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When you’re renting, the process of saving up and getting ready to buy a home can seem like a huge financial mountain to climb. But, for many would-be first-time buyers, owning a home may not be as difficult as they think. Unconvinced? Let’s take a look at the key questions to ask yourself when it comes to  buying a home – what can I afford? Mortgage Calculator How many times my salary can I borrow? The usual way to work out how much a bank will lend is to multiply your house

Feeling daunted by the prospect of buying a house? Here’s a first-time buyer checklist to help the road to becoming a homeowner run a little smoother. Buying first home checklist  Step one: Decide if now’s the time Step two: Budget & save for a deposit Step three: Get your head around the costs Step four: Work out how to pay for it Step five: Get a mortgage agreement in principle Step six: Start property viewings Step seven: Put in an offer Step eight: Exchange contracts Ste

You’ve saved for years, found that perfect property and are preparing to become a homeowner for the first time. But, it’s not quite as simple as that! Buying a home can be confusing to say the least. There’s so much to think about, many things can get forgotten. It’s time to make sense of it all! Here’s a closer look at  first-time buyer insurance . What does home insurance do? If you haven’t owned a home before, many things can feel like alien territory. So, it’s no wonder f

About to take your first step onto the property ladder? To help you along the way, why not learn from others’ mistakes? We’ll point you in the right direction. Here are some common  first-time buyer mistakes  and how to avoid them. Putting down a small deposit Particularly if paying high rent prices, it can be extremely difficult to save for a house deposit. But, in most cases, the less you out down, you narrow your selection of mortgage deals and better rates. For the most m

Can I get help as a first-time buyer? Here’s some essential advice and help for first time buyers. Buying that first property is exciting, nerve-wracking and a step towards independence for many of us. But many aren’t sure where to start – and it’s easy to see why. From deposits to mortgages, there’s a lot to get your head around. Top tips for first-time buyers Trying to get a leg up onto the property ladder? Here’s an overview of some top tips that can help for first time bu

So, you’ve found the one! It’s a great feeling isn’t it? Before you get too ahead of yourself, it’s important to make sure this is actually what you want. You don’t want to find any nasty surprises waiting for you on moving day. Buying your first house is a huge commitment, so to help you be absolutely certain about your decision we’ve put together a list of important  questions all first-time buyers should ask  before making an offer on a property. Can I realistically afford

If you’re struggling to get your head around mortgage interest rates, you’re not alone. From questions like what is loan to value? To SVR, there are plenty of terms to make sense of. If you’ve never bought a home before, it can feel overwhelming. But – interest rates are easier to understand than you might think. Here’s a handy guide to how it all works and what you need to know. What are mortgage interest rates? It can be tough knowing how mortgages work, particularly for fi

A mortgage calculator will give you an idea of how much you could borrow. The mortgage calculator features a repayment calculator, so you can estimate monthly mortgage repayments. This could help you to work out how much you could afford to borrow if you’re a first-time buyer, moving house or remortgaging. You may have to pay an early repayment charge if you remortgage. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. How does the mortgage c

It’s time to ask yourself a vital question before you start searching for your perfect pad: can I afford a mortgage?The answer to this depends on lots of factors. For example, how big is your deposit? What monthly repayments can you afford? What are your usual monthly incomings and outgoings?It’s also important to understand how interest rates work and find the right mortgage broker for you.There’s a lot to consider and compare, and plenty of sums to do. But we’re here to hel

If buying a property is on your horizon and you’re wondering how to get a mortgage, we’ve got some top tips to help you boost your chances. This process can feel like you’re climbing a mountain, so let’s break it down. Top tips how to get a mortgage Here are some tips to give you a leg-up onto that first rung. #1 – Understand what mortgage to get Let’s break the process of buying a house down. The first step on your pilgrimage to the mortgage application form is to understand

To try and help answer the question ‘how does a mortgage work?’ we’ve put together some first-time buyer advice.  We’ve looked at everything from mortgages to help-to-buy schemes to help you better understand what costs are involved in buying a house. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or not, it’s likely you’ll need a mortgage in order to purchase your new home. Our first tip is to speak to a mortgage adviser early on. They can explain the process and help you through each im

Deposits are typically between 5-20% of a property price. This means a lender can loan you anywhere from a 95% loan-to-value (LTV), allowing you to get on the property ladder with a 5% deposit i.e. 5% of the property’s price. LTV measures the relationship between the loan amount and the property, and is how a lender assesses their risk. A rule of thumb tends to be that the higher the LTV, the higher the interest rates.  Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repay