By Bea Patel, TLE Property Editor and Director of Shop for an Agent
The First Time Buyer Awards is in its seventh year. The industry-recognised awards celebrate initiatives undertaken by UK-wide companies who provide support to first time buyers looking to get onto the property ladder.
The judges have announced their short-listed categories for 2016. For the first time, the short-listed awards are now open to a readers vote online through the company’s First Time Buyer Magazine.
Lynda Clark, editor of First Time Buyer Magazine, said: “It’s always an exciting time to announce the shortlisted companies who provide invaluable support to first time buyers looking to buy their first home. The shortlist has been carefully judged over a number of categories including helpful initiatives, quality, design and of course value for money. We now open the vote to the public to vote for their help to decide who wins.”
Categories in the awards include best development, best online portal, best family home, best mortgage lender and Private developer of the Year, with the addition of three new categories this year. Anyone who casts a vote will be in with a chance of winning £250 Ikea vouchers.
Lynda continues: “Without the support and various initiatives that give aspiring homeowners a boost onto the housing ladder, many young people would not be able to achieve their dream of homeownership. As well as supporting the functionality of the entire property market, first time buyers also have a right to own their home and invest in their future like generations past. It’s very enlightening to see some of the lengths that some companies are going to in order to help this dream become a reality.”
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London hosted by TV celebrity Nicki Chapman on Friday 22 April 2016. To find out more about the awards and to vote for your favourite company supporting first time buyers onto the property ladder, visit www.ftbawards.com. Voting closes on 10 April 2016.