Research from independent mortgage broker Private Finance revealed that borrowers in Greenwich have seen the value of their home rise the most since 2013 relative to the original equity loan amount borrowed.
Research has found that borrowers in Greenwich have emegerged as the biggest winners from the governments Help to Buy equity loan scheme that was launched in April 2013.
Research from independent mortgage broker Private Finance revealed that borrowers in Greenwich have seen the value of their home rise the most since 2013 relative to the original equity loan amount borrowed.
Average first-time buyer house prices in Greenwich have risen from £221,852 to £357,710 since April 2013, a 61% increase. Applying the same rate of house price growth to the original equity loan (to provide an estimated repayment figure) increases this from £27,082 to £43,666. However, extensive house price growth in this area means borrowers can repay their debt and still benefit from £92,192 in capital gains, notwithstanding further gains made via mortgage repayments.
Help to Buy borrowers in Wokingham have an average of £72,631 in equity once their loan is repaid, while borrowers in Bristol have £60,232. Significantly, nine of the top 10 Help to Buy Class of 2013 winners are located in the South of England.
ButHelp to Buy borrowers in the North are less likely to benefit from capital gains.
In Stockton-on-Tees, average first-time buyer house prices have risen from £102,409 in April 2013 to just £114,265, an increase of 12%. This is far less than the original equity loan (£26,679) which would now be worth £29,767. This leaves Help to Buy borrowers in this area with a repayment loan that is £17,911 more than their capital gains.
Other regions where house price growth has failed to cover the cost of the equity loan include County Durham (where repayment loans are £17,140 higher on average than capital gains), Rochdale (£11,503), Barnsley (£8,895) and Wolverhampton (£8,313). In total, borrowers in 19 Help to Buy hotspots have not seen enough house price growth to cover their equity loan.
Seven of the top 10 areas where the average Help to Buy equity loan is larger than house prices growth between 2013-17 are situated in the North of England (and are all outside of the South), demonstrating a clear North/South divide in terms of prospects when selling a Help to Buy home.
Shaun Church, director at Private Finance, said:“The early adopters of the Help to Buy equity loan scheme will begin incurring interest on their equity loans next year, which may prompt some to consider moving on and repaying their equity loan.
"Across the regions, some stand to make significant gains thanks to rising house prices, which can cover the equity loan and leave more to invest in a new property purchase. However, others haven’t fared as well, with a slower rate of house price growth in the North meaning borrowers in this part of the country are at greater risk of their repayment loans outweighing their capital gains.
“For those staying put, remortgaging a Help to Buy deal is more complicated than a standard remortgage. Product choice is still fairly limited, with many lenders not supporting remortgages for these types of loans. Many offers can only be secured via products exclusive to brokers. Expert advice is also crucial to ensure borrowers can balance the dual costs of repaying their mortgage and equity loan interest.”
