THE launch of the Government's NewBuy scheme today (12th March), which will herald the return of 95 per cent mortgages for buyers of new homes, is already attracting enormous interest says housebuilder David Wilson Homes.

Around 20,000 potential homebuyers have already pre-registered their interest on the company's website nationally with the weekly registration rate now hitting 1,500.

Interest in the scheme is being driven by the dramatically reduced deposit needed to buy a new home, giving creditworthy buyers the best opportunity for five years to get onto the housing ladder.

As well as website pre-registration, David Wilson Homes is launching its own helping hand for would-be homebuyers with a helpline - 08448156178 to deal with the increased level of interest.  

It is also pledging that its network of mortgage advisers will be available seven days a week so that NewBuy mortgage applicants can get independent advice and a rapid decision.

Alastair Parsons, Senior Sales Manager at David Wilson Mercia said: "This is a significant change for the housing market in Telford and we are seeing substantial levels of interest.

"I would urge anyone interested to contact us as soon as possible.  We will explain how the new system will work and talk our customers through the reduced deposit requirements.

"We have set up a priority service especially for our buyers, using independent mortgage advisers who will ensure their inquiries receive a rapid response."

David Wilson Mercia is hailing the return of 95 per cent mortgages as a real boost for the local housing market and local economy.

"We believe it will provide the necessary kickstart to the market which has been starved of mortgage finance in the past five years," said Alastair.

"There is an awful lot of pent-up demand. People have been renting for three or four years and many are a bit fed up that they are paying more in rent than if they had bought.

"But the new product is also available to existing homeowners who want to buy a new build home and who only have a five per cent deposit."

Alastair added: "The key thing is that people will no longer need huge deposits of up to 20 per cent.

"Even though house prices have fallen since 2007, not everyone has been able to take advantage because of the hefty deposits which lenders have been demanding ever since the credit crunch began.

"In practice that means that you could buy one of our new homes with a deposit of £7,000.

"This is a game changing moment for creditworthy buyers who have been understandably frustrated for years about not owning a home of their own."

David Wilson Homes currently has two-, three-, four-, and five-bedroom properties available at its Falcons Rest development in Telford, priced from £140,000. For more information, please contact the sales centre on 01952 505858 open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Alternatively, please call the sales hotline on 0844 811 3322 open seven days a week from 8am to 9pm or log on to www.dwh.co.uk/

David Wilson Mercia has been confirmed as meriting the maximum five star official rating from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) for the third year in a row. The news was announced after more than 20,000 new home buyers across the country took part in this year's HBF customer satisfaction survey.

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NOTES TO EDITORS: 

1)    For further information about David Wilson Mercia please contact Hannah Elwell, Director of PR or Sophie Redman, PR Account Executive on 0116 247 1777 or Hannah@unsworthsugden.co.uk or sophie@unsworthsugden.co.uk

2)    David Wilson Homes is part of Barratt Group, which sold 11,171 homes in the last financial year, making it the biggest housebuilder by volume in Britain.

3)    Barratt Group was named Housebuilder of the Year at the Housebuilder Awards 2011.

4)    Barratt Group was awarded a maximum five star rating for the third consecutive year in the 2011 Home Builders Federation Customer Satisfaction Survey.

5)    In 2011 site managers working for Barratt Group won the highest number of NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Awards for a record seventh consecutive year.

6)    Barratt Group is the only housebuilder to guarantee the fixtures and fittings in place at the time of purchase of its new homes for five years.

7)    Barratt Group is also one of Britain's foremost sustainable housebuilders.

Images of a selection of developments are available to the media at http://www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk/barratt/en/media/mediakit/lib