Last updated 24 Nov 2025
Read time 5 mins
Key takeaways
Calculate your total budget including deposit, mortgage payments and monthly bills
Consider using a mortgage broker to find the best rates and mortgage products
Prioritise what matters most in a property - location, size, or price
View multiple properties in person rather than relying on photos
Have all required documentation ready and secure buildings insurance before completion
Buying a house for the first time is probably one of the biggest transactions that you could make, so it’s important to get right. As a first time buyer, it can be extremely exciting and is a big achievement. It can also be challenging, but the right conveyancer can guide you through and make sure that you understand the process.
Here are some things to consider when buying a property to make the process as smooth as possible.
One of the first considerations is to work out what you can afford. You can use an online calculator to get a rough estimate, most lenders, such as HSBC and Nationwide, provide an online mortgage calculator. They’ll use details such as your wage, whether you’re buying on your own or with a partner, and your deposit amount. This gives you an idea of how much you can borrow, and therefore what kind of budget you’re working with.
You can also use calculators to work out your monthly mortgage payments based on the amount you borrow, so although you could borrow £200,000, you might not be comfortable with the monthly mortgage payments. Once you have worked out a happy medium between what the house costs and the monthly repayments, you can start looking at what properties you can happily afford.
Read our complete mortgage guide.