In the current challenging economic climate, the prospect of buying a first home can seem fairly daunting. It’s true that interest rates are at historical lows but the deposits that lenders require are unaffordable for many young people, making mortgages difficult to obtain. The cost of property is yet to fall significantly across the UK to a point at which housing is easily accessible.
However, all is not lost. Savvy house hunters can secure a mortgage and find their first home with a little forward planning, discipline and flexibility.
The first tip is to start saving as early as possible. Draw up a careful budget and stick to it. Cut out those wasted direct debits, takeaways, journeys which you could walk rather than take a taxi for, gym subscriptions you never use, magazines you never read and ready meals.
Start shopping at the market and cooking from scratch, walking to keep fit, buying vintage, selling unwanted goods on eBay and inviting friends around for pot-luck dinners and cheap wine rather than heading out for expensive nights on the town.
If you need to move in with your parents to save for a mortgage and they’re willing and able to accept you back home, then swallow your pride and do it. Alternatively, you could house-share to cut bills and overheads.
Keep a budget planner and track your achievements. Have an end goal in mind. Speak to different lenders to see how much of a mortgage they will be prepared to give you based on your earnings and expenditure. This will give you an idea of the kind of home you can afford and what deposit you will need.
It’s a good idea to contact lenders about first-time buyer schemes and newer options for those struggling to get a decent mortgage. Guarantor mortgages, friends mortgages, shared ownership mortgages and rent-to-buy mortgages are all possibilities, as are grant and special-circumstance schemes extended to certain key worker professions. Look at mortgages for new builds as well - there are some good offers on these tied into incentives to buy.
Do a comparison search to find the best mortgage deal rather than just speaking to your own bank. Only use mortgage advisors if they aren’t tied to one lender. It can be worth spending some money on an impartial advisory service. There is a huge range of mortgages on the market, so take your time researching them.
Search for property in a wider area so that you don’t limit your options and don’t feel afraid to buy a smaller, old-fashioned property that needs work doing on it. Better that than paying a premium for whitewashed walls!
When you are applying for a mortgage, make sure you can demonstrate well-managed finances to your lender. Pay off debts and cut up that credit card. Reduce your outgoings and keep good accounts and all of your financial statements. A lender wishes to see low risks, so use every approach possible to demonstrate your value as a responsible borrower.
Finally, keep a long-term view and stay positive and proactive when saving for your first home deposit. It’s a long journey, but will eventually be entirely worth it.








