Benefits of the recently extended Stamp Duty holiday

On Wednesday 3rd March the Chancellor announced an extension of the Stamp Duty holiday to the 30th of June.

How will this extension benefit you?

Benefit from substantial savings – In England and Northern Ireland, if you are considering moving home and complete by June 30th, you can benefit from the biggest cuts in property purchase tax on properties up to the price of £500,000. In Scotland, the holiday comes to an end at the end of this month but those in Wales will benefit from the tax cut on properties up to the price of £250,000.

Zoopla data indicates that at least 740,000 buyers will have benefited from the Stamp Duty holiday by the time it ends across the UK.

Getting the purchase completed – For those in Scotland there is little time left to take advantage of the scheme, but for the rest of those moving home, the extension to the tax holiday will allow more time for property purchases to reach completion. Without the extension, thousands of deals may have fallen through because buyers may have been forced to find extra savings to meet an increased tax bill.

Buyers have benefited by making substantial tax savings. The biggest cuts are on offer to those in England and Northern Ireland. Spending £500,000 or more on a new home or buy to let investment, you could save up to the maximum in tax of £15,000.

Whilst the Stamp Duty holiday has resulted in greater demand it has also led to higher house prices. Figures from the Land Registry show an 8.5% year-on-year rise in December, defying predictions earlier, in the year that the pandemic would create a reduction in the cost of a home.

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Mortgage guarantee scheme – 5% deposits for home buyers.

During the Spring Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak stated that the Government is introducing a mortgage guarantee scheme to help first time buyers and existing homeowners.

For many, it may not be easy to save for a 15% or 20% deposit for a home and this is where the new scheme will be beneficial to those looking to buy their first or next property.

How does the scheme work?
The new scheme will begin in April and both first time buyers and existing homeowners will be able to purchase homes worth up to £600,000 with a deposit of just 5% – enabling the majority of homebuyers to be eligible for the scheme.

Data from property portal, Rightmove, has revealed that 86% of properties currently listed for sale on their site have an asking price of £600,000 or less.

For the scheme to work, the Government will compensate lenders for some of their losses should a buyer default on their mortgage repayments for any reason. In return for this guarantee, lenders provide mortgages worth up to 95% of a home’s valuation or purchase price, so that borrowers can proceed with a deposit of 5%.

As many 95% of mortgages have been unavailable over the past year, the new scheme could be a real game changer, particularly for first time buyers.

Is the scheme only for first time buyers?
The Government has confirmed that the mortgage scheme will be open to all buyers, providing the home you’re buying is worth less than £600,000. Whether you are a first time buyer or looking for your next property, you can benefit from this new scheme.

How to apply for a 95% mortgage under the scheme.
Some of the nation’s biggest banks have committed to the scheme, including Santander, Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC. The usual mortgage affordability checks will still apply.

First time buyers and existing homeowners will need to prove to their lender that they can comfortably afford the monthly repayments after other essential spending has been covered.

If you or someone you know might be able to benefit from this scheme, fill in the form at the bottom of this article and get in touch. We are here to answer any questions you may have.

How does this scheme differ from Help to Buy? 
Under the current Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme, the Government will lend up to 20% of the cost of a newly built home from an approved developer and then shares in any increase (or decrease) of the property’s value.

To be eligible for the scheme the property must be your only property and your permanent residence. The maximum purchase price under the scheme is £600,000.

You will need a cash deposit of at least 5% and then a mortgage of up to 75% to make up the rest. You will not be charged loan fees on the 20% loan within the first five years of owning your home.

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UK Budget 2021 Government Announcement