First Time Buyer Mortgage Advice in Middlesbrough

Taking that primary step towards becoming a first time buyer in Middlesbrough can be quite a stressful concept, especially if aren’t quite sure of what you need to be doing.

Whilst this is a common thought process, we’re here to reassure you that this doesn’t need to be the case! You should be as prepared as you can be, in order for you to make the absolute most of your home buying experience.

Below we have put together 9 questions that you can ask when buying a house as a first time buyer in Middlesbrough.

The 9 Most Common Home Buying Questions:

1. How much interest has there been in the property/ development?

It’s always good to consider a property before you commit to purchasing it, as a mortgage will likely be the largest financial commitment you ever make.

One thing to ponder, is just how much interest has actually been shown in this property. If it is not quite so popular, you can afford to give yourself time to decide.

If it is a popular property, you may have to make a decision sooner rather than later.

2. Is there a property chain?

A property chain will occur if there are multiple property transactions happening at the same time, relying on every sale and purchase being completed.

If the property you are purchasing is a part of a chain, this can significantly affect your mortgage process.

For new homes that don’t have a property chain, you may have an increased chance in your process moving quicker, as you won’t be waiting on anybody to go ahead.

First time buyers in Middlesbrough especially have the advantage, as even if there is a small chain, they don’t have to sell a property to begin with in order to move in. This is a good thing to mention when negotiating on property price.

3. What’s included in the sale?

You’ll quite commonly find that when you buy some homes, the previous owner will have left a variety of items behind.

Items that can be found left behind, include potentially electronic goods such as washing machines, fridges or freezers, as well as maybe leaving a shed in the garden. This won’t apply to new build properties, as they tend to be built on the conditions agreed upon prior to the work commencing.

The advantage of this for first time buyers in Middlesbrough, is that if you don’t have to purchase the items yourself if they are left behind. The downside is if you don’t want them, you have to pay to get rid of them.

In the circumstance where you buying a new build property, there might additional items you can buy that can be fitted and ready on the day you move in.

4. What are the neighbours like?

Something else you’ll want to consider and may affect your decision, is what the neighbours are like. Are they good or bad, is it a quiet area or are there anti-social locals? Finding this out can be handy ahead of time.

If you are moving into a new build property, then you and your neighbours will be the ones who are building up a new community, which can make it risky as you won’t know what anyone is like in advance.

5. How much does it cost to run?

When it comes to the costs of running the property, it will depend on where the house is. Asking the right questions can help you to learn more about this prior to purchasing a property.

Make sure you find out things like how much the Council Tax generally is, the usual utility costs and things like that. This can help you budget from property to property.

6. Which way does the house face?

The direction that your house is facing can also be a big factor in your decision to purchase a property or not. Some prefer to be able to relax during the summer evenings in the garden, reading a book or having a drink.

South facing gardens often can cost quite a bit more than regular gardens, due to them getting more sunlight than others.

7. How much work will be required after moving in?

This is something else that could be a factor you’ll need to think about, as this could impact your budgeting for the property. Here are some of the most common things to look for;

  • How energy efficient is the house? Will it be more costly in the long run?
  • Is there any damp present in the property? This may need fixing, which likely won’t be cheap.
  • Will you need to repair or change any furnishings? Do you need new carpets? Will your old furniture fit?

8. Are you open to offers?

The house buying process will typically start with property price negotiations. It is important that you are as ready as you can be ahead of time, so that you can make an offer on a property that you really like.

If you would like to learn further about the best ways to improve your chances during negotiation, we reccomend you see our guide on how to make an offer on properties in Middlesbrough. As soon as you are “mortgage ready”, contact our team and we can get started with making offers.

The best way we’d say to determine whether or not an offer is potentially too high, we’d recommend having a chat with the seller themselves or perhaps the estate agent, to discuss previously made offers that have been rejected.

9. When can we move in?

Having a date in your diary can help you to plan other tasks you need to do around the big move. You might need to instruct a conveyancing solicitor, pack everything up, move your belongings.

Knowing the date you could possibly move from speaking to the seller will help you to manage all these tasks, being much more organised and much less stressed as your process continues.

Date Last Edited: January 20, 2023