How to buy a house How to find a property

A couple outside a house with an estate agent

You can find your dream home if you look in the right places

You probably already have your ideal home in mind, but before you get too excited, you need to make sure that the property you want is actually available and figure out if you can afford it.

Make sure you examine your finances and work out your budget before you start house hunting. And visit the mortgage calculators offered by Which? Mortgage Advisers to find out what your repayments would be at different interest rates, and to see how much you can borrow.

Your ideal home

Write down everything you need and want in a property then check this list against what's available and how much it might cost. Check the Land Registry website for the latest house prices but be careful of regional averages as every area is different.

Some things you might want to consider when listing what makes an ideal home include:

Bedrooms

You might need two bedrooms but want an extra one in your ideal home so you can have a spare room for guests or a study. If a third bedroom is out of your price bracket, consider buying a sofa bed or creating a study space elsewhere.

Property type

‘Character’ or ‘new-build’ properties frequently command a premium, as do those in prime locations or built to top specifications. Unless you can get a good deal – if the owners are looking for a quick sale, for example – consider an alternative.

A property in need of attention should have a lower asking price than one that's fully renovated and a place that's two or three years old will be cheaper than one that's brand new.

Location

If you’re not sure where you would like to live, but have your heart set on a particular style of property, for example a Victorian terrace, find out where such buildings are common.

Ask yourself what locations you need to reach regularly, how you plan to travel there and how long the journey will take.

Check the Department for Education website for lists of schools by education authority and performance tables.

If you find that the right property in your perfect location is out of your price bracket, consider selling up and moving into a rented house temporarily. This makes you a cash buyer- able to move quickly if new homes come on to the market.   

Where to find a property

These days people often search for property online. There are also websites that specialise in certain types of property. However, property websites don't cover everything that's for sale and aren’t always up-to-date.

Local newspapers and estate agents

It's also a good idea to search the local newspapers and regularly visit local estate agents (go in, don’t just look in the window) to ask what’s coming onto the market, or drive around favourite areas to spot any private ‘for sale’ boards going up.

Private sales and auctions

Search private sales websites and adverts in newspapers and magazines such as Daltons Weekly, Loot and Hot Property or consider buying at auction.

For more property advice, see our book Buy, Sell & Move House which contains everything you need to know to navigate the property maze.

Mortgage Advice

We believe you should seek independent mortgage advice before taking out a mortgage. The Which? Group offers an independent mortgage advice service that looks at every mortgage from every available lender. You can also find an independent mortgage adviser using the Unbiased website.

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