Buying your first home is a big step, and it's natural to have lots of questions along the way. Our range of first time buyer guides bring together everything you need to know about the home-buying journey, helping you understand each stage and feel more confident as you move closer to owning your first home.
Whether you're looking for a step-by-step guide to buying a house, information about mortgages, or advice on moving day, you'll find practical resources and expert guidance below.
When you're buying your first home, it's easy to feel like there's a lot to learn. The good news is that a little preparation can go a long way. Before you start viewing properties, it's worth taking the time to understand your finances, work out how much you can afford and explore any support available to first-time buyers.
Once you have a clearer idea of your budget, the fun part begins – searching for your first home. Whether you're looking for a modern apartment or a family home in a growing community, it's important to think about what matters most to you.
Our guide to buying a house covers everything from choosing the right location and researching local amenities to making the most of property viewings and narrowing down your options.
Mortgages can seem complicated at first, but understanding the basics can make the process much less daunting. Knowing how much you could borrow, what lenders look for and how your credit score may affect your application can help you feel more prepared when the time comes to apply.
Our useful mortgage guide and credit score guide explains the different types of mortgage available, how affordability is assessed and the role of your credit score.
Found a home you love? The next step is making an offer – or in the case of buying a new build home, reserving your plot. While this can feel like one of the biggest moments in the buying process, understanding how it works can help you approach it with confidence.
Our guide to buying a house for the first time explains the offer/reservation process, including how offers and reservations are made and what to expect next.
Once your offer has been accepted, the legal side of buying a home begins. This stage, known as conveyancing, involves transferring ownership of the property and completing a number of important checks before the sale can go ahead.
During this stage, you'll typically appoint a solicitor, review contracts and paperwork, finalise your mortgage arrangements and exchange contracts.
You’ll find all the key steps covered in our handy conveyancing checklist.
Completion day is the moment you've been waiting for! It's when the purchase is finalised, ownership is transferred and you receive the keys to your new home. Our guide to completing and moving is full of handy info.
There are still a few practical things to organise, such as arranging your move, setting up utilities and updating your address, but this is also the stage where all your planning and preparation pay off.
Moving in is just the beginning of your homeownership journey. Once you're settled, you'll start getting to know your new home and establishing routines that work for you.
Your first few days in your new home might feel overwhelming, but our friendly site and customer care teams will be there to support you through the move. You’ll have several touchpoints to ensure everything is going smoothly, and our new home warranty in place for any additional work that might be needed.
Every home-buying journey is different, but having the right information can make the process feel much simpler. Whether you're just starting to save for a deposit, exploring mortgage options or preparing to move into your first home, we’re here to help.
Explore our first-time buyer hub for more practical advice, helpful resources and guidance tailored to every stage of the journey.
These stories explore how couples navigated the buying process and found a home they love that suited both their lifestyle and future plans.
Choose your ideal location, explore our homes, and find a place you’ll love.
Learn how to set your homebuying budget, from deposits and mortgages to extra costs.
Understand mortgages, credit scores, lender checks and how to get mortgage‑ready as a first‑time buyer.
Find out how much deposit you need, the average first‑time buyer deposit, and the best ways to save faster.
Discover how to buy your first home faster with expert help, flexible options and tailored support.
Learn to budget, search and view homes, compare options, and make an offer on your first home.
Learn what completion day means and what happens between offer acceptance and completion.
First-time buyer guides covering everything you need to buy with confidence.
Explore real stories from first-time buyers using schemes to find their dream home and settle in.
