Home buying guide

Here's a list of all the steps involved in buying a home. We can help you at every stage of the process as part of our Home Buying Service

1. How much can you borrow? 

2. Finding your dream home and making an offer

3. Sort out your mortgage

4. Valuation or survey 

5. Conveyancing – the Legal part

6. The Mortgage Offer

7. Collecting the keys

Our professional Mortgage Advisers will organise all the parts of the Home Buying Service that you choose at the same time as arranging your mortgage.

1:   How much can I borrow? 

First of all you need to check that you can get a mortgage. We'll give you a Mortgage Promise which, in a matter of minutes, simply tells you if we can give you a mortgage and how much you can borrow.

Our Mortgage Promise is subject to a satisfactory valuation of the property to be mortgaged and the information supplied by you being correct.

Do an online Mortgage Promise

Make sure you're comfortable with the initial costs of moving– they can soon add up!

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

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Step 2:   Finding your dream home and putting in an offer 

You won't buy anything more expensive than your home – so it's understandable that you'll be excited and nervous about choosing the right one!

Here are some hints and tips on starting the search and tips when viewing a property

You've found your dream home but how do you buy it? Take a look at our putting in an offer section for everything you need to know.

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Step 3:  Sorting out your mortgage 

Once you've had the offer on your house accepted it's time to sort out your mortgage.

It's important that your mortgage suits your needs and your lifestyle. Take a look at our simple steps to choosing the right mortgage to get you started.

Your Halifax Mortgage Adviser will take you through the different types of mortgages that are available and can help you choose the one that's best for you.

You can choose to start your Halifax mortgage application online – it helps to be prepared by getting some application details prepared before you start.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

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Step 4:  Valuation or Survey 

You've found the home you want and you've made the offer. The next step is that Halifax will need a valuation to make sure the property is worth the amount you want to borrow and is suitable to lend a mortgage on.

Perhaps you may want a more detailed survey done for your own peace of mind? We can help arrange all this for you.

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Step 5:  The Mortgage Offer 

When your valuation has been done, the mortgage application has been processed and you've decided to go ahead, then we will make you a mortgage offer. This is a formal document setting out all the details of the mortgage.

A copy of this is sent to you and your conveyancer (see below – step 6) who will check your mortgage offer and explain it to you.

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Step 6:  Conveyancing – the legal part 

While you're having your valuation done you need to arrange a conveyancer (a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer) to complete all the legal work for you. This is one person you can and should depend on throughout the whole process, so take your time finding someone you feel you can rely on - they are the key person in making your purchase a reality.

You can choose to have all the legal work carried out by a firm from our panel of conveyancers

Once your conveyancer has completed all the necessary legal checks, you'll be able to sign the contract. Make sure you're happy with everything before you sign.

Exchanged contracts? 

1. A date is set for completion, which everyone is happy with
2. Between exchange of contracts and completion, your conveyancer will prepare the document to transfer the legal ownership of the property to you and also the mortgage deed
3. They will then arrange for these to be signed in readiness for completion

On the day of completion the balance of the purchase price is paid to the seller's conveyancer in return for the title documents of your new home

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Step 7:  Collecting the keys

On the day of completion the property becomes yours and you can collect the keys. 

Before you collect the keys to your new home you need to do some planning in advance – it will make moving in a lot less stressful if you're prepared!

When you move in you'll probably start considering all the ways you can improve your home – from decorating to making it more energy efficient.

Once you're with Halifax you can rest assured we won't forget you. We'll invite you for a  free mortgage review every year, to give you peace of mind that you're getting the most from your mortgage. Plus you could borrow more money–whatever your plans, such as home improvements or a new car.

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Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage