First Time Buyers Guide

If you are contemplating purchasing your first home in the near future, you are probably looking to boost your chances of getting on the property ladder.

Getting yourself on the property ladder is an exciting step however, it can also come with some challenges many first time buyers aren’t aware of. This is why these tips could help ease the stresses that inevitably come with buying your first home.

Firstly, let’s define exactly what a first time buyer is. This is an individual that has never bought a home before in the UK or abroad. This means starting at the very beginning of the process, from starting a savings account to signing on the dotted line.

Saving 

Before you start looking around for your dream first home, you will need to save for a deposit.

Generally you will need a deposit of 10% of the property value. However, there is help available for those with a smaller deposit. For example, 95% mortgages guarantee scheme, shared ownership, lifetime ISA’s and Help to Buy Equity Loan.

Make sure you save enough for your deposit but also remember other costs that buying a house encounters. For example, stamp duty, legal fees, removal fees etc.

Boosting

There are various other ways you can boost your chances of getting a mortgage.

Here’s what you can do:

• Register yourself on the electoral roll
• Keep up with payments regularly, avoid defaulting on any direct debits
• Close any credit card accounts you no longer use
• Pay off any outstanding loans or finance plans

Here’s what you should probably avoid:

• Taking out new long term loan plans, for example, a finance plan for a new car
• Signing up to store card, for example, Very
• Opting for a ‘buy now, pay later’ option
• Inappropriate bank transfer references – your mortgage adviser will be thoroughly checking your history

Commitments

When purchasing a new home, you must consider your pre-existing financial commitments. A common example of this is a car on a finance plan.

For example, if you are paying £200 a month for your car this means £2400 per year. This will be deducted from your annual income, so the higher your outgoings are, the less the lenders are likely to lend you.

Research

Prior to buying any property it is a good idea to get ahead of the process by knowing exactly what is available to you as a first time buyer. Remember – you will never be a first time buyer ever again so take advantage of any scheme you may qualify for!

Researching for buying your first property is not just about the finances. You might want to spend some time researching the areas you would like to live in. This will mean you are one step ahead when it comes to actually looking for your first home!

It’s also useful to think long term. This might not be the most obvious thing to do but it will be worth making sure the property you have your heart set on fits in with your plans for the next 5-10 years.

Just Ask