Budget 'offers no relief' for FTBs
Yesterday's Budget offered precious little relief to first-time buyers (FTBs), a number of industry experts have claimed.
Many pundits had earlier predicted that the chancellor would seize the opportunity to lessen the burden of stamp duty or offer comparable incentives to people getting on the property ladder.
But with concerns growing about global financial markets and the prospect of a looming recession, Alistair Darling opted instead to focus on increasing borrowing and raising levies on socially-costly goods such as alcohol and fuel.
Richard Farr, director of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, expressed disappointment at the budget, labelling it a "missed opportunity to help homeowners and those aspiring to property ownership".
Taking that criticism even further, Chris Coates, managing director of Galliford Try Homes, accused Mr Darling of being "out of touch" with the realities facing first-time buyers and he lambasted the fact that six out of ten FTBs are still paying stamp duty.
Recent research by Abbey found that two thirds of first-time buyers have put of plans to get on the property ladder in light of current economic conditions.
Published 13th March, 2008
© 2008 Estates IT Limited
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Yesterday's Budget offered precious little relief to first-time buyers (FTBs), a number of industry experts have claimed.