What is Help to Buy?
Help to Buy is an Equity Loan Scheme to help first time buyers. Homes England will lend up to 20% of the value of your first home, and you must fund the rest of the cost with a deposit of at least 5% and a mortgage. Because the Help to Buy equity loan is interest free for the first five years, the mortgage repayments will be lower – thus potentially reducing your on monthly outgoings.
One important difference between an equity loan and a mortgage is that the amount you pay back is linked to the value of your home. So, you may pay back more or less than you borrowed through Help to Buy.
Can I use it?
The current Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme is available only to first time buyers of new-build homes. The previous scheme was available to existing homeowners too, so you may know someone who used the scheme to buy their second or third home – but that is no longer allowed. You also cannot use the scheme if you’re buying a home with someone who has owned a home in the past.
The Help to Buy scheme is available exclusively to new-build properties and is subject to regional price caps.
How do I repay it?
The Help to Buy Equity Loan is interest-free for the first five years. In year six of your loan, you will start to pay interest at 1.75% of the loan. This interest will rise each new tax year by the Consumer Price Index, plus 2%.
You can repay the equity loan in blocks of 10% of the value of your home or pay off the full amount at any time or when you sell your home.
How do I apply?
The first step is to find your first home. If you chose a Tilia home, we can put you in touch with an Independent Financial Advisor, who will help you work out what you can afford and fill out your application with you. You will then need to submit the application to a Help to Buy agent. You can find a list at helptobuy.gov.uk.
How can I use Help to Buy at one of our developments?
Its available at most of our developments, if the home falls within the regional price caps, see below for guidance:
Once you have found a home at one of our developments that is offering Help to Buy, contact our sales executives to arrange a viewing.