first-time buyers
Your first home starts here.
Buying your first home is exciting — and, let’s be honest, a little terrifying. We sit down with you, work out what you can realistically afford, and find a mortgage that fits your life. No jargon, no pressure — just a real, named adviser in your corner from your first question to the day you get the keys.
Award-winning
Paula Bingham
Director & Senior Mortgage & Protection Adviser
“We’ve got you. Let’s do this together.”
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
take a breath
We get it — this feels daunting.
Most first-time buyers come to us with the same worries. Can I even afford it? Is my deposit big enough? What if I get rejected? These are normal questions — and you don’t need the answers before you talk to us. That’s literally our job.
And you’re in good company. UK Finance estimates around 391,000 first-time buyers took out a mortgage in 2025 — up from roughly 332,000 the year before.1 The average first-time buyer in 2024 was 33 years old2 — so if it’s taken a while to get here, you’re entirely normal.
You won’t be passed around a call centre or left to figure out a banking app on your own. You’ll have one friendly adviser who knows your name, your situation, and what matters to you.
you’re in safe hands
A small, genuinely human firm — where a named adviser actually answers.
We’ve helped families across the UK find their footing on the property ladder.
309+
five-star reviews from people who were once in your shoes
Award-winning
advice — including a win at the Personal Finance Awards
Named
advisers who pick up the phone and remember who you are
100+
lenders and 1,000s of deals searched — not just one bank’s shelf
We can’t promise any particular outcome — no honest broker can, and your circumstances and the lender’s criteria always have the final say. What we can promise is that we’ll be straight with you, do the legwork, and explain every option clearly.
why use a broker
What does a mortgage broker do for a first-time buyer?
You can walk into your own bank — but it only offers its own products, and it won’t tell you whether someone down the road would lend you more or charge you less.
We search over 100 lenders
Thousands of deals compared to suit your income, deposit and plans — not just whatever one bank happens to sell.
We translate the jargon
LTV, AIP, fixed vs tracker, freehold vs leasehold — explained in everyday language.
We handle the paperwork and the chasing
Applications, documents, lender queries — we do the heavy lifting so you don’t take days off work.
We prepare you properly
We’ll tell you what lenders look for and help you put your best foot forward before you apply.
We’re honest about fees
We always explain any fees clearly and upfront, before you commit to anything.
in short
A knowledgeable friend who does this every day.
the journey
Step by step, we’re with you for all of it.
It feels like a maze from the outside. From the inside, it’s just a series of manageable steps.
- 1
Have a chat
Book a no-obligation meeting. We get to know you, your goals and your budget.
- 2
Work out your numbers
We look at your income, outgoings and deposit to understand what you can comfortably afford.
- 3
Get a Decision in Principle
An early indication from a lender of how much they may lend — useful when you start making offers.
- 4
Go house hunting
Now you can search with confidence, knowing your realistic budget.
- 5
Make an offer
Found “the one”? We help you move quickly when it counts.
- 6
Apply for your mortgage
We package your full application and submit it to the most suitable lender for you.
- 7
Valuation and approval
The lender checks the property and your details. We chase progress and keep you updated.
- 8
Get your keys
Completion day arrives — and your first home is finally yours.
We’ll also make sure you’ve thought about protecting your new home and family, so a setback in life doesn’t put your home at risk. (Any protection cover depends on the policy terms and your circumstances — we’ll talk you through it.)
in plain english
The two big ones: deposit & affordability.
The pair that tend to keep first-time buyers up at night. Let’s settle them.
Your deposit
The chunk of the purchase price you pay yourself; the mortgage covers the rest. It’s usually expressed as a percentage of the property’s value.
- A larger deposit generally opens up more options and can mean a lower rate, because the lender is taking less risk.
- A smaller deposit doesn’t shut the door — there are mortgages for modest deposits, and government schemes exist to help (we’ll check what applies when we meet).
Affordability
Simply how much a lender believes you can comfortably repay each month without stretching yourself. They look at your income, regular outgoings, existing debts and day-to-day spending.
The amount one lender offers can differ quite a bit from another, because they all assess affordability differently. That’s a big part of why a broker is worth their weight — we know which lenders tend to look more favourably on situations like yours.
Schemes that can help
If the deposit is the sticking point, there are government-backed routes worth knowing about — the official details for each are published on gov.uk:
- 95% mortgage guarantee — lets you buy with a deposit as small as 5%, with the government standing behind part of the lender’s risk. Details on gov.uk.
- Lifetime ISA — save up to £4,000 a year towards your first home and the government adds a 25% bonus on top. Details on gov.uk.
- Shared Ownership — buy a share of a home and pay rent on the rest, with the option to buy bigger shares later. Details on gov.uk.
- First Homes — selected new-build homes in England, sold to first-time buyers at a discount of at least 30% on the market price. Details on gov.uk.
Schemes change, and each has its own rules on price caps, property types and who qualifies — so please don’t rule yourself in or out from a list. Tell us your situation and we’ll check what applies to you.
Want a rough idea before we chat? Have a play with our quick calculators.
Prefer to read up first? Start with our first-time buyer guide or our guide to government schemes.
common worries
Answered, honestly.
Do I need a perfect credit history?
No. A spotless score helps, but plenty of first-time buyers get a mortgage with a few bumps on their record. Different lenders take different views, and we can point you towards those more likely to be comfortable with your circumstances. If your credit needs a little work first, we’ll tell you honestly and help you plan. Read our guide to credit reports and scores.
How much deposit do I really need?
It varies by lender and property, and the right figure depends on your situation. Most first-time buyers put down between 5% and 15% — and 5%-deposit mortgages exist. As a rule of thumb, a bigger deposit tends to mean more choice and potentially better terms — but smaller-deposit mortgages and government schemes do exist for first-time buyers. Please don’t assume you’re priced out until you’ve spoken to us.
What does it cost to use a broker?
Your first chat is always no-obligation, and any fee is agreed with you before you commit to anything. We always explain any fees clearly and upfront — so there are never any surprises. You’ll know exactly where you stand before you decide to go ahead.
Is it better to go straight to my bank?
Your bank can only offer its own products. We look across over 100 lenders and thousands of deals to find one that genuinely fits you, and we handle the legwork and the jargon along the way. Many first-time buyers find that a real human guiding them is far less stressful than going it alone.
How long does the whole thing take?
Every purchase is different, and timescales depend on the lender, the property and the wider chain — so we can’t put an exact figure on it. What we can do is keep things moving, chase progress on your behalf and keep you updated at every stage.
ready to take the first step?
You don’t need it all figured out yet.
You just need to start a conversation — the rest, we’ll figure out together. No obligation, no pressure.