More than 200 people have been able to buy a new home with help from a Scottish Government scheme, it has been claimed.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Help to Buy (Scotland) initiative was “crucial” in helping people get on the housing ladder or move to a new property.
The scheme, launched in September, allows both first-time buyers and existing homeowners buying a new-build house from a participating builder to get up to 20% off their purchase price.
The Scottish Government then takes out an equity stake in the property, which the buyer has to repay at a later date.
By the start of the New Year a total of 1,205 applications for help had been received, according to the Scottish Government.
Meanwhile, from September until January, 203 households had been successful in getting a new mortgage and purchasing a property under the scheme.
A total of 109 housebuilders have signed up for the initiative, with five lenders offering mortgages to buyers using it.
She said: “It is fantastic to see the first results of our Help to Buy scheme.”
