Should every first time buyer be treated as vulnerable?

Should every first time buyer be treated as vulnerable?

From Mortgage Insider by Barclays

March 17, 2026 · 28 min · Season 7 · Episode 2

About this episode

The episode discusses improving the home buying experience for first-time buyers, focusing on communication and support for neurodivergent individuals.

For many first-time buyers, the home buying process can feel confusing, full of jargon and hard to follow. And with affordability concerns and rate changes still shaping the UK housing market, securing a first-time buyer mortgage can feel more daunting than ever for all too many. In this episode of Mortgage Insider, Phil Spencer is joined by Louise Baxter MBE, co-CEO of Consumer Friend, and Kate Faulkner OBE, Chair of the Home Buying and Selling Council and founder of PropertyChecklists.co.uk, to discuss how the experience of buying a house can be improved for first-time buyers. They explore why clearer language and better communication are vital when arranging a first-time buyer mortgage, and how many people still struggle to ask questions if they do not fully understand the information being shared. The discussion also looks at how the challenge can be even greater for neurodivergent buyers, including those with dyslexia. Complex language, the volume of documentation and unclear explanations can make the process harder to follow, which is why using plain English, clearer layouts and simpler presentation can make a real difference. Finally, the guests underline the value of…

People in this episode

Host: Phil Spencer

Guests: Louise Baxter MBE, Kate Faulkner OBE

Topics covered

  • first-time buyers
  • mortgage advice
  • neurodivergent buyers
  • communication in home buying
  • affordability concerns
  • UK housing market

Keywords

  • first-time buyer
  • mortgage process
  • housing market
  • communication
  • neurodiversity
  • affordability
  • broker advice

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Consumer Friend, Home Buying and Selling Council, PropertyChecklists.co.uk

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