Buying your first home is probably the biggest purchase of your life, and the process can feel like it was designed to confuse you. In truth it is a chain of simple steps — it is just that nobody shows you the whole chain at once. This first-time buyer guide lays out every stage, in order, so you always know what happens next and what to do at each point.
Step 1: Sort Your Deposit and Budget
Everything starts with the deposit. Most first-time buyers put down between 5% and 20% of the price; a bigger deposit unlocks better mortgage rates, which is why the deposit deserves its own plan — our guide to how much deposit you need to buy a house breaks down the numbers. Add the other costs to your budget now, not later: solicitor fees, survey fees, moving costs and a starter furniture fund. Lenders will also stress-test your spending, so tidy bank statements — fewer takeaways, no gambling, debts shrinking — genuinely help.
Step 2: Get a Mortgage Agreement in Principle
Before you view a single house, get an Agreement in Principle (also called a Decision in Principle). It is a lender’s provisional statement of how much they would lend you, based on a soft look at your income and credit history. Estate agents take buyers with one seriously, and it stops you falling in love with homes outside your reach. A whole-of-market mortgage broker is usually free to you (they are paid by the lender) and worth it for a first purchase.
Step 3: House Hunting — View Like a Buyer, Not a Guest
View in daylight where you can, visit the street at different times, and look past the staging: open windows, check the boiler’s age, run a tap, look for cracks, damp smells and tired roofs. Ask why the owners are moving and how long the property has been listed. Shortlist ruthlessly — the UK housing market update explains what is happening to prices and stock in your segment, which helps you judge what is fair.
Step 4: Make an Offer
Offer through the estate agent, in writing, stating your position: first-time buyer, Agreement in Principle ready, your proposed timescale. A clean position can beat a slightly higher offer from someone stuck in a chain. If the first offer is refused, ask what would secure it rather than bidding against yourself blindly.
Step 5: Conveyancing, Survey and Mortgage Offer
Offer accepted — now the legal work begins. Your solicitor or conveyancer runs searches, checks the title and raises questions with the seller’s side. At the same time, your mortgage application becomes a full application with a valuation, and you should commission your own survey: a basic valuation protects the lender, not you, so most first-time buyers choose a mid-level homebuyer report for peace of mind on an older property.
Step 6: Exchange and Completion
Exchange of contracts is the point of no return: you pay the deposit, the price and date become legally binding, and buildings insurance must start that day. Completion — usually one to two weeks later — is when the money moves, the keys are released, and the home becomes yours. Keep a small fund back for the first month: there is always a blind, a boiler service or a broken appliance waiting to introduce itself.
The Bottom Line
First-time buying is a marathon with six clear stages: deposit, agreement in principle, viewings, offer, legal work, keys. Prepare each stage before you reach it and the process stops being mysterious. When you are ready, browse more guides in our real estate section — and welcome to homeownership.
