Summary

Things have never been tougher for first-time buyers.

Things have never been tougher for first-time buyers. The number of people aged 25-34 who own their own home has more than halved since 1996. But aspirations are still high - the vast majority of young people still want to own their own home. Unfortunately, most would-be first-time buyers believe the dream of homeownership is just that: a dream. This book has been written to make this dream a reality. It also aims to steer you clear of the potential pitfalls that come with buying a property - it's a minefield out there. There are countless tales of properties being repossessed, people being stuck in homes they cannot sell, and of homeowners enduring years of negative equity. This book aims to help you avoid making mistakes that can cost you dear.The book includes the following chapters: Part 1 - Financing your first property purchase. Part 2 - Government help for first-time buyers. Part 3 - Finding the right property for you. Part 4 - From offer to completion. Part 5 - Moving into your first property. Appendix - Property: jargon buster. The property market is fast moving - things are changing every week. As such, I have included my email address at the end of the book and encourage readers to ask questions, make suggestions and point out any inaccuracies. Hopefully there won't be too many of the latter! Please note: I have mainly focused on buying a property in England, although I have included information about buying in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland (just not in as much detail). However, 90% of the content will be relevant to anyone buying anywhere in the United Kingdom. Enjoy and good luck. Ned Browne