Buying your first home and taking the first step on the property ladder is an incredibly exciting time. Before you even find the right property, there’s lots to learn before so in this brief read, Next Move Homes have put together our top 5 tips for first time buyers.
Understand how much you can borrow:-
There are various different options when buying a first home – whether you have been saving for a deposit, being helped by family or exploring the options around help to buy, in the majority of case understanding what a mortgage provider will lend you is probably one of the first steps you will take.
Initially, I would recommended using an online mortgage calculator where you can input basic information such as income / expenditure to give you an idea around how much you can afford to borrow.
I would then speak with a mortgage broker who offers whole of market mortgages to give you a more bespoke understanding of what you can borrow. Here at Next Move Homes we recommend MCB financial services who are independent and have their head office in Norwich.
Budget:-
Once you understand how much you can borrow, put together a list of ‘other costs’ you might incur. These could include solicitors fees, hiring a van to move, cost of kitchen appliances, furniture and minor re decoration when you move in.
Contact local estate agents:-
In the modern world of marketing properties, not every property makes it to the property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla. I would recommend contacting every agent, large or small, within your search area and ask them to contact you when suitable properties are available. A number of agents like us will preview properties on their social media channels first.
Be prepared to compromise:-
If you can be flexible about your criteria, it can help you find the best deal possible. You may also find that there are more properties available that meet your needs than you thought! Consider buying an older property that needs updating - it might seem like an intimidating step but if you’re willing to compromise on some things like style or location, there are plenty of great affordable properties out there that need updating – including older homes with character and charm.
Manage you own expectations:-
When you have found a home and agreed a sale, understand that the whole process takes time (On average 10-13 weeks). We would always recommend using a local conveyancer and ensure that any information you are asked for is returned promptly. Your agent should be proactive in keeping you up to date with the progress of your purchase, after all, it’s our job to help you take any stress away that you may encounter along the way.
Here at Next Move Homes, we passionate about helping buyers and sellers throughout the journey so if we can be of any help and support, or you might have a question that this article hasn’t covered contact us on 01953 550317 or email info@nextmovehomes.co.uk
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