Our Tools and Guides for First Time Buyers

Find out how much you can borrow

Before the search for your perfect first home begins, you'll need to know how much you can afford to borrow for your mortgage, especially as some estate agents won't allow you to view properties with them until they know that you're likely to find a lender.

Our how much can I borrow? guide explains how we calculate the amount that we could be willing to lend you, based on your income and monthly outgoings. Alternatively, you can use our simple online mortgage affordability calculator for an idea of how much you could borrow before you speak to us.

Choose which type of first time buyer mortgage is best for you

Once you have an idea of how much you can borrow, you can compare mortgage deals for first time buyers to decide which one would be best for you. There are several different types of mortgage deals on the market, which can sometimes make it tricky for you to know which one is best for you and your circumstances.

Our which type of mortgage is best for you? guide explains the available options for first time buyer mortgages and the features and benefits of each. You can then calculate the repayments you're likely to make on each type of mortgage with our quick mortgage repayment calculator.

Know what to expect at each stage of the house buying process

It’s time for the exciting bit - looking for your first property! In our first time buyers' step by step guide to the house buying process, we break down the stages and typical timeline of buying a house. This includes everything from how to make an offer on a house, the mortgage application process and home buyers survey information.  At this stage, it’s also worth considering what stamp duty you will pay on your new home, if any. Check out our everything you need to know about stamp duty guide.

Get prepared for a stress-free moving day

As soon as you've found a property to buy, you'll be daydreaming about moving in! Now is a good time to start finalising moving day plans, especially if your completion date is fast approaching. It is wise to think practically about your countdown to moving day, especially if you live in rented accommodation as you may need to give a certain amount of notice to your landlord.

We hope you find our first time buyer guides helpful - but should you need more assistance or would like a mortgage quotation for buying your first home, you can speak to one of our expert mortgage advisers by calling the number below or by booking an appointment.