The range is designed to offer choice and minimise the costs of taking out a mortgage for new borrowers by offering free valuation and legal fees, £500 cashback and no upfront fees to pay. The products available are:

• 2 year fixed rate from 5.39% (up to 85% LTV)
• 3 year fixed rate from 5.69% (up to 85% LTV)
• 5 year fixed rate from 5.89% (up to 85% LTV)

Offset versions are also available with 0.10% added to the rate.

In addition, Yorkshire offers a  member-exclusive mortgage available for those with a smaller deposit which is a 5 year fixed rate at 6.49% available up to 90% loan to value (LTV) with free valuation and legal fees and no upfront fees. The mortgage is available to first time buyers who have either been a Yorkshire member for over 12 months or who have a close family member or friend who has been a Yorkshire member for over 12 months.

Tom Girling, Product Manager for Mortgages, at the Society said: "With signs of increased activity in the first time buyer market, we wanted to make sure that we had a really comprehensive range of mortgages for those people looking to take their first step on the property ladder. First time buyers who come to the Yorkshire have a choice of fixed rates, which provide assurance that payments will not go up should interest rates rise during their deal term."

"All our full first time buyer mortgages are available from our high street branches, where fully qualified mortgage advisers can guide and support first time homeowners through the house buying process. We aim to make home buying as stress-free and affordable as it can be and we'll even help the buyer to find a solicitor."

Helping first time buyers get a foot on the property ladder has long been important to the Society who for a number of years has provided a bespoke savings account for new borrowers. The first time buyer savings account is designed to help future homeowners save for a deposit and provides £100 cash back if they choose a Yorkshire Building Society mortgage. The account pays an interest rate of 2.05% (gross, p.a.), which includes a bonus payable when the customer is issued with a full mortgage offer.

The December UK house price index statistics produced by Communities and Local Government, released today, showed that house prices were 2.9% higher than a year earlier.

Other highlights were:

• UK house prices were 0.8 per cent higher than in November 2009 (seasonally adjusted).
• The mix-adjusted average house price in the UK stood at £200,307 in December 2009 (not seasonally adjusted).
• UK house prices rose by 2.9 per cent in the quarter ending December 2009. This compares with a larger rise of 3.1 per cent for the quarter ending September 2009 (seasonally adjusted).
• Annual average house prices rose in England (3.0 per cent), Scotland (3.8 per cent) and Wales (1.0 per cent), but fell in Northern Ireland (-6.0 per cent).
• Annual average house prices paid by first time buyers in December 2009 were 6.8 per cent higher than a year ago. Average house prices paid by former owner occupiers were 1.4 per cent higher.
• Annual average house prices paid for new properties in December 2009 were 1.5 per cent lower than a year ago. Average house prices paid on pre-owned dwellings were 3.2 per cent higher.

RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn commented: "The latest data on house prices from CLG provides further evidence of the recovery in the residential market. Land Registry numbers show a broadly similar picture and, significantly, the latest figures from the Bank of England show the cost of mortgage finance to be easing. This, alongside some tentative signs that money is becoming a little more freely available should help to continue to push prices higher for at least the next few months. Our own survey reflects a similar pattern with optimism on house prices rebounding smartly during January.

"However, although things are looking better at the moment, the second half of the year is likely to be more challenging again. Not only is the cost of secured borrowing likely to move higher, but the pre-announced increase in the top tax rate will begin to bite. Further fiscal tightening could also be announced after the general election. As a result, we suspect that the price trend is likely to stabilise and possibly turn down in the latter part of 2010."