Your first home is probably one of the biggest expenses to save up for in your life. A typical mortgage deposit can be anywhere from 5% to 15% of the home’s full value which can easily be tens of thousands of pounds. It goes without saying that you should try to reduce the amount you pay for your first home to make it more affordable, and luckily there are a bunch of different ways to do this.
So here are a couple of tips to help make your first home a little more affordable.
1. Be more selective about where you purchase a home
It’s a good idea to be a little more selective when purchasing your home. Some areas can be much cheaper than busy places like central London, and even homes on the outskirts of major cities can be extremely expensive due to being in prime locations with great amenities. So unless you really want to live in a specific part of the country, we suggest trying to be more flexible with your location.
2. Check your mortgage eligibility
If you’ve got a great credit score then you have a better chance of getting a nice big mortgage for your house. This means you can afford a larger home or one in a location that you consider to be a prime choice. You’ll want to work with a mortgage broker to help you scout out the best deals, but you can prepare by getting a credit check with one of the major companies such as Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion.
3. Consider first home schemes
The government actually offers a First Home scheme for first-time buyers. With this scheme, you could get up to a 50% discount on the market value of your home. However, there are a couple of conditions that need to be met before you can claim this. For starters, the home must be a new one built by a developer or it must have been bought with a First Home discount in the past. You must also be eligible for a mortgage and your income must be below a certain threshold.
4. What about renovating a run-down property?
You can actually save a lot of money by using less conventional methods to get a home. For instance, you could consider renovating a run-down property. Buying this kind of property is fairly cheap, but the costs of renovating it can add up if you’re not careful. This requires DIY knowledge if you want to keep the costs low, but it can work with contractors too if you’re smart about your expenses.
5. Ask how much home you really need
There are many questions to ask before buying a home and you should always re-evaluate your needs and preferences to make this a bit easier. For instance, do you really need guest bedrooms? Do you really need a large garden? Does it have to be detached? Consider these questions and you might find yourself saving a lot of money.
[…] is not surprising to harbour fears about a property purchase if you are a first-time home buyer. The uncertainties you feel might result from the buying process, especially when you don’t have […]