How to buy your first home with a small deposit

If you’re looking to buy your first home but feel that your deposit is too small to get started, you’re not alone. Thousands of current homeowners have been in the exact same situation so don’t lose hope. We’re going to talk you through exactly what you need to do to get your first foot on the property ladder – even if you’ve got a small deposit.

What is a mortgage deposit?

First things first – a mortgage deposit is a lump sum amount of money that you pay up front when you’re buying a house. It will usually need to be at least 5% of the value of the property you’re hoping to buy. And the bigger your deposit, the smaller the mortgage you’ll need to take out to pay for the rest of the house’s value.

Our borrowing calculator can give you an idea of how much you can borrow based on your deposit.

How can I save for a deposit?

This is normally the bit that tends to worry people – but with a few simple tips and tools, you’ll have enough to put down sooner than you might think. Here are a few steps you can take to get started.

Cut your spending

If you’re committed to buying your first home, ensure you’re doing everything you can to save as much as possible towards your deposit. We know you’ve probably heard this one before – but it bears repeating because it’s important! It’s also worth noting that cutting down on unnecessary spending has the added benefit of showing lenders you’re sensible with your money too.

If you don’t know where to start, try some of the following:

• Create a separate savings pot – If you want to make sure you’re saving money and not touching it then a separate savings pot/account is a good place to start.
• Make use of price comparison websites – Whether its utility bills, insurance, or even your weekly food shop, price comparison websites can help you save hundreds of pounds.
• Download a saving/budgeting app – Saving is so much easier when you don’t have to do anything at all. Try downloading a saving/budgeting app like Plum or Yolt that does the hard work for you. These apps have features that round up your spending to the nearest pound and deposit the difference into a separate savings pot.

If you need a bit more help managing your finances, check out our budget calculator.

Make your savings work for you

In addition to saving up your money, it’s equally important to make sure you’re saving in the right places. Saving into a Lifetime ISA is a brilliant way to boost your savings when you’re buying your first home. Okay, so how do they work?

• You can put in up to £4,000 each year - until you’re 50 years old.
• The government will add a 25% bonus to your savings - up to a maximum of £1,000 per year.
• You can save lump sums - you don’t need to commit to saving each month.

There are some rules you should be aware of first though. For example, you must be over 18 years old but under 40 to open a Lifetime ISA. The money can also only be used for a first home or saved for later life.

Improve your credit score

When you apply for a mortgage, the mortgage lender will take a look at your credit ratings to decide whether to lend to you, how much to lend you, and sometimes how much interest to charge too.

Improving your credit score will increase your chances of having your mortgage application accepted. If you have a small deposit, your mortgage lender will have to loan you a larger amount of money. If you were lending someone a large amount of money, you’d want to be fairly certain they’d be able to pay it back.

You have to make sure you’re seen as financially reliable to be eligible for a mortgage.

The first step is to check your current credit scores. There are three main credit agencies that hold credit reports on you. These are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. It’s a good idea to check all three reports. Go through them carefully. If you spot any mistakes, it’s very important to get these corrected.

If you have a fairly low credit score, make sure you take steps to improve it. These include using a credit card responsibly, ensuring you don’t pay any bills late, and making sure you’re on the electoral roll.

Speak to a mortgage adviser

Finally, if you have a small deposit and want to buy your first home it’s a good idea to get the right advice from the right people. Our award-winning team of expert mortgage advisers have access to over 12,000 mortgages from over 90 different lenders. We even have access to exclusive offers and products that can’t always be found on the high street, so we’re always in a great position to find the right mortgage for you.

Contact us today, head to find out more about getting a mortgage