The best online property advice sites
Buying a new property and moving house can be one of life’s most stressful experiences. Even if you’ve purchased property before, the law may have changed so the process could feel unfamiliar.
Mortgage advisers and estate agents have always been on hand to help people through property buying. But today, you’ll also find reliable, detailed advice online. Take a look at these websites for comprehensive property advice before you make a decision.
Where to find property advice
Before buying a home, it’s important to get your head around what’s involved – even if you’ve done it before. MoneySavingExpert.com’s house buying guide is a great place to start. There’s an excellent list of tips here written in clear, concise language, including advice on how to budget for associated costs and an illustrated timeline of how long the process might take (for England and Wales only). It’s a long list – there are over 50 points here – but it’s worth reading all of it to really educate yourself.
The Citizen’s Advice Bureau is another great source of information. Their guide to buying a home is tailored for buyers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. So wherever you live in the UK, you’ll find accurate advice for your region here. This is another detailed guide and it’s recommended that you spend time reading it as there is valuable advice here on the legal ins-and-outs of property buying.
Buying a house is often complex and confusing, no matter how many times you’ve been through the process, but for a first-time buyer, it can be an even more daunting experience. Totally Money.com, understand how stressful it can be: from the meetings, and the paperwork, to the vast amount of information you have to take in. To take you through the entire process, in an easy to understand way, they have compiled the ultimate guide for first-time buyers.
Elsewhere, PropertyPriceAdvice.co.uk is a large hub of property tips and guidance. However, this site may be more useful for people who are trying to sell their current property, rather than those who are buying their first home. Browse the website to find out the latest sold house prices in the UK and Ireland, as well as details on how to add value to your home and ways to save energy. Indeed, boosting your home’s energy efficiency may be exactly the edge you need to sell your property to today’s increasingly eco-conscious buyers.
If money is your primary consideration, the Money Advice Service is also worth a look. This website offers free and impartial advice online and is set up by the UK government. Take a look at their mortgages and property advice section for comprehensive financial property advice. Their guides for first time buyers may be particularly useful for people that fall into this category, as it’s packed with handy tips and budget estimate tools.
Property news and government advice
Sometimes it pays to keep an eye on property news – there might be a sudden change in duty or interest rates that will affect your ability to buy or sell property, be it positively or negatively. Try following property news in major online newspapers to keep abreast of what’s going on: the Telegraph’s property news and the Guardian’s property section are well-updated, though the Financial Times’ House and Home section may also be useful.
And for more property advice, don’t forget you’ll find plenty of details from the government too. Gov.uk’s property section has a list of guides on essential topics like stamp duty, capital gains tax and home ownership schemes.
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