The UK’s first-time buyer guide
Plan your first home purchase without the overwhelm
HomeReady helps UK first-time buyers understand their budget, build a buying plan, track key steps and know what to do next — from early planning to offer, legal checks and move-in.
Your buyer journey
- 1
Start here
Answer a few questions and get your next step.
- 2
Plan your money
Affordability, deposit and move-in costs.
- 3
Track the journey
Viewing Pack and Conveyancing Dashboard.
- 4
Build your full plan
Buyer Planner brings your numbers, tasks and progress together.
- 5
Get support when ready
Mortgage and legal support.
Start here
Not sure what to do first?
Pick the option that matches what you need right now. You do not need to do everything in order.
Best first step
I'm not sure where to start
Answer a few quick questions and HomeReady will point you to the most useful next step.
Find my next stepAffordability
I want to know what I can afford
Check your mortgage, monthly payments and the upfront costs in one place.
Check what I can affordDeposit
I'm saving for a deposit
Work out your deposit target, savings gap and how your timeline could change.
Plan my depositViewing homes
I'm already viewing homes
Use the viewing checklist to compare homes properly before you make an offer.
Prepare for viewingsOffer accepted
I've had an offer accepted
Track the legal checks and stay on top of completion timing.
Track legal checksFull plan
I want my full plan in one place
Bring savings, borrowing, timing, actions and progress together.
See Buyer PlannerWhy HomeReady helps
Built to make the buying journey feel clearer
Made for first-time buyers
Every page is designed around the questions first-time buyers actually get stuck on.
Plain English, not jargon
Clear tools and guidance without the technical language that makes buying feel harder.
Helpful before bigger decisions
Use HomeReady to feel more prepared before speaking to a broker, lender, or agent.
Free to start, no account needed
Use the calculators, checklists and guides any time — no signup or payment to get going.
Buyer Planner when you want the full plan
A one-time unlock that brings your numbers, tasks and progress into one place — no subscription.
How HomeReady works
A guided path from early planning to keys in hand
- 1
1. Start here
Answer a few questions and get your next step.
- 2
2. Plan your money
Use affordability, deposit and move-in tools.
- 3
3. Track the property journey
Use Viewing Pack and Conveyancing Dashboard.
- 4
4. Build your full plan
Buyer Planner brings your numbers, tasks and progress together.
- 5
5. Get support when ready
Request mortgage or legal support when relevant.
Use it in your own time
Start with one calculator, one guide, or the checklist. There is no fixed path and no pressure to do it all at once.
No jargon, no pressure
No mortgage jargon, no confusing numbers. Just clear tools and plain-English guidance.
Use it in any order
Start with the checklist, a calculator, or a guide — there is no fixed path and no pressure to do it all at once.
Buyer Planner
Your full buying plan in one place
Buyer Planner brings together your target property, cash position, borrowing, timing, actions, progress, documents and key packs — so you can see what matters and what to do next.
Money Dashboard
Income, expenses, debts, allocations and your payment roadmap.
Buyer Planner overview
Verdict, key actions, timing and progress at a glance.
Viewing Pack
Compare homes and prepare before making an offer.
Buyer Pack
Broker, solicitor and gifted-deposit documents in one place.
Conveyancing Dashboard
Track legal checks, stages and completion timing.
Use the free tools above. Buyer Planner is a one-time unlock — no subscription.
Free tools for every stage
Free tools you can use any time
Use one calculator on its own or build up a full plan with Buyer Planner.
First-time buyer checklist
See what you need to do and what to focus on next.
Deposit calculator
Find out how much you might need and how to save it.
Mortgage calculator
Understand your ongoing costs and what you can afford.
Buying costs & move-in
Plan for fees, moving costs, and setup.
Compound interest calculator
See how interest grows your savings, and whether you'll hit your target.
What people forget to budget for
Spot the hidden costs most buyers miss.
Dream home checklist
Sort must-haves from nice-to-haves.
Viewing checklist — step by step
Know what to look for, ask, and check.
Conveyancing checklist
Track each step of the legal side of buying.
Property search reality check
Check whether your search filters are helping or hurting.
Stamp duty calculator
Estimate your stamp duty costs in a few clicks.
LISA calculator
See how a Lifetime ISA can help you save more.
Savings timeline calculator
Work out how long your deposit could take.
Credit readiness tool
Check where your credit picture stands.
Buyer guides
Read simple guides on the key buying steps.
Support when you're ready
Real broker and solicitor help
Find out when it's the right moment to bring in a mortgage broker or a solicitor — and what they'll help you do.
Common questions
First-time buyer questions, answered simply
A few quick answers to help new buyers understand where to start.
Where should I start as a first-time buyer?+
Start by understanding where you stand now. The first-time buyer checklist and the affordability tools can help you see what is already in place, what still needs work, and which step makes most sense next. When you want everything in one view, the Buyer Planner pulls it together.
What is Buyer Planner?+
Buyer Planner is the paid HomeReady hub that brings your savings, borrowing power, timeline, actions, progress and key packs together in one place. It builds on the free tools and gives you a single view of where you stand, what is holding you back, and the clearest route forward. It is a one-time unlock, not a subscription.
How much deposit do I actually need?+
It depends on the property price and mortgage available to you, but the deposit is only one part of the upfront cost. You may also need to budget for legal fees, surveys, mortgage costs, moving costs, and a buffer for the unexpected.
Is the deposit the only money I need before buying?+
No. Many first-time buyers focus on the deposit first, but there are usually other upfront costs as well. HomeReady helps you plan for both the deposit and the extra buying costs so there are fewer surprises later.
How do I know if I can afford the monthly cost?+
It helps to look beyond the mortgage payment on its own. You also need to think about bills, council tax, service charges if they apply, maintenance, and the wider cost of running your home each month.
When should I speak to a broker?+
It usually helps to speak to a broker once you have a clear picture of your deposit, your monthly affordability and your timeline. The free tools and Buyer Planner are designed to get you to that point. When you are ready, you can find out about mortgage support from the Support section above.
Do I need perfect credit to buy my first home?+
Not necessarily. Stronger credit can help, but first-time buyers do not need everything to be perfect before they start planning. The useful first step is understanding your position clearly so you know what may need improving.
What does HomeReady help me do?+
HomeReady helps you understand your numbers, track your progress, and feel clearer about your next step. It is designed to make the buying journey feel simpler, calmer, and easier to follow.