2. Your Mortgage
All mortgage companies will look very carefully at the affordability of your mortgage and they can give you a better guide about your price range. Think carefully about the term of your mortgage and how old you are now. Demographically, first time buyers are not as young as they used to be, so a thirty five year mortgage may not be suitable.
3. Help to buy?
There are options around help to buy schemes for first time buyers. Talk to your estate agent and research this properly online as you may decide this is the best option for you. Make sure that you are clear about the terms you are signing up to before you jump in and make a commitment.
4. Find a property
Once you know where you want to live and how much you have to spend, it’s time to get viewing. Doing it in this order means you don’t set your heart on a property you cannot afford. View as many properties as you can but be selective as estate agents will want to get you through the door of many unsuitable properties. Know what you are looking for too. If you will never buy a house with a downstairs bathroom, then don’t view any of these properties.
5. Make an offer
Using information you can obtain online about the price of houses in that street, make an offer and go in low first. You can then move up to meet the vendor, but know how much you are prepared to pay before you start negotiations.
6. Move in
Once your offer has been accepted, your solicitor will send lots of paperwork to the vendor and will carry out searches on the property. Your mortgage offer will be finalised, your solicitor will review the draft contracts and you will pay the deposit. Once these are signed and exchanged, the sale is legally binding and you cannot pull out. Once you have a completion date, the rest of the funds will be transferred and you can move in!
If you have any property questions, please call us on 01985 214444 or email sgratton@mulaw.co.uk and we will be delighted to help you (there is no charge for initial telephone discussions).