Buying your first home?

First steps...
  • Work out what you can afford, remembering to factor in fees.
  • First-time buyer aged 18 to 39? You could get up to £32,000 from the Government by saving into a new Lifetime ISA.
  • Are you financially fit? Avoid big purchases before you apply.


Think about

Top Tips
View the property at different times of the day.

If you're looking at buying in a certain area or street then you can set an alert on Rightmove and they will email you each time a vendor lists a property.

Be aware of leaseholds on new-build houses. This is where the freehold on the property has been sold to an agency or investment company.

Mortgage arrangement fee
This is what you pay your lender to set up the mortgage. These vary and can between £0 to over £2,000. In some cases this is non-refundable, even if the purchase falls through.

Valuation fee
This is the fee lenders charge to commission a mortgage valuation, which is an inspection of your property. To ensure it offers sufficient security for the loan. The cost varies depending on the lender and purchase price.

Legal fees
You will need to appoint a solicitor or conveyancer to complete the legal aspect of buying your home. Costs do vary based on the work and searches they need to do.

Stamp duty
If your new property costs more than £125,000 then you'll have to pay stamp duty land tax on its purchase price unless you're a first-time buyer, (where the limit is £300,000 before you pay stamp duty).

Surveys
These can vary in cost and may not be required by the mortgage lender, however they can give more detail of the condition of the property.

There are different types of surveys including:

New build snagging survey - independent inspection that looks for issues with a new property.

Homebuyer Report - looks at any structural problems such as subsidence or damp

Building survey/Full structural survey - provides an in depth analysis of a properties condition

Furniture and extras
Currently renting a furnished place? Remember you'll need to buy everything from beds and sofas to lawnmowers and carpets.


We can help you

We can provide independent and impartial FREE Mortgage Advice and have access to the whole of the mortgage market—to find the right deal for you.

Don't forget we can sort your home insurance cover too! Provided by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc.

Call 01543 441 630

"I was impressed with the whole service provided. My advisor was excellent and happy to help with questions and updates."
Carla - Police Officer

£20 GIFT CARD

When you refer your family and they arrange a mortgage for the first time through our Mortgage Advice Service.

Terms and conditions apply.

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Your mortgage is secured on your home, which you could lose if you do not keep up your mortgage repayments.

Police Mutual is a trading name of Mortgage Excellence Plc (MEX) and PMGI Limited (PMGI). MEX and PMGI are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. All Police Mutual companies are registered in England and Wales. MEX, register no. 03527577; PMGI register no. 1073408. Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6QS.