First-time buyer guide
A complete UK first-time buyer guide. Save, plan, find, offer, buy and move in — with simple calculators and plain-English advice at every stage of the journey.
- Understand the buying journey
- Plan the costs at every stage
- Avoid common first-time buyer mistakes
Built for UK first-time buyers. This is a planning guide — speak to a mortgage broker and a solicitor before making decisions specific to your situation.
The first-time buyer journey
Six stages from saving your first £1 of deposit to picking up the keys. Each one has a tool or a guide that does the heavy lifting.
1. Save
Build your deposit
Work out a realistic deposit target and a savings timeline you can actually hit.
Open deposit calculator →2. Plan
Pressure-test your monthly numbers
Estimate your monthly mortgage, total housing costs, and what you'd have left after.
Open mortgage calculator →3. Search
Find the right area and property
Compare areas properly so you buy in the right location, not just the right house.
Read the area guide →4. Offer
Decide what to offer and how to make it
Pressure-test your budget, decide your maximum, and make a credible offer through the agent.
Read the offer guide →5. Buy
Get through conveyancing
Understand what your solicitor does, what surveys are for, and what can delay completion.
Read the broker-prep guide →6. Move in
Plan the move and the first month
Cover moving-day costs, furniture, broadband, repairs, and an emergency buffer.
Open move-in planner →What first-time buyers most often get wrong
Four things that catch first-time buyers out repeatedly. Worth knowing before you start.
- Forgetting the upfront fees beyond the deposit
Solicitor fees, surveys, mortgage fees, stamp duty and moving costs often add £4,000–£10,000+ on top of the deposit.
- Underestimating the timeline
From offer to keys is typically 12–16 weeks, sometimes longer. Plan rent overlap, notice periods and removals around that.
- Not having documents ready for the lender
Payslips, bank statements, ID and proof of deposit. Gathering them in advance speeds up everything once you offer.
- Skipping the affordability stress-test
Rates can change. A monthly payment that works at today's rate can feel very different at 1–2% higher.
The numbers you’ll need to plan
Four free calculators cover the four big numbers every UK first-time buyer needs.
Mortgage calculator
Work out your monthly mortgage payment and total housing costs.
Use this when you want to pressure-test the monthly side of a property price.
Deposit calculator
Plan how much deposit you need and how long it'll take to save.
Use this to set a realistic deposit target and savings timeline.
Stamp duty calculator
Estimate your UK stamp duty based on price and first-time buyer status.
Use this once you have a target price in mind, before making an offer.
Move-in cost planner
Map the one-off costs of buying and moving in.
Use this to make sure the deposit isn't the only cash you've planned for.
For an overview that ties all four calculators together, see how much does buying a house cost?
Read more from the guides
Plain-English explainers on the stages of buying that catch most people out.
How long does buying a house take?
A practical UK timeline — every stage, what causes delays, and how to speed things up.
What to check at a house viewing
A practical viewing checklist — what to inspect, what to ask, and what red flags mean.
How to make an offer on a house
What to check first, how to choose an offer amount, and what to tell the estate agent.
Leasehold flats: what to check before buying
Lease length, service charges, ground rent, major works — what to check on a leasehold flat.
What is conveyancing?
What your solicitor does, what searches and enquiries mean, and what happens before exchange.
Best and final offers
What to include, how to choose your maximum, and how to avoid overpaying under pressure.
What does a property survey check?
RICS Level 1/2/3 explained, what surveyors check, common issues and what to do if problems are found.
How much does buying a house cost?
Deposit, stamp duty, solicitor, survey, moving and monthly costs — every line first-time buyers should plan for.
What happens after an offer is accepted?
The post-offer process — solicitor, mortgage, survey, exchange and completion.
How much deposit do you really need?
What a deposit is, how it affects your options, and what to plan for.
What costs to budget for each month
The regular costs of owning a UK home beyond just the mortgage.
Upfront costs of moving in
The one-off costs to plan for before completion.
How to compare areas before you buy
Buy in the right area, not just the right property.
Before speaking to a mortgage broker
Numbers, documents and checks to sort first.
How ready are you to buy?
What buyer-ready really means and how to tell where you stand.
First-time buyer guide FAQs
Quick answers to the questions UK first-time buyers most often ask.
How long does buying a first home take in the UK?+
From offer to completion is typically 12–16 weeks. New-builds and chains can stretch this. Faster purchases — cash buyers, no chain, ready solicitor — sometimes complete in 8 weeks, but planning for 3–4 months is more realistic.
What costs come up beyond the deposit?+
Solicitor and conveyancing fees, survey, mortgage and broker fees, stamp duty (where applicable), removals, basic furniture or appliances, broadband setup, and an emergency buffer. Most first-time buyers spend £4,000–£10,000+ beyond the deposit.
When should I speak to a mortgage broker?+
Most first-time buyers speak to a broker before making offers. A broker can confirm what you're realistically able to borrow and produce an Agreement in Principle, which estate agents often expect to see with a serious offer.
What is conveyancing?+
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership. Your solicitor or licensed conveyancer handles searches, contracts, Land Registry, stamp duty, exchange and completion. They typically charge £1,200–£2,500 plus disbursements.
Do I need a survey?+
Strongly recommended, even though the lender's valuation isn't a survey. A homebuyer report or building survey flags issues like damp, structural concerns, roof condition or drainage problems before you're committed. Survey costs vary from around £400–£900+ depending on type and property.
What happens between offer and completion?+
Roughly: offer accepted → instruct solicitor → mortgage application → survey → searches → enquiries → exchange contracts (deposit paid, sale binding) → completion (you get the keys). Each stage can take a few days to a few weeks.
Can I buy with a small deposit?+
Yes — 5% deposit (95% LTV) mortgages exist, but product choice is more limited and rates can be higher than at 90% LTV or below. A 10% deposit is a common first-time buyer target. The deposit calculator helps compare scenarios.
What is a chain and does it matter?+
A chain is a sequence of linked property transactions where each completion depends on another. Longer chains can take longer to complete and have more failure points. First-time buyers are sometimes preferred by sellers because they're chain-free.
Start where it matters most
Build your deposit plan
The deposit is usually the biggest first hurdle. Use the deposit calculator to set a realistic target and timeline.
Ready to go beyond this tool?
The Buyer Planner pulls your deposit, borrowing, timeline, and next steps into one plan.