20 Feb First Time Buyers Fortnight

With First Time Buyers Fortnight taking place between Monday 20th February and Friday 3rd March, we have laid down their top five tips to help make buying a first home a little less daunting.

We believes that by following out advice the whole experience can be an exciting and rewarding one from the beginning to end.

Steve Greenfield, Managing Director of Courtney Green said:

“First time buyers have had a bit of a hard time in the last couple of years, but with the market starting to pick up and the first time buyer stamp duty holiday coming to an end, there has recently been an increase in activity.  Having the opportunity to step onto the property ladder should be an exciting time so we’ve put together our top tips to help the first time buyers get started.”

1. Budgeting
To start with, and one of the most important tips, is to work out finances and put together a budget, not forgetting to include such things as mobile phone bills, groceries and petrol.  When owning a home extra costs can be incurred, such as furniture and emergency repairs so the buyer will need to know that they can afford it if something goes wrong.  Courtney Green would never recommend a buyer purchasing something that they simply cannot afford.

2. Take time
The buyer shouldn’t just go for the first property they find that they can afford, as they should be able to see themselves living there for an extended period of time.

3. Understand the mortgage
Mortgages can seem confusing, so the buyer shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions.  Mortgage advisors are there to help so the buyer and the advisor should research options thoroughly and the buyer should understand exactly what they are signing up for before committing.

4. Use an estate agents knowledge
An estate agent helps hundreds of people go through the process of buying a house every year, so they are the best people to help relay any fears.  Again, the buyer should never be afraid to ask for help or advice from an estate agent, but make sure they are properly qualified and members of the NAEA.

5. Relax
Perhaps the golden rule for first time buyers is to keep calm.

“Buying a home is one of the most stressful events in any person’s life, whether they are buying their first home, or their tenth, so by relaxing in to the experience and alleviating some of the pressure, they are ready to negotiate on prices and get the best deal possible on their new home,” concluded Steve Greenfield.

If you are a first time buyer and need some help, the Courtney Green team are always happy to offer advice, so pop in for a chat at their office in the Carfax or contact us