LSL is hosting its New Homes Forum on Wednesday 23 November at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
The forum will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing the new build sector in the coming months.
The forum will be hosted by Craig Hall, director, New Homes Financial Services, LSL Financial Services, and will include several guest speakers from across the industry, including:
- Richard Donnell – executive director, Zoopla
- Neil Jefferson – managing director, Home Builders Federation
- Ceri Pearce – UK sales & marketing director, Taylor Wimpey
- Steve Lees – head of technical surveying, e.surv Chartered Surveyors
- Corrina Jones – environment & sustainability manager, e.surv Chartered Surveyors
- Steve Rance – managing partner, Gallagher Re
- Eliot Darcy – CEO, Market Mortgage
- Andy Dean – head of new build, Nationwide Building Society
The forum will provide an update on housing and the new build market, as well as a view on housebuilding and government support. In addition, speakers will touch on market trends and the value of new build properties, along with how the industry can transform the home-buying process, utilising data and technology.
Hall said: “We are very excited to welcome everyone to the upcoming LSL New Homes Forum. We are yet again about to enter yet another critical period for the sector, with the Help to Buy scheme drawing to a close, the emergence of several private homeownership schemes and the challenges we have faced in the mortgage market over the last two months. Collaboration and communication and with all parties is absolutely vital, hence the reason for putting on events such as this.”
Donnell added: “Demand for new build homes is on the rise, and this forum is a great platform to provide brokers, house builders and lenders with important insight on how the market is going to develop as we move into 2023.
“The rising cost-of-living, particularly when it comes to energy bills, alongside greater consumer awareness of climate change, continue to influence home buyers’ purchasing decisions. Clearly, the energy efficiency of new build homes and the lower running costs associated with them is driving homebuyers to consider new builds over homes in the resale market.”
Jefferson concluded: “For the first time in decades, there is currently no government scheme available to support first-time buyers to purchase new build homes at a time when political and economic instability has seen mortgage availability challenged. We are keen to ensure that brokers have the depth of knowledge they need to be able to support their clients effectively in the new build market.
“Builders can only build if buyers can buy and we need to ensure brokers understand the various options available to their clients in order to find a suitable solution that meets their needs.”