60 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.
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.
What mortgage help is available to UK key workers (NHS, teachers, police, and more) in 2026/27, from shared ownership to lender-specific discounts, with worked examples.
A worked case study of how much mortgage a £45,000 salary can support in the UK, covering income multiples, stress testing, take-home pay and deposit requirements.
Same salary, different city — which gives a first-time buyer a bigger mortgage and a smaller deposit hurdle? Comparing Nottingham and Sheffield property prices, stamp duty and affordability in 2026/27.
How the Right to Buy discount is actually calculated, the maximum caps, the repayment-if-you-sell-early rules, and worked examples for houses and flats.
Buying more shares in your shared ownership home — staircasing — triggers valuation fees, legal costs and sometimes extra stamp duty. Full worked examples for 2026.
How the Lifetime ISA's 25% bonus, £4,000 annual limit and 25% withdrawal penalty work, and how to decide whether to use it for a first home or retirement in 2026/27.
A £30,000 salary typically borrows around £135,000 at standard 4.5x income multiples in 2026. Full affordability breakdown, take-home pay and a worked first-time buyer example.
A £35,000 salary typically supports a mortgage of around £157,500 at a 4.5x income multiple in 2026. Take-home pay, deposit sizes and a worked buying example.
Why buying a home above the Lifetime ISA £450,000 price cap in 2026/27 triggers the full 25% withdrawal charge, even though you are still a genuine first-time buyer, with a worked example.
Help to Buy equity loans are interest-free for 5 years, then interest kicks in and repayment is based on your home's current value, not the original loan. Here's exactly how repayment mechanics work in 2026.
From gifted deposits to JBSP mortgages and Lifetime ISAs -- every option for parents helping children onto the property ladder in 2026/27, with IHT and SDLT considerations.
A plain-English guide to the First Homes scheme in 2026 - who qualifies, how the 30 percent discount works, price caps, mortgage rules and the catch on resale.
A clear 2026/27 guide to LBTT First-Time Buyer Relief in Scotland: who qualifies, the GBP 175,000 nil-rate band, how to claim it, and a worked example.
First-time buyer stamp duty relief expired 31 March 2025. From 1 April: nil rate back to GBP 300k, 5% GBP 300k-500k. We compare pre/post-April costs for a GBP 400k purchase and explain the additional dwelling surcharge.
Compare Rent to Buy and Shared Ownership in 2026 -- eligibility, costs, staircasing, SDLT options, and the pros and cons of each route to homeownership.
A Lifetime ISA lets you save up to GBP 4,000 per year and receive a 25% government bonus. You can use it to buy your first home worth up to GBP 450,000 or access funds tax-free from age 60. This guide explains all the LISA rules for 2026.
A joint borrower sole proprietor mortgage lets a parent boost your borrowing without going on the deeds, so you can still claim first-time buyer SDLT relief up to GBP 300,000. Here is how the structure works and its tax traps.
What a mortgage in principle is, how it differs from a full mortgage application, and how UK buyers should use each step to buy a home in 2026.
Stamp Duty Land Tax can be reduced by a range of reliefs including first-time buyer relief, multiple dwellings relief (now abolished), group relief, and more. Here's what's available in 2026 and who qualifies.
Everything first-time buyers need to know in 2026: how much deposit you need, SDLT after the April 2025 changes, using a Lifetime ISA, Shared Ownership, and the full timeline from AIP to completion.
UK conveyancing guide 2026: typical 12–16 week timeline, solicitor fees £1,500–£3,000, searches, exchange vs completion, gazumping, and how to speed up the process.
From exchange of contracts to completion day: what to expect in the final weeks of buying your first home, including building insurance from exchange, the completion statement, booking removals, and final checks.
Ultimate first-time buyer moving-in checklist 2026: meter readings, council tax registration, updating address, buildings and contents insurance, mortgage payment setup.
UK property surveys 2026: Level 1 condition report £300, Level 2 homebuyer £500, Level 3 building survey £800+. What each covers, when to upgrade, and red flags to watch.
How long to save a UK house deposit in 2026: LISA bonus, Help to Save, average deposit amounts by region, salary sacrifice, investment vs cash ISA — with real worked examples.
Shared ownership UK 2026: buying 25–75% of a home, how staircasing works, SDLT on every purchase, service charges, lease extension costs, resale restrictions, and when it actually makes financial sense.
New build snagging guide UK 2026: what to check, professional snagger costs £300-£600, NHBC Buildmark warranty, developer 2-year defect period, common snags list.
