Whole-of-Market Mortgage Search
We compare deals from high-street banks, building societies and specialist lenders, including exclusive broker-only products you will not find by going direct.
First-Time Buyer Mortgages
First-Time Buyer Mortgage Advice That Gets You From Deposit to Keys
Buying your first home is exciting, but the mortgage market is full of jargon, hidden criteria and lenders who say no for reasons they never explain. Our whole-of-market mortgage advisers find the lender most likely to say yes, at a rate that works for you, and handle the paperwork so you can focus on finding the right home.
- FCA-regulated advice
- Whole-of-market search
- 5% deposit options
- Free initial consultation
Your First Home
Why First-Time Buyers Use a Mortgage Broker
Comparison sites only show part of the picture. Many of the most competitive first-time buyer mortgages are only available through brokers, and every lender has its own rules on deposit size, income multiples, credit history, employment type and property type. Applying to the wrong lender can mean a decline, a wasted valuation fee and a mark on your credit file.
As a first-time buyer mortgage broker, our job is to match you with the right lender before anything is submitted. We look at your income, deposit, outgoings, credit file and plans for the next few years, then recommend the mortgage that fits, not simply the one with the lowest headline rate.
Whether you are buying alone or with a partner, saving into a Lifetime ISA, receiving a gifted deposit from family, looking at a new-build home or considering Shared Ownership, we will explain your options in plain English and give you a clear plan to get the keys.
How We Help
Mortgage Support for Every Step of Your First Purchase
We do more than find a rate. We prepare you to buy, keep your purchase moving and protect the home you have worked so hard for.
Accurate Affordability Figures
Find out what you can really borrow before you view properties, so you can make offers with confidence and avoid falling in love with homes that are out of reach.
Agreement in Principle
We arrange a Decision or Agreement in Principle quickly so estate agents and sellers know you are a serious, proceedable buyer.
Scheme & Deposit Guidance
We explain whether 95% mortgages, Lifetime ISAs, Shared Ownership or a family-assisted deposit genuinely help you, and the rules that come with each.
Application Managed for You
We package and submit your application, chase the lender and valuer and keep your solicitor and estate agent updated through to completion.
Protecting Your New Home
We review life insurance, critical illness and income protection so your mortgage could still be paid if the unexpected happens.
Your Options Explained
First-Time Buyer Mortgage Options in the UK
There is no single "first-time buyer mortgage". Instead, there are several routes onto the property ladder, and the right one depends on your deposit, income and the type of property you want to buy.
95% mortgages (5% deposit)
With a 5% deposit you can borrow up to 95% of the property value. The Government's permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme encourages lenders to offer 95% loan-to-value mortgages on residential homes, and many lenders now offer 95% deals of their own. Rates are usually higher than at 90% or 85% loan-to-value, so we will show you whether saving a little more could save you money over the long term.
Gifted deposits and family-assisted mortgages
Many first-time buyers get help from parents or grandparents. Most lenders accept a gifted deposit from a close family member, as long as it is a genuine gift with no expectation of repayment. Other options include joint borrower sole proprietor mortgages, where a family member's income helps you qualify without them going on the deeds, and family springboard-style products where savings are held as security.
Lifetime ISA (LISA)
A Lifetime ISA adds a 25% government bonus to savings of up to £4,000 a year (a maximum bonus of £1,000 a year) when used to buy a first home costing £450,000 or less. We will make sure your LISA funds are released in time for exchange, and that your lender and conveyancer are prepared for it.
Shared Ownership
Shared Ownership lets you buy a share of a home, typically between 10% and 75%, and pay rent on the remainder to a housing association. Your deposit is based on the share you buy, not the full value, which makes it a realistic option in higher-priced areas. Only certain lenders offer Shared Ownership mortgages, and we know which ones.
New-build mortgages
New-build homes are popular with first-time buyers, but some lenders cap loan-to-value on new-build flats or apply stricter criteria. Mortgage offers also need to last long enough to cover build delays. We will find a lender whose offer timescales match your developer's completion date.
Stamp duty for first-time buyers
In England and Northern Ireland, first-time buyers pay no stamp duty on the first £300,000 of a purchase and 5% on the portion between £300,001 and £500,000. If the price is above £500,000, first-time buyer relief does not apply at all. Every buyer on the purchase must be a first-time buyer to qualify. We will factor this into your budget from day one.
Eligibility
Who We Help Buy Their First Home
You do not need a perfect credit score or a huge deposit. Lenders assess applications very differently, and we regularly help first-time buyers who:
- Have a 5% or 10% deposit, including savings, a Lifetime ISA or a gifted deposit
- Are employed, self-employed, contractors or on fixed-term or zero-hours contracts
- Have a thin credit history or past missed payments, defaults or CCJs
- Are buying alone on a single income or jointly with a partner, friend or family member
- Are buying a new-build home or through Shared Ownership
- Are professionals who may qualify for higher income multiples
Worried you will be turned down? Talk to us before you apply anywhere. We can usually tell you which lenders are likely to accept you without a hard search on your credit file.
How It Works
Your Path from Enquiry to Keys
- Free consultationWe review your income, deposit, outgoings and goals, and explain exactly what you can borrow.
- Agreement in PrincipleWe secure an AIP from a suitable lender so you can view and make offers with confidence.
- Full mortgage applicationOnce your offer is accepted, we submit your application and manage the valuation and underwriting.
- Mortgage offerWe check the offer with you and keep your solicitor updated to keep the purchase moving.
- Exchange and completionWe stay with you through to completion day, when you collect the keys to your first home.
Ready to Buy Your First Home?
Speak to a first-time buyer mortgage adviser today. Find out what you can borrow, which deals you qualify for and how quickly you could move.
FAQs
First-Time Buyer Mortgage FAQs
Straight answers to the questions first-time buyers ask us most often.
Most lenders need a minimum deposit of 5% of the purchase price, which gives you access to 95% loan-to-value mortgages. A 10% deposit opens up more lenders and lower rates, and rates improve again at 15%, 20% and 25%. We will show you the rate difference at each level so you can decide whether to buy now or save a little longer.
Most lenders offer between 4 and 4.5 times your annual income, and some offer up to 5.5 times for higher earners or certain professions. The final figure depends on your outgoings, credit commitments, dependants and deposit. We will give you a realistic borrowing figure based on lender affordability calculators, not a rough guess.
Yes. Most lenders accept a gifted deposit from a close family member, and some accept gifts from friends. The person giving the money will usually need to sign a gifted deposit letter confirming it is a gift, not a loan, and provide proof of where the funds came from.
In England and Northern Ireland, first-time buyers pay no stamp duty on purchases up to £300,000 and 5% on the portion between £300,001 and £500,000. Above £500,000, standard rates apply to the whole price. Scotland (LBTT) and Wales (LTT) have their own rules.
Often, yes. Missed payments, defaults and CCJs do not automatically rule you out. Lenders look at how recent the issue was, how much was involved and whether it has been settled. Some specialist lenders focus on applicants with adverse credit. We will review your credit file with you before recommending a lender.
An Agreement in Principle can often be arranged within 24 hours. Once you have an accepted offer, a full mortgage offer typically takes two to four weeks, depending on the lender and valuation. The whole purchase, including conveyancing, usually takes around three to four months.
No. The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme supports 95% loan-to-value repayment mortgages for both first-time buyers and home movers buying a main residence in the UK. It works behind the scenes with lenders, so you do not apply for it directly. We will compare scheme-backed and standard 95% deals for you.
Explore More
Other Ways We Can Help
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Lifetime ISA, Shared Ownership and stamp duty information is general guidance and is not tax advice. Rules can change.