Now live: The latest Mortgage & Property Investment special edition of IFA Talk lifts the lid on one of the most pressing issues facing today’s housing market, how to help more first-time buyers take that crucial first step onto the property ladder.

In this episode, hosts Sue Whitbread and Meg Bratley are joined by Carlo Pileggi, Head of Mortgage Products at Nationwide Building Society. Carlo shares his insights into the challenges facing first-time buyers today, and how initiatives like Nationwide’s Helping Hand Mortgage Boost are making a meaningful difference for aspiring homeowners across the UK.

Highlights from this week’s episode

• The changing profile of first-time buyers, and the trends Nationwide is seeing on the ground

• How Helping Hand is supporting affordability, deposits and access to lending

• The growing role of family support and how lenders are adapting to reflect this

• Real stories of first-time buyers whose journeys were transformed through flexible lending

• What the next 12–18 months might hold for affordability, lending innovation and first-time buyer support

This episode provides a timely and insightful look at the real barriers facing today’s first-time buyers, and the innovative solutions helping more people secure a home of their own.