LAST week's budget was a disappointment for homebuyers -- particularly first timers.
Andrew Frankish, operations director at Mortgage Talk said: "The Chancellor's unwillingness to raise stamp duty thresholds will make life even more difficult for first time buyers, as well as squeezing savings and budgets for those looking to move house."
"Gordon Brown had an ideal opportunity to redress the inbalance in the UK property market where, in many regions, more properties are being sold as buy-to-let than to first time buyers.
"The Chancellor is basking in the knowledge that last year, £3.59 billion was raised for the Treasury from stamp duty compared to £830 million in 1999/2000. Raising the threshold in line with house price inflation would have helped young people gain a foothold on the property ladder."
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