Buying your first home in the UK
A first purchase is the point where good data matters most. This guide explains what to check before you offer, and gives you a free REalm BI area report for any UK postcode.
What to check before you offer
- Recent comparable sold prices in the same postcode sector, not just current asking prices
- Twelve-month and ten-year price growth for the area, so you know whether you are buying into momentum or a plateau
- Rental values and yields, which tell you what the property is worth to the wider market
- Energy performance, because running costs and required upgrades affect affordability
- Planning applications nearby that could change the street or the outlook
- Recorded crime and local amenity access at the doorstep, not just the town average
Costs beyond the purchase price
- Stamp duty land tax, with first-time buyer relief where eligible
- Mortgage arrangement and valuation fees
- Conveyancing and searches
- Survey, from condition report to full building survey
- Moving costs, insurance and immediate repairs
How REalm BI helps
Run a REalm BI Property Check on the specific address you are considering, and read the area context in the UK House Price Index before you commit.