What UK lenders check when assessing how much you can borrow in 2026, how the affordability stress test on a higher rate works, and how debts and childcare reduce your limit.
Whether the price premium on UK new-build homes pays off in 2026, weighing warranties, energy efficiency and lower bills against resale value and snagging risks.
How mortgage porting works in 2026, when it saves you early repayment charges, the re-affordability check involved, and when a fresh deal beats taking your old rate with you.
A practical 2026 plan to save a house deposit: how the Lifetime ISA bonus works, what to do now Help to Buy has closed, realistic savings targets by region, and how to make your deposit grow faster.
Where are UK mortgage rates heading in 2026? We explain the Bank of England base rate outlook, how swap rates feed into fixed deals, and how to choose between a fixed rate and a tracker for your remortgage.
A step-by-step UK first-time buyer guide for 2026: deposit, LISA bonus, mortgage in principle, SDLT relief, conveyancing, surveys and completion — with realistic numbers.
How much house can you afford in the UK in 2026? Income multiples (4.5x, sometimes 5.5x), deposits, the affordability stress test, LTV bands and worked examples on £30k, £50k and £80k incomes.
A full guide to the Lifetime ISA in 2026/27: the £4,000 limit, the 25% government bonus, using it for a first home or retirement, and the 25% withdrawal penalty to watch out for.
What does it actually cost to move house in the UK in 2026? A full breakdown of stamp duty, conveyancing, surveys, removals, mortgage fees and the hidden extras, with a worked example.
FTB stamp duty changed April 2025: nil-rate reverted to £300k, purchase cap £500k. Real cost examples, Scotland LBTT, Wales LTT and strategies for London buyers.
How much deposit you need, how long it will take to save it, and the best accounts to use — including LISA bonus, stamp duty relief, and monthly saving tables.
From 1 April 2025, the stamp duty nil-rate threshold for first-time buyers dropped from £425,000 to £300,000. If you are buying above £300,000, your bill has gone up — sometimes by thousands. Here is what changed, worked examples, and what it means for you.
UK average prices near £297k, base rate at 4.25%, supply still short. A data-driven framework to decide whether to buy in spring 2026 or wait for rate cuts.
How to choose between fixed and tracker mortgages in 2026, and whether a 2-year or 5-year fix is right for you — with break-even analysis and BoE rate forecasts.
The complete guide to completion day as a first-time buyer: what happens legally and financially, first-week admin checklist, and how to manage your new mortgage from day one.
How lenders calculate what you can borrow in 2026: income multiples, stress tests, credit scoring, self-employed applications and how to maximise your affordability.
Realistic timeline for saving a house deposit in 2026: average UK prices, savings rates, LISA bonus, and how to shave years off the process.
Full breakdown of all costs when buying your first home in 2026: stamp duty (post-April 2025 FTB changes), survey, conveyancing, moving, insurance and reserves.
The First Homes scheme offers first-time buyers a minimum 30% discount on new-build homes in England. Here's who qualifies, how SDLT works on discounted homes, and a full worked example.
With UK base rate at 4.25% in May 2026, is a 2-year fix or a 5-year fix the better bet? Full numbers on a £250,000 mortgage including break-even rate scenarios, ERC risks and remortgage costs.
If you opened a Help to Buy ISA before 30 November 2019 you have until 1 December 2030 to claim the 25% government bonus on up to £12,000 of savings. Here's how the deadline works and whether to transfer to a Lifetime ISA.
The Lifetime ISA 25% withdrawal charge is not the same as losing the 25% bonus — it claws back more. Worked example on a £20,000 LISA closed early: the real penalty is 6.25% of your contributions, plus all the growth on the recovered bonus.
On a £40,000 UK salary, most lenders will offer between £160,000 and £180,000 — but joint applications, debt, and rate stress tests can shift that by £50,000 either way. Here's the maths.
Beyond the deposit, a UK first-time buyer in 2026 typically spends £4,000–£8,000 in fees, surveys, taxes and moving costs. Here's the full itemised list with realistic numbers on a £250k purchase.
How much stamp duty (SDLT, LBTT, LTT) you pay on a £300,000 home varies by hundreds of pounds across the UK nations. Full comparison for first-time buyers, home-movers and second-home purchasers in 2026.
Part 4 of our Spring Budget 2026 deep-dive — SDLT thresholds, first-time buyer relief, second-home surcharges, the housing market response and what it means for buyers, sellers and landlords.
