First-time buyers squeezed

With difficulty winning mortgage approval and facing tough competition from cash buyers, it wasn’t an easy year for first-time buyers.

But despite the ending of mortgage relief in 2012 there were some encouraging signs for first-time buyers, Trish Dromey reports

IN the year of the cash buyer, first-time buyers didn’t really get too much of a look in. Although mortgage interest relief remained on offer until the end of last year, many were unable to avail of it or take advantage of a bottoming-out market, because of lack of finance.