Skipton Intermediaries will be presenting at a First Time Buyers Forum at the North East Business Innovation Centre.

The forum aims to educate and guide prospective first time buyers through the process of buying their own home, hoping to fill in the gaps in knowledge in possibly the biggest investment of their lives.

Professionals from Approved Mortgage Solutions, Sweeney Miller, Connells and Skipton Building Society will be there to discuss a wide range of topics, helping to provide first time buyers with realistic expectations of the buying process.

Topics to be covered include the process of buying your first home, raising a deposit, the difference between fixed and varied mortgage products, amongst other specialist subjects from the professionals.

Natalie Bridges, intermediary relationship manager at Skipton Building Society, said: “Buying your first home should be a momentous and positive experience, however many first time buyers sacrifice their experience due to the lack of home buying knowledge and unrealistic expectations.

“We have identified there is a need from prospective first time buyers to be educated and guided through the whole home buying process from start to finish,  even if they don’t plan to take their first steps onto the property ladder right a way.

“Through the First Time Buyers Forum, we hope to be able to support as many first time buyers as possible and provide them with the knowledge they need to get the most out of this experience and make it as stressfree as possible for them. If this is event is a great success it is something we plan to role out across the country.”

Paul Hampton from Approved Mortgage Solutions added: “When an adviser sits with first time buyers and explains things to them, discuss the decisions they need to make and the pros and cons of those decisions, so many clients say, ‘I wish I had learnt that in school.’”