First-time buyer guides
Plain-English answers to the questions every first-time buyer asks, written by people who don't sell you anything. Each guide links to a free tool so you can run your own numbers.
How big a deposit do you actually need?
Everyone tells you to "save a deposit" and then goes quiet on the number. Here's what you actually need, and why the size you aim for matters more than people let on.
Read the guide →Do first-time buyers actually pay Stamp Duty?
Mostly, no, and that surprises people. But there are two limits worth knowing before you fall for a place just over the line, and one rule that quietly catches out couples.
Read the guide →How much will a bank actually lend you?
There's a rough rule everyone quotes, and then there's what actually lands in your account. The gap between them is where a lot of first-time buyers get caught out.
Read the guide →The costs nobody warns you about
You save for years for the deposit, and then a pile of other bills shows up right at the end. None are huge on their own. Together they're a few thousand pounds you didn't plan for.
Read the guide →Is a Lifetime ISA worth it for your first home?
A 25% top-up from the government sounds too good to ignore, and mostly it is. But there are a few rules that can turn free money into a penalty if you're not paying attention.
Read the guide →What's an Agreement in Principle, and do you need one?
Start viewing houses and someone will soon ask if you've got an "AIP". Here's what they actually mean, and why getting one early quietly puts you ahead of other buyers.
Read the guide →Whose side is the estate agent really on?
First time through, it's easy to treat the estate agent as your guide. They're not — they're paid by the seller. Here's what that changes, and the polite ways to push back when you're nudged toward their in-house services.
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