You may have been renting for years and have decided now is the time to buy, or maybe living with your parents and you are keen to get on the property ladder from an early age, whatever your position as a first-time buyer, this blog is a must-read for you. 

To ensure that you are ready when it comes to making your offer, it is important to do the groundwork beforehand to put you in the best possible position for success.

By reviewing your spending habits, checking your credit score and saving for your deposit (minimum 5%), doing the preparation work early will see you armed with everything you need to get a mortgage and ensure your application sits favourably with lenders.

While you are working on those key areas, it is also important to start getting an idea of your budget and how much you can afford each month, not forgetting all the other costs that come with moving house including that all-important insurance!

Knowing what you can borrow and what you can afford is crucial at this stage. Pendle Hill Properties will put you in touch with a Fairstone adviser who will go through a detailed affordability check and make sure you are not over-stretching yourself should interest rates rise. Your adviser will look at the whole of the mortgage market and check every lender for the best possible package that suits your needs. This will help convince sellers that you can move quickly when it comes to making your offer.

At any time we would strongly recommend that you contact Pendle Hill Properties, who will provide expert property advice to ensure you are pro-actively working on all of the above. They have the experience and understanding to identify trends and navigate any difficulties that could arise, ensuring you get the deal that is right for you.

For a free initial chat or to make an appointment, call Sophia on 01282 772048.

Having worked hard to put yourself in the best possible position to get a mortgage, with a very good idea of the type of property you are looking for and having viewed a variety of properties and with a mortgage lender already identified, you are ready to make an offer.

This a significant moment in your property journey, it is at this point that you need to strenuously make sure that you are prepared.

It is important to consider factors such as the maximum amount you can spend, what percentage mortgage is required, what is your timespan for the move, plus many more factors. All of which can be discussed with the Pendle Hill Properties team and your mortgage adviser.

Any buyer purchasing a property will need a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to help you through the legal process. Not only will they guide you, but they will liaise with your mortgage lender and us, the estate agents.

With all that in place, the next step will see contracts exchanged by your conveyancer and the seller’s conveyancer, your deposit transferred, and the final arrangements made for your new home.

Having completed all the relevant paperwork and with your deposit made, the day has arrived to move into your first home.

To ensure a smooth move into your new property, it is important to plan including confirming a moving date, booking time off work for the big move; informing your internet provider, utility providers and all relevant parties that you are moving, informing your local authority of your new address, the dreaded packing of your previous home, settling all your bills at your previous address, plus much more.