There's no escaping the fact that the days are indeed getting shorter and the darker nights are sadly drawing in and despite the un-seasonably warm weather we were recently blessed with, it's time to put away the Barbie for a good few months as we prepare to welcome winter. In the October-December issue of Property Southwest we suggest ways to get ready for the change in season with some practical suggestions. We also look at the current developments in the area and despite being told that the housing market and property is not moving, clearly the trend in our region begs to differ and it does seem that the south-west in general is still bucking the trend displayed elsewhere in the country. With a new government scheme that has recently launched, First Buy is helping first time buyers to put down a deposit on a home. Under the scheme, house builders and local authorities provide a 20 per cent loan to top up the buyer's own deposit of five per cent. This means the buyer is eligible for a mortgage worth 75 per cent of the property price. The loans are free for five years, to be repaid in full when the property is sold again. The government hopes that the new scheme will help 10,000 families onto the property ladder. There's no doubt that the economy has taken a pounding and it's true that it's still hard out there for many of us. The signs are however a little more encouraging than they were six months ago and there is every reason to suppose this will be the case in another six months. If you're in the process of house or merely exploring the possibilities we wish you every success on your journey. In the mean time, sit back and enjoy this issue of Property Southwest and most of all, happy hunting!

You can also read the latest edition, online! Just click here.