Many of us are keen to take our first step onto the property ladder and buy our first home. But, at the moment, it's easier said than done.
The average UK house price has risen by 9.8% over the past year up to March 2022, with data collected by the Office for National Statistics showing that the average house prices in the UK reached a record high of £278,000. In June 2022, the average UK house price hit a further high, with Halifax data indicating that prices increased by 1% between April and May, taking the average price of a home to £289,099 (via The Guardian).
As you’ll probably already know, salaries have not grown proportionally. Following the 2008 financial crash, getting a mortgage became more difficult for many, with zero-deposit and interest-only mortgages becoming more or less a thing of the past. This means that, for any person wanting to buy a house today, there are two main focuses: saving the deposit and getting mortgage-ready.
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is expected to announce plans that will enable people to use housing benefit to save for their first home. Levelling up secretary Michael Gove told Sky News: “One of the things we’re looking at is a way people can save explicitly for home ownership … We are looking specifically at a saving vehicle in order that people [on benefits] can save for that deposit.”
The PM is also expected to announce plans to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants, review the mortgage market to allow people to save for deposits, and may “declare plans to construct “flatpack” homes” (via The Independent).
We'll keep you updated with any future developments. In the meantime, here are some practical tips to help you get on the property ladder.
Give yourself a realistic time-frame
Getting your time-frame right is important. You could end up frustrated and disappointed if you rush yourself, but a time-frame that is too long can start to feel abstract and unachievable, too. Take stock of any current savings or assets, look at the type of property you would hope to be able to be able to buy – again, being realistic is a good idea here – and work out how much you will need to save for the level of deposit that you want, usually 10%.
Then, take a look at your budget and work out how long it’s likely to take you. You might want to play out a few scenarios, especially if you’re anticipating a pay increase, or if you want to see how plans like holidays or other big expenditures will affect your progress.
With saving, set habits early
Even if you’re very early in your career and perhaps earning a lower salary as you gain experience, there are things that you can do to maximise your chances of home ownership in the not-too-distant future. Putting saving habits in place, even if you don’t have a lot of extra income to save, will stand you in really good stead for when you are able to save more.
Because the habit is already in place, all you need to do is increase the amount when you can, and you’ll quickly build a decent savings pot. Mortgage lenders also love to see regular, well-establishing saving habits, as it shows them that you’re conscious about your money.
Save in the right place to speed up your progress
As you may be aware, interest rates on savings are generally dismal right now, and there’s no indication that they will improve in any meaningful way any time soon. The difference between some of the highest interest-paying savings accounts and the lowest is fairly negligible, so it’s not really worth stressing about which one to choose, but there are other ways to grow your money into a decent house deposit.
The first is to use a LISA (Lifetime ISA), which can be used on properties worth up to £450,000. The government will top up your savings by 25% up to £1000 per year – so if you add £4,000 to a LISA within a year, you will have £5,000) overall. You could use this scheme over several years to grow your deposit, and if you’re buying with a partner you can have one each, meaning that you get a double bonus effect.
Finally, if you are planning to buy a home in 5 years’ time or more, you could consider investing your money in a stocks and shares ISA to see if you can get a better return than the interest rates currently on offer. The stock market tends to trend upwards, but investing is a long-term strategy, so it’s not suitable if you’re looking to buy a home in a year or two. You do also need to remember that there is always a risk to your capital when investing.
Don’t forget the other fees
It’s important to remember that the deposit isn’t the only lump sum you’ll need to have ready when you buy your home. For first-time buyers, you’ll need to factor in stamp duty for any property worth over £350,000, and you’ll need to pay solicitors fees, which are usually around £1,500. Then you’ll need to think about searches and surveying, as well as any removal services you might want to use. You can save these along with your main deposit, but it might be worth separating them out into separate pockets to keep everything clear.
Accountability is key
With big, longer-term goals like saving the tens of thousands of pounds that you will often need for your deposit, it can be easy to lose focus or motivation when things don’t seem to be happening quick enough. Try to create ways to hold yourself accountable, and to stay connected with your goal of home ownerships this could be finding an accountability buddy in your friendship group or in the Glamour Money Matters Facebook Group - perhaps someone with a similar goal to you - so that you can encourage each other.
You can also get great tools like Lifetise, which uses all of your numbers to create a personalised plan for you, and upcoming housing-focused saving app Nude, which will feature a suite of savings accounts, including their own LISA, as well as tips and reminders.
Buying your first home is exciting, and it should be something you really enjoy and appreciate - not least because of all of the hard work you’ll have put in by the time you pick up your keys. Just keep your eyes on the prize, and you’ll get there.
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