First-Time Buyers
Buying Your First Home
From your first savings account to picking up the keys — practical, independent guides and free calculators to help you navigate every stage of buying your first UK property.
Before you offer
The asking price is only part of what you pay. Add a solicitor, searches, a survey and moving costs, and the real figure climbs by thousands. Stamp duty may not add to it — first-time-buyer relief means many pay nothing up to the threshold — but work the rest out before you offer, not after, so nothing catches you short at completion.
Get a mortgage in principle before you view. It tells you what you can borrow, and it tells the agent you are a serious buyer — which counts when two people want the same home.
Guides for First-Time Buyers
Buying StrategyGazumping and Gazundering: How to Protect YourselfGazumping costs UK buyers thousands in wasted fees every year. Learn what it is, how common it is, and the steps you can take to reduce your risk.Read guide →Buying StrategyHow Long Does It Take to Buy a House in the UK?Realistic timelines for buying a house in the UK — from cash purchases to leasehold flats — and practical tips for speeding up the process.Read guide →Buying StrategyExchange vs Completion: What Happens at Each Stage?A clear explanation of exchange of contracts and completion in England and Wales — what happens, when, what each party must do, and what the risks are.Read guide →Due DiligenceNew Build Snagging: What to Check Before CompletionUp to 98% of new build homes have defects at handover. Here's what snagging is, when to do it, and how to ensure the developer fixes everything.Read guide →Due DiligenceHouse Survey Cost UK: What You Pay, What You GetHow much house surveys cost in the UK, what each level includes, who pays, and how to decide which survey is right for the property you are buying.Read guide →Due DiligenceHomeBuyer Survey vs Building Survey: Which Should You Choose?A clear head-to-head comparison of RICS Level 2 (HomeBuyer) and RICS Level 3 (Building Survey) — what each covers, costs, and how to choose.Read guide →Costs & FinanceShared Ownership Explained: Pros, Cons, and Hidden CostsShared ownership lets you buy with a smaller deposit — but mortgage, rent, and service charges combined can be more expensive than you expect.Read guide →Costs & FinanceFixed, Tracker, and Offset Mortgages: Which Is Right for You?Fixed rate, tracker, variable, and offset mortgages each carry different risks and costs. Here's how to choose the right mortgage type for your situation.Read guide →Costs & FinanceBuying vs Renting in the UK: A Realistic ComparisonAn honest comparison of buying vs renting in the UK, covering real costs, hidden expenses, flexibility, wealth building, and when renting is the smarter choice.Read guide →Legal & OwnershipLeasehold Red Flags: What to Check Before You BuyShort leases, doubling ground rent, and opaque service charges can cost you tens of thousands. Here's what to check before buying leasehold.Read guide →Legal & OwnershipThe Conveyancing Process Explained: A Step-by-Step UK GuideConveyancing takes longer than most buyers expect. Here's exactly what happens between offer acceptance and completion, and how to keep things moving.Read guide →Legal & OwnershipFreehold vs Leasehold Explained: Key Differences for UK BuyersUnderstand the difference between freehold and leasehold in the UK. Covers pros and cons, commonhold, share of freehold, and the Leasehold Reform Act 2024.Read guide →MortgagesThe Mortgage Application Process UK: Step by StepHow to apply for a mortgage in the UK — from Agreement in Principle through to formal offer. What lenders check, what can go wrong, and how to prepare.Read guide →MortgagesHow Much Can I Borrow for a Mortgage? UK Affordability ExplainedHow much can you borrow for a UK mortgage in 2026? Income multiples, affordability checks, stress tests and worked examples explained in plain English.Read guide →MortgagesSelf-Employed Mortgages UK: How to Get ApprovedHow UK lenders assess self-employed income in 2026, what accounts and tax documents you need, and how to strengthen your mortgage application.Read guide →First-Time BuyersHow Much Deposit Do You Need to Buy a House in the UK?How much deposit you need to buy a UK house in 2026: the 5% minimum, why bigger deposits cut your rate, saving tips and the extra cash to budget for.Read guide →Buying StrategyIs This House Overpriced? How to Tell Before You OfferA practical method for working out whether a UK asking price is fair — starting with what the seller paid, then comparables, condition, and how long it has been on the market.Read guide →
Free Calculators
Free toolStamp Duty CalculatorCalculate SDLT, LBTT, or LTT for any UK property purchase.Free toolTake-Home Pay CalculatorSee your net income after tax, NI, and student loans.Free toolAffordability CalculatorFind out how much you can borrow and afford.Free toolMortgage CalculatorCalculate monthly repayments, total interest, and LTV.Free toolMortgage Type FinderFind out which mortgage type and strategy suits your situation.Free toolHouse Buying Costs CalculatorEstimate the total cost of buying a house in the UK.Free toolShared Ownership CalculatorCalculate the true monthly cost of shared ownership.Free toolProperty Buying QuizAnswer 7 questions and get a personalised buying readiness score.Free toolRent vs Buy ComparisonCompare the true cost of renting versus buying.Free toolArea FinderAnswer a few lifestyle questions and get AI-powered UK area recommendations.Free toolSchool Catchment CheckerFind primary and secondary schools near any UK postcode.Free toolPostcode ExplorerCheck broadband, flood risk, crime, radon, and more by postcode.Free toolFlood Risk CheckerCheck flood risk, nearby flood areas, and active warnings for any UK postcode.Free toolCrime Rate CheckerView crime statistics and category breakdown for any UK postcode.Free toolFamily-Friendly ScoreScore any UK postcode 0–100 for family-friendliness from Census 2021 data.Free toolDeprivation (IMD) LookupLook up the Index of Multiple Deprivation decile for any UK postcode.Free toolOvercrowding Risk LookupShare of overcrowded homes in any UK postcode from Census 2021.Free toolLocal Affordability CheckerCompare local median house prices to local median earnings (ONS housing-affordability ratio).Free toolArea Archetype Quiz6 questions. Find which UK neighbourhood archetype fits your lifestyle.Free toolSalary for a Mortgage CalculatorFind the salary you need to buy a home at a given price.Free toolHouse Deposit CalculatorWork out the deposit you need and how long it will take to save.Free toolFirst-Time Buyer Stamp Duty CalculatorCheck the stamp duty and relief you will pay as a first-time buyer.
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