First-time buyer checklist

Originally published in October 2023, refreshed and republished with new content in December 2024.

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of buying your first home. It’s an important milestone in many people’s lives, bringing the excitement of fresh beginnings and new adventures.

However, buying a house is also a process which involves careful planning, thorough research, and attention to detail. In other words, before embarking on this exciting journey, it’s essential to be well-prepared to help minimise stress so you know what to expect and when.

Places for People started more than 50 years ago, so we have lots of experience in supporting first-time buyers to achieve their dream of stepping onto the property ladder. To help you navigate the process of purchasing your first home, we’ve put together a list of tips to help you buy a house, first-time home buyer tips, including all the important information you should know before stepping onto the property ladder.

Jump to:

Review your financial situation
Consult a mortgage advisor
Define your house needs and preferences
Start house-hunting
Submit a mortgage application
Appoint a solicitor
Conduct a home survey
Exchange & Complete

1. Review your financial situation 

Assessing your financial situation is a critical first step in the home buying process, providing you with a clear understanding of your readiness to buy a home and helping you set realistic goals. It’s important to get some professional advice from an independent financial advisor before making a big financial commitment, like buying your first home.

While helping you calculate your income and repayment abilities, financial planning also comes in handy when mapping out the essential costs of buying a property, including:

Deposit

The deposit is one of the biggest costs you’ll encounter when buying your first home, as the deposit amount needs to be in your bank account before you can proceed with a purchase.

Counted as a percentage of the total purchase price, the specific amount of the deposit you need can vary, depending on factors like the agreed price of the property you’re buying, your credit history, the lender's requirements, and the type of mortgage you choose. If you are using a home buying scheme, such as Shared Ownership or Shared Equity, to purchase your home, this will also affect the deposit amount that you’ll need to have. Purchasing through Shared Ownership means your deposit is based on a percentage of the share you are buying, not based on the full value of the property, so it’s usually significantly lower when compared to buying 100% of a home. Why not use our Shared Ownership Calculator to work out what your deposit is likely to be?

Common mortgage and home buying costs 

Alongside the money for the deposit, it’s important you make yourself aware of all the additional costs related to taking out a mortgage and the process of buying a property. These may include, for instance:

• Mortgage broker fee
• Mortgage booking fee
• Mortgage arrangement fee
• Mortgage account fee
• Valuation and survey fee
• Legal costs

Stamp Duty (known as the Land and Buildings Transactional Tax or LBTT in Scotland) – the tax you pay to the government when you buy a property – is another cost you might need to factor in. Currently, when you buy your first home in England you only pay Stamp Duty if the value is above £425,000 – but from 1 April 2025, the threshold reduces to £300,000.

Make a move now to avoid paying thousands…

Furnishing your home

Furnishing your new home is one of the more enjoyable duties in the home buying process. However, home essentials come hand in hand with lots of additional costs and can shake up your budget. From furniture and electronic devices to decorating supplies, the expenses can add up quickly, so you might find it useful to set up a separate fund for them.

Emergency fund

While reviewing your financial situation, don’t forget to establish an emergency fund for any unexpected expenses you might have during and after the property purchase. Having backup savings will give you peace of mind, making sure you can handle unforeseen home repairs or other emergencies.

2. Consult a mortgage advisor

Appointing a mortgage advisor is one of the crucial first-time home buyer tips, as it’s important to get a professional assessment of your financial situation before starting the actual property hunt.
 
With their extensive knowledge of the financial market and the preferences of individual lenders, independent, whole-of-market mortgage advisors can review your income, credit history and existing debts and help you determine the most suitable mortgage options.

A mortgage advisor can also assist you in obtaining pre-approval for a mortgage, also known as a mortgage in principle, a decision in principle or more commonly an Agreement in Principle (AIP). This is a valuable tool when buying a home, as it demonstrates to sellers that you’re a serious and qualified buyer. The advisor can provide tailored advice for your specific situation and help you achieve your goals.

3. Define your house needs and preferences

Once you've finished your financial assessments and have a clear understanding of your budget and mortgage options, it's time to define your housing needs. This step involves listing down your preferences and priorities to narrow down the types of properties and neighbourhoods that best suit your lifestyle and long-term goals. 

These are some of the factors you might want to consider when starting your dream home search:

Property type

Consider the type of property that aligns with your lifestyle and budget. Are you looking for a cosy apartment, a modern townhouse or a detached house with a garden? What property types are available within your budget?

Size and layout

Determine the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need. This often depends on your family size, future plans, and personal preferences.

