Do not be fooled: buying a property is expensive, irrespective of the property price. A mortgage is not the only expense that you will encounter.
Before you can claim ownership of your home there are additional one-off charges and fees that you will need to pay. When you deduce your budget, ensure you have enough money saved to pay them.
These include:
- Deposit
- Mortgage arrangement fee
- Valuation fee
- Legal fees
- Stamp duty or land transaction tax, depending on where in the UK you are.
- Removal costs.
Costs continue once you are in the property, and there will be many regular ongoing bills to pay as the homeowner. The following payments are to be paid on top of your mortgage payments:
- Council tax
- Energy bills
- House insurance
- Repairs and decorating
- Furnishings
How much deposit is required for first-time buyers?
You must have at least 5% of the price you're paying for your new home saved before you can apply for a mortgage. For a house worth £125,000, that means saving £6250 just for the minimum deposit.
If you can save more and are able to afford a bigger deposit, you will probably find a better mortgage deal.
How much is stamp duty for first-time buyers?
Stamp duty, or the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax which is typically payable when you purchase a home costing more than £125,000.
Nonetheless, under changes announced in the 2017 Budget, first-time buyers in England are no longer required to pay stamp duty on property purchases up to £300,000. If you plan to buy a home costing up to £500,000 you do not have to pay stamp duty on the first £300,000, but you must pay it at a rate of 5% on anything above that.
If the property you intend to purchase costs more than £500,000 then you will have to pay stamp duty at standard rates. These rates increased depending on how much your house costs to purchase. Between £125,001 and £250,000 is 2% and it gradually increases to 12% on properties that cost £1.5 million.
Stamp duty relief was extended to first-time buyers using the Shared Ownership schemes in the 2018 Budget, including those who have purchased properties since November 2017.