Buying a home is no longer just a dream in Stafford
With house prices reported to be up to 8 times local incomes, owning a home can seem like a distant dream for people living in and around Stafford.
With this in mind Orbit HomeBuy Agents are delighted to have been invited to attend an event by Stafford Borough Council, and along with other housing associations to help local people find a home they can afford.
The event being organised by Stafford Borough Council in partnership with Orbit HomeBuy Agents (HBA), Orbit Care & Repair, Beat the Cold and Stafford and Rural Homes is to be held in a marquee on Stafford’s Market Square, between 10am and 4pm on Friday 16th September.
Staff from Orbit HBA will provide information and advice on the range of HomeBuy products available to help people get onto the property ladder while Stafford Borough Council’s Housing Options Team will offer general housing advice and information. Orbit HBA will also be able to provide details of independent financial advisors with experience of HomeBuy products who are able to offer no-obligation financial advice.
Head of Orbit HBA Karen Coleman said: “These friendly and informal events provide a single location at which people can find out all they need to know about the range of HomeBuy products available. They also give us an opportunity to promote some of the low cost housing schemes in the area and explain how the purchasing process works. It is a good opportunity for people to come and talk to us face to face and raise any queries they may have.”
She added: “HomeBuy products have helped thousands of people into a home they can afford, whether they are a first time buyer, MOD Personnel, a social housing tenant or someone on a local authority waiting list. We may be able to help people in all kinds of domestic situations whose annual household income less than £60,000 and we are happy to discuss eligibility for HomeBuy during the event so please come along and see what’s on offer.”
Information on all types of low cost home-ownership products will be provided, including the newly launched FirstBuy.
FirstBuy allows buyers to purchase a brand new home for a minimum of 80% of the market value. Equity loans of up to 20%, which are interest free for the first five years, are provided jointly by the house builder and the government. The initiative is expected to help thousands of buyers over the next two years and is open to those who have a household income of less than £60,000 a year and can provide a minimum of just 5% deposit.
Jane Millington, Housing Options Team leader from Stafford Borough Council said: ‘We are delighted to host this event which is designed to provide a wealth of information on how people can get on that first rung of the housing ladder.
“It is a great opportunity to spread the word about the range of affordable home ownership options available”
“Many people are surprised when they hear just how affordable home ownership can be and I’m confident that some of the people who drop by may be one step closer to finding a home that they can afford.”
Further information about the event or Orbit HomeBuy Agents, visit orbithomebuyagents.co.uk.