Specific features

Identify some of the home features that are non-negotiable for you, such as off-street or allocated parking, a garden or other outdoor space, or a garage.

Location and neighbourhood

And finally, based on your commuting needs and proximity to work, schools and essential services, choose the most suitable location for your future home. Remember to also review the safety of your selected area, as well as accessible amenities, such as parks, shopping centres and leisure facilities.

4. Start house-hunting 

Finding a dream home might take longer than you'd expect. However, make sure you allow yourself enough time to consider every aspect of the viewed property and try not to rush the decision-making process. 
 
One of the best ways to look for your dream home is to start with an online search, selecting only the properties that meet your criteria. Once you have a list of homes that pique your interest, schedule in-person viewings to properly explore the properties as well as neighbourhoods. 
 
When viewing the properties, think about the level of maintenance you're comfortable with. Older homes may have character but could require more upkeep, while newer homes and brand-new housing developments might be more low-maintenance. 
 

5. Submit a mortgage application 

Once you’ve found your desired home, made an offer on it and had this accepted by the seller, it’s time to move on to the next crucial step of the process – applying for a mortgage. 
 
From choosing a lender and gathering the necessary documentation to submitting the evidence, the mortgage application is a complex process, and it’s crucial to seek professional advice from a mortgage advisor or broker.

As part of your mortgage application process, you’ll be asked to provide a range of supporting documents proving your ability to repay the loan. These pieces of evidence commonly include:

• Proof of ID
• Proof of address documents, such as utility bills
• Bank statements
• Payslips
• Evidence of where your deposit is coming from
   

If you’re self-employed, you’ll usually also need:

• Self-assessed tax return forms
• Tax year overviews
• An accountant’s certificate

6. Appoint a solicitor

Once your offer on the property has been accepted, it’s important to appoint a conveyancing solicitor to do the professional work needed on the legal side of the purchase. 

The qualified solicitor or conveyancing firm will carry out property searches and check for any planning restrictions and environmental concerns, making sure the property has all the necessary approvals and permissions to satisfy the lender. In addition, the legal specialist will also review the contract before you exchange (at which point you are legally committed to buy the property) and handle all the financial aspects of the transaction, so that the property successfully transfers ownership in the eyes of the law.  

7. Conduct a home survey

After submitting your mortgage application, conducting a home survey is a crucial step before signing the contract and a basic survey is usually required by the lender. Many buyers choose to have a more in-depth survey done, called a structural survey, which looks in much more detail at the property to identify any serious structural problems that may be present.
 
A home survey is a critical step to get a closer look at the condition of the property you want to buy. By hiring an accredited surveyor, you can identify any potential issues and defects of the property that may not be visible at first but might have a negative impact on the home’s value as remedial work will be needed to fix it. This can help if you want to negotiate the price with the seller. 

8. Exchange & Complete

When your lender, solicitor and the seller are all happy to proceed, you’ll exchange contracts, which means you and the seller are both now legally committed to complete the transaction. You’ll also set a proposed date for completion.

Completion is the final stage of your home buying process, as the transfer of ownership paperwork is finalised and the money all changes hands, which is handled by your solicitor and lender. 
 
If all of the steps with buying your first property go to plan, it should take a few months from start to finish before you have the keys to your new home (on completion day) and can start a brand new chapter of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the criteria to be a first-time buyer?

Being a first-time buyer means you won’t have purchased/owned a property before.
To be considered eligible, you must never have owned or had a share in a residential or commercial property either in the UK or oversees. That includes on your own or jointly with someone else, even if you no longer own or have shares in the property. 

What evidence do you need for a first-time buyer?

When you apply for a mortgage on your first home, you’ll need to provide evidence that confirms both your identity and your ability to repay the loan. These include:

• Proof of ID: This will need to be valid photo ID such as a passport or driving licence.
• Proof of address: These could include recent utility bills or bank statements showing your up-to-date address.
• Proof of income: If you’re employed, you will need pay slips covering the last three months. Tax returns and bank statements (also dating back three months) will be needed if you’re self-employed.
• Deposit proof: This might include a savings account statement or a gift letter if your family is providing your deposit.

How much money does a first-time buyer need?

According to Which?, first-time buyers need the following up-front costs in order to secure a home with an average first-time buyer purchase price of £234,000:

• 10% deposit: £23,400
• Legal fees: £1,314
• House survey: £420
• Removals: £420

Of course, these amounts will vary from buyer to buyer and additional costs, such as mortgage fees (which can total up to around £2,500) and Stamp Duty, might also come into play.

That’s why – with schemes such as Shared Ownership and Shared Equity, which require lower deposits – it can pay to buy new.