The Homes and Communities Agency has announced allocations for the government's FirstBuy scheme. <br> <br> More than 100 housebuilders and housing associations have been successful in their bids. Under the scheme they will be jointly funding an equity loan of up to 20% with the HCA to help first time buyers unable to access the property ladder.<br> <br> A total of £180 million has been allocated over the next two years to provide almost 10,500 new homes for sale across England. It is expected that the first new homes will be available for sale from September. <br> <br> "We had an excellent response from our partners – including smaller local builders – and have been able to allocate funding that gives first time buyers the assistance they need," said HCA'S chief executive Pat Ritchie. <br> <br> Successful bidders include Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Crest Nicholson and Miller Homes. <br> <br> ■ Miller Homes revealed that nearly half of first time buyers have not heard of shared equity products. <br> <br> The housebuilder polled 1,500 first time buyers and discovered that almost 53% said that they could not purchase a home because of a lack of money for a deposit, and 30% …