LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — (Marketwire) — 10/10/11 — Nationwide is re-launching its interactive and independent as a smartphone and tablet-friendly PDF, downloadable online. A new has also been created to help demystify the mortgage process for first time buyers with a link to the new guide.
Nationwide understands how difficult it can be to find a first mortgage for a first home. The Society is committed to helping first-time buyers and last year, one in four of all its were for those taking their first step on the property ladder. The new First Time Buyers- Guide is the most comprehensive available and is hosted at and at Nationwide Education-s .
The Society updated the guide after engaging with consumer groups like Which? and gathering feedback from first-time buyers. In order to better meet the needs of the first-time buyer generation, the guide is downloadable to both smartphones and tablets such as the Apple iPad. QR codes will also be published on Nationwide-s first-time buyer leaflets, enabling first-time buyers to scan or download the guide straight to their mobile device.
The guide is completely independent and does not recommend any particular mortgage product or lender but aims to help first-time buyers through the complexities associated with buying a first home. It was originally launched in June 2010 and has proved to be highly popular. It-s seen over 131,000 views over the last 12 months.
Housing Charity, Shelter commented on the guide, saying: “Nationwide-s First Time Buyers- Guide is a useful guide to support individuals about to take their first step on the property ladder.”
In addition, Moneysupermarket hosts the guide on its website.
From today, Nationwide-s new YouTube channel will host a video about the guide providing another channel through which first-time buyers can access its help and information.
Chris Rhodes, Nationwide-s product and marketing director, said: “We know first-time buyers are having a hard time. The deposit alone makes it difficult for many to move on from renting. We want to do all we can to help and to show them we-re on their side. During the past year we helped thousands of first-time buyers to buy their first home. We-ve provided access to 95% LTV mortgages, found ways to encourage saving for a deposit through offered a GBP 500 discount off product fees and become partners of the new Government scheme FirstBuy.
“But the challenges aren-t just about finding the right, affordable property or even raising the deposit. Many of our first-time buyers tell us how complicated and daunting the whole process can be, particularly the jargon, and we know that they tend live their lives online and on-the-go. Our completely independent guide aims to demystify it all, right from choosing the first property to getting the right deal, in a format which meet their expectations and lifestyle. And as we help a first-time buyer get a mortgage every six minutes, it-s a subject we know a lot about.”
In addition, the Society offers other useful resources including information about rates, repayment methods and a -cost of moving- calculator at .
About Nationwide
Nationwide Building Society is the world-s largest building society and a top-three provider of mortgages and in the UK. It is also a major provider of current accounts, and . With around 16 million members, Nationwide has a relationship with around a quarter of the UK population.
Since the credit crunch began in 2007, Nationwide has remained profitable against a very difficult economic environment. In the year 2010/11, Nationwide made a strong underlying profit of GBP 276 million – up 30% from the previous year. Its strong financial performances and prudent business model means that Nationwide is included in Global Finance magazine-s Top 50 Safest Banks in the World.
Notes to editors:
April 2010 to April 2011:
Currently Nationwide offers first-time buyers:
Find recent press releases and photos at the Nationwide Media Centre:
Contacts:
Media information:
Nationwide
Jackie Lawrence
01793 655130
Nationwide
Anthony Hua
01793 657770