I am buying

The one-stop-shop for trustworthy, up-to-date guides for homebuyers

Introduction to buying a home

• The HOA Step-by-Step Guide to Buying a Home
• Is buying right for me?
• Can I afford to buy a home?
• How much can I afford?
• Top tips: How to save for a deposit
• Should I sell my home before I buy a new one? 

How to finance your new home

• What type of mortgage should I get?
• Mortgages made simple
• How and when should I get a mortgage?
• The Hidden Costs of Buying and Owning a Property
• How the government can help you buy a home. An overview of schemes
• How the government can help you buy a home. Scheme 1: Help to Buy
• How the government can help you buy a home. Scheme 2: First Buy
• How the government can help you buy a home. Scheme 3: Shared Ownership (New Build)
• How the government can help you buy a home. Scheme 4: Shared Ownership (Resale)
• How the government can help you buy a home. Scheme 5: Rent to Buy
• How the government can help you buy a home. Scheme 6: NewBuy

Finding a property

• How do I choose a new area to live in?
• How do I find the perfect property?
• Top Tips – things not to forget when viewing a property
• Top Tips – clever questions to ask the estate agent
• How can I get estate agents on my side?
• Top Tips – Getting to the front of the buyers’ queue

Making an offer

• How do I know I’m not paying too much?
• Making an offer – and haggling over the price

The legal side of buying a house

• Leasehold v Freehold – what’s the difference?
• What sort of survey should I have?
• The legal side of buying a home explained
• Should I do conveyancing myself?
• Should I do my conveyancing online?
• How do I exchange contracts?
• 5 things you need to know about stamp duty

If there are topics you would like to us to cover in upcoming guides, please email us at comment@hoa.org.uk.

At the end of each guide, we also ask for feedback – please do give it!

The legal stuff is here.