The HomeBuy Show on Saturday, February 5, in Dartford is aimed at first-time buyers on annual incomes between £18,000 and £60,000.

It aims to give solid information about the range of affordable home ownership initiatives available. Housing associations who will be represented include Moat, Hyde New Homes, Southern Housing and Shared Horizons.

Of the HomeBuy initiatives, shared ownership, also known as 'part buy/part rent' is perhaps the most recognisable. The scheme allows first-time buyers get a foot on the property ladder by purchasing a share of a home. The size of the share purchased is based on how much the buyer can afford.

At a later stage, you can purchase further shares to own the property outright. During the period that you do not own the whole of the property, you will pay a subsidised rent to the housing association.

Private developers including Barratt Homes will be talking to visitors about their Homebuy Direct shared equity schemes which provide financial assistance in the form of a government-backed equity loan.

Organisers hope that with specialist mortgage advisers and solicitors also in attendance, the event will equip first-time buyers with everything that they need to make an informed decision about reserving their first home.

Stephen Walker of Kent-based housing association Moat is confident that buyers will find the event useful.

He said: "In the past, there seems to have been a stigma attached to buying a home through a housing association, we hope the show will help people to realise that these initiatives are here to genuinely help.

"We have homes for sale that have won awards for their quality and design, the first time buyers that we assist are proud to purchase a home through such a scheme."

The HomeBuy Show is on Saturday, February 5, 11am to 4pm, at Mariner House, Galleon Boulevard, Crossways, Dartford. For more information about the show call 0845 3596161.