Finding a roof over your head or a home to call your own has its challenges in Oxfordshire  – not least because the cost in the city makes it the most expensive place to buy outside of the capital.

Average property prices in Oxford stood at an eyewatering average of £494,032 at the start of January, with the rest of the county average coming in at around £65k cheaper.

Or course, there is a range of much cheaper properties available and the demand for them is high. Renting too comes at a premium in the city, with prices starting at £1,000 for a non-shared two bed flat.

The HomeWard Property Fair on Saturday, February 29, is a special property fair designed specifically for health and social care workers in mind that aims to take the headache out of finding a new home

Following the success of last year’s event, the 2020 roadshow will be at Tingewick Hall at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington, from 10am to 2pm.

You’ll have a chance to talk to a range of estate agents, developers, mortgage advisers, housing associations and organisations providing shared ownership and keyworker housing.

Some offer discounts for NHS works. And you’ll also be able to find out more about the government’s Help To Buy scheme. The current equity loan scheme is ending in March to be replaced by a new one.  It will only be open to first-time buyers and have regional property price caps.

More information is available on the HomeWard website

Oxfordshire County Council has produced ‘Finding a Home in Oxfordshire: A guide for workers in the county’, a booklet covering all the home ownership options available to key workers.