How to Buy Your First Home: Guide for First-Time Buyers

Buying your first home is one of the most exciting milestones in life but also very overwhelming.

1. Start Saving for a Deposit as Early as Possible

Let’s start with the big one: the deposit. According to the English Housing Survey, the average house deposit is nearly £45,000. The earlier you start saving, the more time you’ll have to reach your goal—especially with help from government schemes like the Lifetime ISA (LISA).

2. Explore Mortgage Options (Even Before You’re Ready to Buy)

Before you start viewing properties, it’s wise to speak to a mortgage adviser. They’ll look at your income, debts, and financial history to determine how much you can realistically borrow.

This helps you understand what’s affordable, and many lenders will provide a mortgage offer in principle. Have a look around and seek expert advice to find what works best for your situation.

3. Research Where You Can Afford to Buy

Prices can vary dramatically even within the same city, so it’s essential to do research which area would fit your budget.

 You might need to consider: 

• Commuting time
• Local amenities
• Future value and growth potential
• Crime
• The type of property you’re looking for (flat, house, new build, etc.)

Buying a house also come with additional costs - like stamp of duty (link our stamp of duty calculator, solicitor fees and moving costs when working out what you can afford.

4. Look Into First-Time Buyer Support Schemes

In addition to LISAs and low-deposit mortgages, there are several first-time buyers schemes you should know about:

• Shared ownership: Buy a share of a property (25–75%) and pay rent on the rest, with the option to buy more over time.
• Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor (Income Boost): Add family members to your mortgage to increase your borrowing power without affecting your first-time buyer status.
• Professional mortgages: If you work in sectors like teaching, healthcare, or law, you may qualify for deals offering up to six times your income.

5. Get Your Paperwork in Order Early

Once you find the right home and your offer is accepted, things move quickly. To avoid delays, have your paperwork ready to go:

• ID (passport or driver’s license)
• Proof of address (utility bills or bank statements)
• Payslips and bank statements
• Mortgage offers in principle
• Solicitor details

Whether you're saving up, speaking to an adviser, or viewing your first home, each move is a building towards the next chapter. This is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. Taking your time to get it right is not only wise—it’s necessary.

📞 Thinking about buying your first home?

Get in touch with one of our experts today and see how we can help you find your first home - 020 3000 6787