65 articles tagged with First-Time Buyer.
How the UK mortgage guarantee scheme works, which lenders offer 95% LTV mortgages, eligible properties up to £600,000, and how it compares to the Lifetime ISA route.
Staircasing lets shared ownership buyers purchase additional shares over time. We explain the costs at each tranche, SDLT treatment, mortgage implications, and what happens at 100%.
FTB SDLT relief reverted in April 2025: now 0% on first £300,000 (up to £500,000 purchase). What counts as a first-time buyer, joint purchases, and shared ownership relief.
Deposit Unlock lets first-time buyers and home movers buy a new-build home with as little as a 5% deposit, backed by a developer-funded indemnity rather than the government. How it compares to Help to Buy's replacement gap.
Both let parents help a child buy without gifting cash outright, but the mechanics are very different — one locks savings, the other puts the parent's own home or income on the line. A full comparison.
For savers who opened a Help to Buy ISA before the scheme closed to new accounts, how the £1,200 initial deposit and £200 monthly limit still work in 2026/27.
Stamp duty, estate agent fees and removal costs vs build costs and disruption — a full worked comparison of extending versus moving to a bigger home in 2026.
Help to Buy ISAs closed to new savers in 2019, but many people still hold one. How it now compares to a Lifetime ISA for anyone still deciding where to keep saving towards a first home.
A practical viewing checklist for UK first-time buyers in 2026/27 — what to check, what to ask, and the red flags that could mean expensive surprises later.
The Help to Buy equity loan scheme closed to new applicants in 2023, but hundreds of thousands of homeowners still owe one. Full repayment, interest and staircasing rules for 2026.
How long a UK mortgage agreement in principle lasts in 2026/27, what happens when it expires, and how to renew or reissue one during a property search.
Should UK buyers use a mortgage broker or apply directly with a lender in 2026/27? A practical comparison of cost, access to deals, and when each approach makes sense.
