Specialist mortgage lender and franchise system RAMS Home Loans has been awarded five stars for outstanding value in a consumer-friendly rating.

Canstar Cannex benchmarks financial products and for the latest report researched and rated more than 1,500 home loans from 115 lenders. Only the top five percent of all home loans researched received the prestigious five star status.

RAMS head of product, Joanne Reid was delighted with the news. “Receiving a five star rating for two of our variable rate home loans is a terrific achievement for RAMS. It is fantastic to see both our Basic and Easy Start 3 year introductory Variable Rate Home Loans receive this accolade.”

In addition to two five star ratings, the loans business also received four star excellent ratings for its Rate Relief Home Loan and the 1 and 2 year Fixed Rate Home Loans.

The mortgage franchise has also released its First Home BuyersÕ Pulse Check, suggesting most people looking to buy their first home would still be in the market regardless of the First Home Owners Grant (FHOG).

RAMS head of brand and marketing, Lynne Wyatt was encouraged by the findings.

“There is no doubt that the boost to the First Home Owners Grant was a catalyst and an enabler for many Australians to get a foot on the ladder but we expect to see continued healthy demand from people looking to buy their first home to continue for the rest of the year and well in to the next.

“We believe that in 2010 between 15 and 20 percent of our customers will continue to be first home buyers,” she added.

“As we saw in April, the biggest barriers to entering the market were still high property prices followed by the ability to save for a deposit. Perhaps as a result of the Australian economy not struggling to the extent many had feared, the percentage of respondents saying that fear of not being able to meet repayments was a barrier has actually dropped from 10 percent to 6 percent.”

RAMS First Home BuyersÕ Pulse Check is available to download at www.ownyourfirsthome.com.au