Help with buying your first home

Look at the houses on the market and get an idea of what you are looking for. How many bedrooms do you need? Do you want a garden? What about a garage or off-road parking?

Use our calculator to get an idea of what you can borrow and how much in total you might have available to spend on your new home

Start looking on websites like Zoopla and when you know the types/size of properties that interest you, register with estate agents so that you receive alerts when similar properties come on the market.

When you see a new property that you like, call the estate agent and arrange to go and see the property. There's no harm in looking and the more you see, the better idea you will get of what you might be able to afford.

Take a look at our first time buyer mortgage rates, including 5% deposit and cashback mortgages, and compare monthly repayments.

Easily compare mortgage rates and deals

Get an indication of the monthly repayment

Enter a few details into our mortgage rate calculator and we’ll show you all the Royal Bank mortgages that may be right for you, based on what you've told us.

When you've found the one that is right, make an offer through an estate agent but remember that the sale price is just what the seller hopes to get. You may be able to agree a lower price.

Find out if you may be able to borrow the amount that you need for your new home with an Agreement in Principle.

You can use the tool without affecting your credit score or credit file.

There are a few things that you can do ahead of applying that will make the process smoother. Read through our helpful guide about preparing to apply for your mortgage.  

Have a look through the documentation that you will need to have available when applying for your mortgage.

When you have agreed the amount that you will pay for the property, you can complete your mortgage application.

You'll also need to find a solicitor or conveyancer to take care of the legal transfer of the property.