Most first-time buyers don’t know when the Help to Buy ISA ends
First-time buyers are living in a time when it appears to be much harder to get that first step onto the property ladder than ever before. House prices have increased by a massive 554% in the last 30 years and the time it now takes so save for a deposit has also substantially increased.
According to Nationwide, a decade ago it would take the average first-time buyer in the UK less than five years to save a 10% deposit of £14,080. Contrast that with today when it takes on average six and a half years to save a 10% deposit of £18,480.
This is why many first-time buyers have turned to the government Help to Buy ISA – launched over three years ago, the scheme offers first-time buyers the opportunity to save up to £200 a month with the government topping up their contributions by 25%, up to a maximum of £3,000.
But… many first-time buyers aren’t aware of the scheme’s details. Almost two thirds of prospective first-time buyers are unaware of the cut-off date for the Help to Buy ISA, research by specialist bank Aldermore has found.
Can I still open a Help to Buy ISA?
The deadline to open a government Help to Buy ISA is 30 November this year but contributions can still be made until November 2029, and the cut-off to claim the bonus is 1st December 2030 – so there’s still time to open an account and start claiming their bonus for their first home.
Over four fifths of potential first-time buyers don’t know what the minimum government bonus is either, while 80% don’t know what the maximum is. There is also a lack of understanding about the scheme from parents too.
So, with only six months to go, if you or your loved ones would like to discuss the Help to Buy ISA so that they can start boosting their savings for when they’re looking to buy a home in the next three, five or even ten years, you should seek professional advice today.
Almost 9 in 10 parents of first-time buyers are unsure what the minimum government bonus is, while a similar proportion are unsure what the maximum bonus is. But, when the parents were given an explanation of what the Help to Buy ISA is, 86% said they would encourage their child to save into an account like this.
If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact Guild Mortgage Services today
Full details about the scheme can be found here