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Signs That You’re Prepared To Buy Your Very First Home

Being ready and able to buy your very first home is a huge milestone in life. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and responsibility to be able to afford even the deposit for a house. Paying off your mortgage is usually a long-term commitment that will take up a lot of your life. As such, it can be an extremely daunting process.

So in this post, we’ll be explaining a couple of signs that show you are certainly ready to buy your very first home.

Signs That You’re Prepared To Buy Your Very First Home - suburban street with terraced houses image
Photo by Martin Sepion on Unsplash

You’ve paid off most of your debts

Your financial circumstances play a huge role in when and if you should buy your very first home. If you haven’t paid off most of your debts yet and aren’t on track to do so, then you should absolutely focus on getting your finances in order first.

You know that you have job security

Job security usually means that you won’t be made redundant or replaced in the foreseeable future. It can also mean having skills and experience that are heavily sought after in the industry, meaning it’s easy for you to find a job should you lose your current one due to circumstances that are outside of your control.

You’re already doing your research

If you’re already doing plenty of research into mortgages, finances, locations, and even schools for your children, then it’s a good sign that you’re prepared to take on a mortgage. You should also look into specialists such as a mortgage broker or even financial advisors that can help you get your books in order to see how much you can afford each month. This can be a long process, but it’s extremely informative and will help you make better decisions in the long run.

You have plenty of savings


A mortgage deposit can easily be anywhere from 5% to 20% of a home’s market value. This is a huge amount of money that most people don’t have lying around. Start saving money now and you’ll find it easier to stomach a big deposit.

Your credit score is looking great

A good credit score means good mortgage rates. Before considering to buy your very first home, check your credit score in advance of researching mortgages to see what you could be eligible for.

You know where you want to live

If you’ve done research on where you want to live then it’s a sign that you’re prepared to choose a location. A lot of people find it hard to pick somewhere to live, so it pays to do your research and make up your mind ahead of time.

You’re thinking about starting a family


If you’re starting a family then you probably want to move into a larger home with more space, especially if you want to have several children.

You’re content with your career

Mortgages require you to have long-term stability and this includes your career. Making frequent switches can result in periods of no or little income, so make sure you’re content with your career so that your financial situation is stable and predictable.

You’re ready to take on the future

Of all the factors to consider when buying a home, one must be prepared for the future. This means a life away from your current conveniences, friends, and family members. It can also mean a life with your new family, and it could even involve starting a new job in some cases. If the idea of change is daunting, then you may want to hold off moving home.

5 Tips To Make Your First Home a Little More Affordable

Your first home is probably one of the biggest expenses to save up for in your life. A typical mortgage deposit can be anywhere from 5% to 15% of the home’s full value which can easily be tens of thousands of pounds. It goes without saying that you should try to reduce the amount you pay for your first home to make it more affordable, and luckily there are a bunch of different ways to do this.

So here are a couple of tips to help make your first home a little more affordable.

5 Tips To Make Your First Home a Little More Affordable - aerial shot of London and the river Thames
Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash

1. Be more selective about where you purchase a home

It’s a good idea to be a little more selective when purchasing your home. Some areas can be much cheaper than busy places like central London, and even homes on the outskirts of major cities can be extremely expensive due to being in prime locations with great amenities. So unless you really want to live in a specific part of the country, we suggest trying to be more flexible with your location.

2. Check your mortgage eligibility

If you’ve got a great credit score then you have a better chance of getting a nice big mortgage for your house. This means you can afford a larger home or one in a location that you consider to be a prime choice. You’ll want to work with a mortgage broker to help you scout out the best deals, but you can prepare by getting a credit check with one of the major companies such as Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion.

3. Consider first home schemes

The government actually offers a First Home scheme for first-time buyers. With this scheme, you could get up to a 50% discount on the market value of your home. However, there are a couple of conditions that need to be met before you can claim this. For starters, the home must be a new one built by a developer or it must have been bought with a First Home discount in the past. You must also be eligible for a mortgage and your income must be below a certain threshold.

4. What about renovating a run-down property?

You can actually save a lot of money by using less conventional methods to get a home. For instance, you could consider renovating a run-down property. Buying this kind of property is fairly cheap, but the costs of renovating it can add up if you’re not careful. This requires DIY knowledge if you want to keep the costs low, but it can work with contractors too if you’re smart about your expenses.

5. Ask how much home you really need

There are many questions to ask before buying a home and you should always re-evaluate your needs and preferences to make this a bit easier. For instance, do you really need guest bedrooms? Do you really need a large garden? Does it have to be detached? Consider these questions and you might find yourself saving a lot of money.