Buying
First-Time Buyer Guide
Buying your first home is the biggest financial decision most people ever make. This guide walks you through every step in order, in plain English, with the questions to ask and the costs to budget for.
8 min read · First-draft content — review before publication
1. Work out what you can afford
Before you look at a single property, get a realistic picture of what you can borrow and what you can comfortably repay. Lenders typically offer 4–4.5× your annual income, but affordability calculations also weigh up your outgoings, debts and credit history.
- Use Frontdoor's affordability calculator for a quick estimate.
- Check your credit file with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
- Budget for a deposit of at least 5% — 10–15% gets meaningfully better rates.
- Allow for stamp duty, legal fees, surveys, mortgage fees and moving costs.
2. Get a mortgage in principle (MIP)
A Decision in Principle from a lender or broker confirms how much they would, in principle, lend you. It's free, valid for 60–90 days, and most agents will expect to see it before accepting an offer.
3. Search smart
Save searches and turn on alerts so you hear about new listings the day they hit the market — first-time buyers in chains-free positions are often a seller's preferred buyer.
4. Viewings — what to actually look at
- Roof, gutters, render and any signs of damp at low level.
- Window frames, double glazing seals, signs of condensation.
- Boiler age and service history; EPC rating; council tax band.
- Mobile signal, broadband speeds, mains drainage vs septic.
- The neighbours, the parking, the noise at different times of day.
5. Making an offer
On Frontdoor, every listing tells you exactly which sale mode applies — Private treaty, Best offers by date, Buy Now or Make an offer — so you know how to position yourself.
6. Conveyancing, surveys and exchange
Once your offer is accepted, instruct a solicitor and book a survey (Level 2 for most modern homes, Level 3 for older or unusual properties). Searches and enquiries take 8–12 weeks on average.
First-time buyer reliefs to know about
- Stamp duty: no SDLT up to £425,000 in England and NI (relief on properties up to £625,000).
- Lifetime ISA: 25% government bonus on up to £4,000 per year for a first home up to £450,000.
- Shared Ownership and First Homes schemes — buy a share now, staircase later.
Use Frontdoor's Stamp Duty calculator
It applies first-time buyer relief, second-home and non-resident surcharges automatically.