The Doom Spoon wrote:Just wanted to share my experience as I've just become a home owner for the first time. In terms of how long it's taken, from putting in the offer and having it accepted to completing, it's taken us 6 weeks.
We are lucky enough to be friends with an independent mortgage broker, and although they charged us mates rates, they did the exact same job as they would with any of their clients. They found the most suitable mortgage for us, deal with all the applications, find us a reliable and fairly prices solicitor and also sorted us out with home and life insurance to cover us. They take a massive portion of the stress out of buying a house.
Thats not to say its still a massive pain in the ass, stressful and tedious, we felt like our every financial decision for the last year or so was being scrutinised, you feel like you got to justify everything you've every bought etc. Not going to lie I had a few sleepless nights worrying about whether or not we would be accepted for a mortgage etc.
I have to be honest we were only able to afford to buy a place because of a very very kind Grandmother who was happy to give me a portion of my inheritance early. She couldn't believe how expensive it is to buy a house now!
We agreed on £129,500 for the house, we needed a 10% deposit plus fees and moving costs and we decided to pay for an extra months rent where we were living to allow us plenty of time to move. We spent about £15,000 plus we had to buy furniture and appliances and rework the kitchen, that all come to another £2,000 or so.
I have to say though it's best best feeling knowing that, every month that goes by, a few more of these bricks become ours! Plus we are all moved in and set resyd for the baby who's due in February!