Help to Buy Valuation in Cury Cornwall

From 2013 to 2023, the Help to Buy equity loan scheme let buyers purchase a new build home with only a 5% deposit, with the Government providing an equity loan of up to 20%, or 40% in London. To repay that loan, either in part through staircasing or in full through redemption, you need a RICS Red Book valuation carried out by a qualified surveyor. That valuation sets the figure to repay by using the current market value of the property, less your original purchase price and any contributions you have already made.

Prices around Cury and the wider TR12 area have shifted noticeably in recent years. In Cury Cross Lanes, properties have achieved averages of £450,000, while Churchtown in the TR12 area has recorded average sold prices of £510,000. Detached homes in Cury Cross Lanes have sold for an average of £535,000, which shows the premium attached to larger family houses in this popular coastal spot. That matters, because the amount due on a Help to Buy repayment is tied directly to the current market value of your home.

Our valuers know the Cornwall market well, including Cury on the Lizard peninsula. Homes in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty often attract stronger prices because of the coastal setting and rural character. We bring that local understanding into every Help to Buy valuation, using comparable sales from across the peninsula, including Helston and nearby villages, so the figure reflects what the property could realistically sell for in the present market.

• RICS Red Book compliant valuations
• Works with all Help to Buy lenders
• Staircasing and redemption assessments
• Fast turnaround times available

Staircasing is the process of buying extra equity from the Government so you increase your ownership share in the Help to Buy property. You can do this in increments of 10% or more, and every staircase transaction needs a fresh RICS valuation to set the price of that additional equity. We can talk you through the steps and provide the report required for submission to your equity loan provider.

In Cury, a staircase valuation can make a big difference because values vary so much across the area. A detached property averaging £470,000 produces a very different result from a semi-detached home at £280,000. On current figures, a 10% staircase on the detached property would be approximately £47,000, while a 10% staircase on the semi-detached property would be around £28,000. Our reports set out the valuation approach clearly, so you can see exactly how the property value feeds into the staircase payment.

Across Cornwall, many owners are now reaching the point where they need to staircase or redeem their Help to Buy loans as the original five-year interest-free period ends. If you took out the loan in 2019 or earlier, you are now moving into the stage where interest charges of 1.75% plus CPI inflation apply from year six onwards. A valuation now can help you weigh up the options and, in some cases, staircase before those charges start, which could save thousands of pounds in interest over the full life of the loan.

Recent years have brought some correction in the Cornwall market. Average prices have dropped by approximately £16,600 (-5%) over the twelve months to January 2026, and the average property price in Cornwall is now £277,000, a 2.5% fall from December 2024. Those figures feed directly into a Help to Buy valuation, because the amount repayable on the equity loan is based on the current market value at the time of the report.

Cury has seen an even sharper shift. Over the last year, house prices were approximately 29% below the 2022 peak of £525,000. That is a substantial move away from the post-pandemic highs, and it is one of the reasons an up-to-date Help to Buy valuation matters. Our valuers keep close track of these changes, including recent sales from across the Lizard peninsula, so the final figure reflects current conditions in Cury.

Even with the recent correction, Cury and the wider Lizard peninsula still benefit from a sought-after position within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Across Cornwall, detached homes make up 36.1% of sales, terraced properties 30.1%, semi-detached homes 22.0% and flats 11.8%. Supply remains limited in this coastal market, and demand from buyers looking for the Cornish lifestyle continues to support values over the longer term. New build stock is still scarce too, with only 2.4% of Cornwall sales being newly constructed properties.

Those local influences are built into our approach. We take account of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation, proximity to the coast and the particular character of homes on the Lizard peninsula when arriving at the valuation. That gives you a Help to Buy figure that is accurate and defensible if it is queried by your lender or Homes England.

A little preparation before the appointment can help the valuation run smoothly. Please make sure our valuer can access all rooms, and the loft space as well if it is accessible and safe to enter. It is also useful to gather documents covering any improvements or extensions made since purchase, as work of that kind can have a positive effect on value where it has added to the home.

During the inspection, we measure the property internally and externally, take photographs and assess the overall condition, including any signs of wear or damage. We then research recent sales of comparable homes in the Cury area, using evidence from Cury Cross Lanes, Churchtown and across the Lizard peninsula to support the valuation. In the Cury market, the best comparables are usually properties in similar positions, of a similar type and size, that sold within the last six to twelve months.

Questions are always welcome, and our team is here to talk them through. We give clear, straightforward advice throughout the valuation process so you know what happens at each stage and what it means for your Help to Buy position. If you are thinking about staircasing in 10% increments, or planning to redeem the loan in full, we can explain how the valuation affects the figures and what the next steps look like.