The SDLT relief on residential properties costing less than £500,000.00 announced today will be widely welcomed, but will it stimulate a housing market which was already motoring and where first time buyer's already had an exemption up to £300,00.00 ?
With the average house price in Northern Ireland being £141,434 (Zoopla's July 2020 figures) and potentially higher loan to value mortgages it may well prove that the approach of the local lenders will ultimately dictate whether anyone takes up the offer of a free holiday...
Late last month a hammer blow was felled on those at the bottom rung of the market when most of the country’s leading lenders removed their 90-95% loan-to-value mortgage products, stifling their ability to buy unless they could front a minimum 15% deposit in most cases. Currently first-time buyers qualify for relief on Stamp Duty up to £300,000...
