Survey Says Market is Slowing Down, First-Time Homebuyers' Biggest Obstacle is Student Loan

The verdict is out: first-time homebuyers cannot afford to do it alone.

"America At Home" released it's third annual survey from NeighborWorks America, a group working for affordable housing and community development, and it finds that a lot of factors show the slowing housing market. The listed reasons include the pressures of student debt, confusion about the mortgage process, and a marriage-rate decline, reports Philly.com.

The survey, conducted earlier this fall included 1,000 US adults. It found that student-loan debt has been growing as an obstacle to the ability to buy homes. 57 percent of respondents who acknowledged having loans said this debt was either "very much" or "somewhat" of an obstacle, eight percent higher  compared to that of last year.

Mortgage rates remain low and because of this, first-times find was to build up downpayments. Surprisingly, the reports add that, "nearly 40 percent of respondents said they have received "nothing at all" in terms of information about down-payment assistance programs for middle-income home buyers, programs that could provide thousands of dollars to help bridge savings gaps."

43 percent of the respondents plan to purchase homes when they "got married or moved in with a life partner." This is an indication of the changing demograhics which adds pressure to the housing market. Despite the number of mortgage forclosure, a number of respondents also said they have inadequate information of its consequences, which should not  be the case.

NeighborWorks America president and CEO Paul Weech said, "It's understandable that Americans looking to purchase their first home are intimidated by obstacles such as student debt, lack of a down payment, and weak credit." So it's critical "that first-time home buyers have access to information and programs such as down-payment assistance and affordable loans so they feel confident in purchasing a home independently."

Relatively, ITV reports that banks are wooing first time buyers ahead of 'Help to Buy' Isa scheme launch. "It is part of the government drive to get more people on to the housing ladder although experts have warned that plan must not leave those who are not home owners without somewhere affordable to rent."