Why buy now when you could wait a year and save at least 10%, if not 20%. The housing market is going to crash and burn in the next one to two years. We have had the biggest house price boom in the last decade and it is going to be followed by the biggest crash. Which means that you will be able to get more than a rabbit hutch in London for £250,000.
I'm in the same boat as you, Lazy, being a potential FTB. Keep your powder dry and smile when the Nationwide and Halifax surveys come out each month and work out how much you've saved by waiting a month.
For more analysis on the housing market look at the house prices board on
MoneySavingExpert.com Forums but if you do want to press on people on the house buying, renting and selling board should be able to give you some advice about key worker schemes.