Deposit schemes
From Lifetime ISAs to gifted deposits, we know how each affects your borrowing and which lenders accept them.
First-time buyers
First-Time Buyer Mortgages
Buying your first home can feel like a lot at once. We start with a free conversation about your deposit, income and budget, give you an accurate figure to shop with, and stay with you through to picking up your keys.
90+Lenders compared
FCAAuthorised & regulated
FreeInitial consultation
900+5.0 ★ Google rating
The basics
What is a first-time buyer?
A first-time buyer is someone who has never owned a residential property before. A first-time buyer mortgage is the loan you use to buy that first home, whether you're buying alone, with a partner, or with family using a joint mortgage. Lenders generally lend between four and four-and-a-half times your income, subject to credit checks and affordability assessments, and typically require a deposit of at least 5% of the purchase price.
How we help
We start with a free conversation about your deposit, income and budget, then compare 90+ lenders to find a mortgage that fits. We'll confirm exactly what's realistic for your income, deposit and credit history before you start viewing, then manage the application through to the day you pick up your keys.
How it works
The process, start to finish
Three steps take you from a first conversation to collecting your keys, and we stay with you the whole way.
1
Free first chat
We talk through your deposit, income and what you’re looking for, no cost and no obligation.
2
Agreement in principle
We confirm what you can realistically borrow so you can offer with confidence.
3
To completion
We manage the application and liaise with your solicitor right through to your new front door.
Things to consider
What matters for first-time buyer mortgages
Help to Buy & guarantor options
If your deposit is smaller, we’ll explain what schemes and guarantor options are available to you.
Protection from day one
We’ll also cover life and income protection, so your first home is protected from the start.
Speak to a specialist
Lucy Wise advises on first-time buyer mortgages
Lucy looks after first-time buyers and young families, taking the jargon out of a first purchase and making sure the right protection is in place from day one.
Common questions
First-Time Buyer Mortgages questions, answered
Most lenders ask for at least 5% of the property price, though a larger deposit typically unlocks better rates. We’ll confirm what’s realistic for your situation.
Typically four to four-and-a-half times your income, though this varies by lender and depends on your credit history and outgoings.
Not necessarily. Deals exist from 5% deposit upwards, though the rate usually improves as your deposit grows.
Typically 4–8 weeks after your offer is accepted, though this varies by lender and how quickly your solicitor can progress the legal work.
Free guide
Download our free First-Time Buyer Guide
Ten pages that take you from saving a deposit to getting the keys, written by our advisers for people buying their first home.
- The mortgage process
- Mortgage types and rates
- First-time buyer schemes
- Costs and checklist
PDF, about 10 pages
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Open the guide (PDF)Guides
First-time buyer guides
GuideHow much deposit do I actually need?A plain-English look at minimum deposits and how they affect your rate.GuideAgreement in principle: what it is and why it mattersWhy getting one early puts you ahead when you find the right home.GuideA first-time buyer’s guide to Stamp DutyWhat relief you get, and how to budget for it.GuideCommon first-time buyer mistakes to avoidThe pitfalls we see most often, and how to sidestep them.
What our customers say
Reviewed by real clients on Google
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