The eighth Evening Standard Homebuyer Show, being held from 28th February – 2nd March 2003 at ExCeL, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 is set to be the best yet!

Whether you are a first-time buyer, fifth-time buyer, looking for a holiday home or considering a buy-to-let investment, take the opportunity of being able to talk to all the right people, all under the one roof. If you are deciding what or where to buy, a visit to the Homebuyer Show will save days of driving around and hours seeking financial advice.

With property continuing to hit the headlines, it’s expected that the 2003 show will attract even more than the 22, 000 visitors who attended last year’s show.

A one-stop shop for homebuyers and property investors, the show has become the home-buyers event of the year, and features over 150 exhibitors including house-builders, estate agents, financial advisors, mortgage lenders and a wide range of property services.

A must for first time buyers, key workers and those already scaling the property ladder, the three day show provides a comprehensive seminar programme covering virtually every aspect of home purchase.

The seminars, many of which are free, offer vital professional advice and cater for all home-buying needs - there is plenty to do and see.

Great news for fans of Channel 5’s House Doctor, Ann Maurice. Ann will be at the show presenting a seminar on the 28th about Home Staging – Presenting your home in its best light. For info available on www.homebuyer.co.uk

Overseas homes

Year after year this sector is growing! With over 25 exhibitors specialising in overseas properties, you’re sure to make a decision whether it me a beach house on the south coast of Australia or a cliff side villa in Spain. The global selection ranges from Florida, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Turkey, Italy, The Canary islands and even down under Australia.

After last year’s success, Viva Estates is taking a 192 sq. metre stand, the largest ever in a UK exhibition of this kind – you won’t miss them! Showing a huge range of desirable villas, Viva is also launching some tempting finance packages to make your dream of a home in the sun a reality.

Property in the Torrevieja area of Costa Blanca will be available from Winners of International Homes Spanish Estate Agents award this year, Atlas International.

Iberian International allows you to ‘design your own villa’. They help you find the area and plot you like, and then together with the builder help you design the villa of you dreams.

A new development under construction in Tenerife Island will be showcased from Mirador de la Gomera. Central Equity is showcasing 30 luxury apartments in what’s been voted the world’s most liveable city – Melbourne, Australia!

City centre living

The appetite for trendy urban living stretches way beyond London. Quality of design and the conversion of interesting buildings into urban spaces are being taken seriously by a host of developers. Urban Splash, will be selling its fashionable Burton Place scheme at Castlefield, Manchester, off plan, where 30 of the 90 apartments already reserved.

Morgans will be showcasing their ultra trendy developments in Yorkshire areas and predict the most popular product will be the 2 bedroom flats with parking in the centre of Leeds up to around £175,000.

Others exhibiting at the show include Country and Metropolitan, Urban Edge, Centro City Living, City Lofts, Dandara, and Beetham Organization

Affordable living

Over 15 housing associations will be exhibiting new purchasing schemes and developments including Acton, Bush, Northcote, Peabody and Threshold, plus financial advisors and legal advice specifically focused on affordable housing issues.

Stagnell Fox – advisors to housing associations and their clients will be on hand to help find the right housing association and buying scheme for you. Threshold Key Homes Tower Homes and the ‘Keys to the Capital’ consortium are available to advise key workers of all kinds on specific deals and opportunities to buy homes across London and the South East.

New homes

New-homes.co.uk, launched by the House Builders Federation will show you how easy it is to look for a new home on the internet. The system allows you to search through 150 000 properties in 2000 separate development sites throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Copthorn are showcasing a new dimension in style and substance to Vauxhall Park with The Academy, arguably its most prestigious and imaginative project to date. Starting at £275,000, the development contains studios, apartments, and family homes.

One of the leaders in new homes, Barratt Homes, are exhibiting again after their success last year, with some special deals for first time buyers, and homes ranging from £130 000 to over £1m.

Other exhibitors include Ballymore, Weston Homes, Allison Homes, Comer Homes and George Wimpey Central London.

Financial advice

Amazing finance deals are still available for all buyers. Come and take the Evening Standard Homebuyer Show Remortgage Challenge! New research from Charcol shows that 8 million homeowners are probably paying too much on their mortgage.

The latest remortgage deals, some exclusive to the Homebuyer Show, are available through Charcol, Savills Private Finance, Zurich Advice Network, Illingworth Associates and the Mortgage Centre IFA.

Other Exhibitors offering financial and mortgage advice include Lambeth Building Society, ALMA Financial Services Authority Robert Stirling, The Personal Property Investment Company, Essex and Capital Mortgage Corporation, Stonehouse Mortgages, ECU Group, and PIMS.

Buy to let

For buy to let investors and small landlords, ”Property Investor 2003” is a simple-to-use software program designed for owners of multiple rental properties and enables users to organise and manage their affairs.

Writer and entrepreneur Nick Rampley Sturgeon will be talking about his weekend Boot Camps for prospective property investors and finance advice also available form a host of exhibitors.

Advice on doing up a property to let will be available from New ID Interiors, The Contract Furniture Specialist and Edgerton designs.

Specialist services

From house doctors to house finance, there is just about every service on offer at the show, and many exhibitors will be offering special discounts and ‘show only’ offers.

Inspectorhome is the only professional snagging service for new homes in the UK and works for homeowners and provides independent audits for house builders to increase customer satisfaction. They are offering chance to enter a competition to win an inspection!

HM Land Registry keeps records of 17 million titles online which can provide buyers with information about any property in England and Wales at the touch of a button and at the Homebuyer Show it will offer free demonstrations searching the online register.

Nick Clark, managing director of show organisers Homebuyer Events, says:

“In a highly competitive market, the Evening Standard Homebuyer Show provides a platform for the diverse range of offerings of the residential property market.”

“It helps potential buyers make informed decisions through the presentations and through the exhibitors who can help with any aspect of home buying: financial, legal, surveys, home appraisals, even removals.”

Admission is £6 .00 on the door or via vouchers available in the national and local press prior to the show. For ticket or other enquiries visit the web site on www.homebuyer.co.uk