Advice for First Time Buyers

Contact us!

We’re friendly, approachable, experienced, knowledgeable and always happy to chat and try to answer any questions you might have about the legal process and property market more generally. It doesn’t matter if you’re not yet ready to make an offer, if you have questions……fire away. We don’t charge any fee to talk to you….we only charge a fee when we make an offer and only if it’s accepted. We are happy for you to contact us by phone, email or WhatsApp/text……morning, noon and night and we’re available at weekends.

Mortgage

We would strongly recommend that after you speak with us your next step would be to speak with a mortgage advisor who will be able to assist you with calculating your budget. You may wish to approach your bank or an independent mortgage advisor. If you do not have an advisor we will be happy to recommend one. A seller is likely to look upon your offer much more favourably if you can illustrate that you have a mortgage agreed in principal.

Home Report

Request it, read it, send it to us to review and discuss…home reports provide an overview of the value, condition and history of the property. We can help you make the most of the information contained within them. We can also arrange a home report.

Viewings

When viewing a property we would recommend that you take along someone you trust to give you a second opinion…..a second pair of eyes may spot things you have missed. Take your time in the property, take in your surroundings and try to fully consider any work, structural or cosmetic, that you may wish to undertake if you became the owner. If you make an acceptable offer it is very unlikely the seller will allow you back in to view again until the missives/contract have been concluded…..the point of no return !

Agreements

If you are buying with someone else, and particularly if one of you is putting in more money than the other towards your deposit, you may wish to consider putting in place an agreement which would confirm how the funds would be divided following any future sale.

Source of funding

If you are receiving a gift or a loan from a family member or friend it is important you declare this with your solicitor and mortgage broker as early as possible. It is very common for first time buyers to receive financial assistance but if it is not declared early with your mortgage lender/bank it could cause complications/delays further down the road.

If you would like more information or wish to make an appointment please contact our Paisley office on 0141 887 5271 or our Renfrew office on 0141 886 5678.  Alternatively, please complete our online enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch.