an annual price increase of 6.2% which takes the average property value in the United Kingdom to £218,255.
The figures also reveal that the first time buyers through the scheme tend to be younger than the average first-time buyer. The median age is 27 compared to a national first-time buyer median age of 30.
Help to Buy ISAs are a type of Individual Savings Account (ISA) designed to help first-time buyers save up a deposit for their home. The government will add 25% to your savings, up to a maximum of £3,000 on savings of £12,000. The minimum amount you need to save to qualify is £1,600 (which gives you a £400 bonus).
Other key points-
Peter Anstee from Anstee & Co said-
“Any support to help first time buyer is welcome. We are disappoint by the number of financial institution that have offered this type of ISA. I hope that we will see more new entrants coming into the market shorty. It may be worth looking also at transferring your Help to Buy ISA to a Lifetime ISA. This may makes sense unless you are looking to buy over the next twelve months as the Lifetime ISA’s have higher contribution limits.”
If you are a first-time buyer and wish to look at your options. Then please contact our mortgage team of experts. A meeting can be arranged at times and locations that are convenient for you. We do not charge for the first meeting. We have offices in Kettering, Stamford and London. Anstee & Co make use of meeting rooms in Northampton, Towcester Bedford and Warwick. So contact us today to see how we can help.