Buying a home is choosing a structure, not just a price

A home is a bundle of legal rights, responsibilities, and ongoing costs. Two properties at the same price can lead to very different long-term outcomes depending on tenure type, structure, and the costs attached. This guide helps first-time buyers understand what they are actually buying before thinking about budgets and mortgages.

The main types of homes you will encounter

Understanding houses, flats, freehold, and leasehold before comparing prices.

Understanding your buying costs

Deposit, stamp duty, legal fees, surveys, and the cash buffer you need above and beyond the mortgage.

How mortgages actually work

What lenders assess, what income multiples mean, and how to think about comfortable borrowing versus maximum borrowing.

The buying process from offer to completion

The legal and practical steps between agreeing a price and getting the keys.