First-Time Buyers
Click here to download MJP Presentation from First Time Buy Homeshow Manchester
"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
At MJP, we realise that buying your first home is one of the biggest decisions in your life. That is why we have been working tirelessly to make the process easier for first-time buyers.
How do we help first-time buyers?
- Full, fixed and transparent costs so that you can budget properly
- Live email updates – always keep up to date with file
- Ability to review all documents and correspondence 24/7 and message your legal team directly – so if you have been busy working to save for a deposit during the day, you won't be kept in the dark or delay matters
We are a modern, forward-thinking firm closely attuned to the busy lifestyles and needs of young people trying to get their first foot on the property ladder. We are constantly improving our processes to ensure that they are as efficient and transparent as they can be. Most importantly, we have friendly, communicative and informative staff who will use their expertise to help answer your questions, no matter how bigger or small. Whilst saving for a house is becoming increasingly difficult, the legal process is made easier with MJP Conveyancing.
Got any questions about the conveyancing process?
We thought so. Here is our guide to help first-time buyers through the stages of buying their first home:
Download Guide
In 2016, we helped over 3,500 people move home, many of whom were first-time buyers. Here is what some of them had to say about their experience:
"MJP have been absolutely amazing from the start of the buying process right to the very end. We cannot fault them. We are first time buyers and they have made the experience very pleasant and stress free." B.Pannell – 2016
"Excellent service and support from start to finish. Buying my first house was made so easy by MJP, their support was first class." C.Banyard – 2016
"As a first time buyer, the whole prospect of dealing with solicitors was extremely daunting but you couldn't have made the process any easier and simpler for us. I have already recommended your services to friends and colleagues, not just because of the excellent service, but also because of the great value for money you represent." L.Taylor– 2016
Top Tips for affording your first home
- Lifetime ISA – set to replace the government's flawed Help to Buy ISA scheme, many banks are set offer a lifetime ISA, offering a government bonus of 25% on the amount of money you save annually which can then be put towards your first property. Check with your bank or lender to see what schemes they have in place to support you.
- Lease Options – A type of contract which allows you to rent a property for a specified period with the option to buy at the end of it: it's renting with a reward.
- Shared Ownership - allows you to buy a percentage share of a home (normally between 25 – 75 %) and pay rent on the remaining share. You can increase your share over time as and when you can afford it.
- New Builds and Equity Loans – Many developers offer a variety of equity loan schemes when buying new builds. They own a percentage of the equity in the property and receive a corresponding share of the sale proceeds when you come to move home.
- Home under the hammer – Auctions are a means of finding a bargain. Be wary however – ask yourself why a home is being sold at auction and why it may be selling at a reduced price. There is usually a reason for this and could cost you money in the short-term or affect a property's saleability in the future. Your solicitors will not have the same ability to undergo as thorough an investigation with properties at auction so it is important to understand and consider the risks involved carefully.
- Utilise the web – Rightmove have a nifty feature which allows you to browse sales prices in specific areas and postcodes so that you can compare how fair an asking price is for the property you want. A browser extension called Property Track also highlights properties on Rightmove that have had their asking prices reduced, giving you more power to grab a bargain.
- Know your market – keep up to date with how the market is fairing regionally and nationally. Sites like Hometrack provide market analysis and will show you whether prices are rising or falling in any given area. The Office of National Statistics and other sites provide similar information, all of which is readily available to the public online.
If you would like a conveyancing quote for your property purchase, please complete our Request a Quote form, and a member of our New Business team will contact you shortly with a bespoke quotation.