01
Start here
Build your budget
Know the deposit, fees and monthly comfort zone before you start scrolling property listings.
Your UK first-home guide
Buying your first home? Let's make it feel simple.
No wall of jargon. No wondering what comes next. Pick your stage and get the clear answer first.
No sign-up needed. Start with the answer that helps today.
Plain EnglishUK-wide contextOfficial sources
Not sure where to begin?
Choose your starting point
17
plain-English guides
9
planning tools
UK-wide
context where it matters
Official
sources linked clearly
Your first-home journey
Start wherever you are today. Each tile gives you the most useful guides for that stage, in a sensible order.
02
Get ready
Prepare for a mortgage
Understand what lenders look at and get your paperwork in shape before you make an offer.
03
Find a home
View, compare, offer
Spot the questions that matter, compare homes calmly and make an offer with a clear ceiling.
04
Offer accepted
Get to the keys
Follow the legal work, final checks and completion day without losing track of the next step.
Try the numbers without the spreadsheet headache
Simple tools that turn the biggest first-time buyer questions into a clear starting point. Every tool is free to try, with no account needed.
01
Free tool
Deposit planner
Set a home-price goal, add your savings and see the cash target and saving timeline clearly.
Open the free tool02
Free tool
Buying-cost budget
Build a realistic cash budget for the deposit, legal work, survey, moving costs and a buffer.
Open the free tool03
Free tool
Repayment scenarios
Explore illustrative monthly repayments at different interest rates and mortgage terms.
Open the free toolBuyer Pass
Free to try
Compare homes
Line up homes side by side on deposit, mortgage and monthly cost. Compare two free; unlock more with the Buyer Pass.
Open the toolBuyer Pass
Free to try
Overpayment explorer
See how monthly overpayments could shorten a mortgage and cut interest. One scenario free; compare a whole board with the Buyer Pass.
Open the toolBuyer Pass
Free to try
Running costs
Budget the real monthly cost of a home, from council tax to maintenance. One home free; compare homes with the Buyer Pass.
Open the toolBuyer Pass
Free to try
Lifetime ISA bonus
See what your monthly saving plus the 25% government bonus could add up to by the time you buy your first home.
Open the toolBuyer Pass
Free to try
Rent vs buy
Put your rent next to the full cost of owning, including the equity you would build. A five-year view free; any horizon with the Buyer Pass.
Open the toolBuyer Pass
Free to try
Offer tracker
Keep every offer organised: asking price, your offer, dates, outcomes and notes. One property free; track them all with the Buyer Pass.
Open the toolThe questions buyers ask most
Start with the answer you need right now. Each guide opens with a quick explanation, then gives you the detail when you want it.
8 min read
Getting started
First-time buyer checklist
A simple UK first-time buyer checklist covering your budget, mortgage preparation, property search, offer, conveyancing, exchange and completion.
Read the simple guide6 min read
Money and mortgages
How much deposit do I need?
Understand first-time buyer deposits, loan-to-value ratios and why you need money set aside for fees and emergencies as well as your house deposit.
Read the simple guide7 min read
Money and mortgages
How much can I borrow?
Understand how lenders estimate mortgage affordability, which income and outgoings matter, and why your comfortable budget is important.
Read the simple guide6 min read
Money and mortgages
Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty?
Understand first-time buyer property tax in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, including current SDLT relief thresholds.
Read the simple guide7 min read
Finding a home
Viewing a house checklist
Use this first-time buyer viewing checklist to compare homes, ask practical questions and spot issues that need further investigation.
Read the simple guide7 min read
Offer to keys
Conveyancing explained
Understand the conveyancing process for first-time buyers, from instructing a solicitor to searches, enquiries, exchange and completion.
Read the simple guideFast answers
Get unstuck in 30 seconds.
The first answer should be easy to find. The deeper explanation is there when you need it.
How much deposit do I need?
Usually at least 5% to 20% of the home price. A bigger deposit may open up more mortgage options.
See deposit examplesHow much can I borrow?
Lenders look at income, spending, debts and your circumstances. Your comfortable budget matters too.
Understand affordabilityDo I pay stamp duty?
It depends where you buy, the price and your circumstances. England and Northern Ireland use Stamp Duty; Scotland and Wales have their own versions.
Check the UK rulesWhat happens after my offer?
Your mortgage application, survey and legal work usually move forward together before exchange and completion.
Follow the legal stepsBuilt for real decisions
Useful first. Search-friendly because it is useful.
Solvado explains the UK first-time buyer process from saving a deposit and preparing for a mortgage to viewing homes, making an offer, conveyancing, exchange and completion. The guides use plain English, show when rules differ across the UK and link to official sources for the details that can change.
Clear scope. Visible sources.
Solvado is an education site. It helps you ask better questions before you commit money or sign a contract.
Education only: Solvado does not provide mortgage, financial, tax, legal or insurance advice. Any tool results are general estimates, not recommendations, offers or eligibility decisions. Rules, rates and criteria can change. Check official sources and speak to an appropriately regulated professional before making decisions.