| Most first-time buyers find it very hard to buy | | | | history of the property. You can find out things |
| property because of the ever-rising cost of | | | | like how many times it's been sold and how long |
| housing in the UK. Some smart people have | | | | the property has been on the market, and so on. |
| realised that there are some alternatives which | | | | For a small fee like £3 you can find out |
| can make it possible for you to own a property. | | | | some more detailed information about the history |
| You can buy a house with your friends or family. | | | | of the property and what planning applications |
| There are various mortgage packages that allow | | | | have been made in the past. You can find out |
| you to do that. You could also participate in a | | | | about things like extensions on the property and |
| shared ownership scheme where you buy a | | | | how much the property was sold for previously. |
| percentage of your home and pay rent on the | | | | If you are planning to buy run down property that |
| rest. Initial shares on these houses start from | | | | needs improvement or renovating, do your |
| 25% but you can increase your share when you | | | | homework and find out exactly how much it will |
| are able to afford it. | | | | cost to bring it up to standard. It's always a good |
| Finding a property to buy is now easier than | | | | idea to carry out a full survey on such properties. |
| before. There are so many options but the most | | | | Educate and familiarise yourself with the |
| popular ones are searching online, visiting an | | | | terminology that is used in the house buying |
| estate agent or browsing classifieds sections in | | | | process. Property chains may fall apart so make |
| property newspapers. You can use these | | | | your plans wisely and maintain good |
| methods to locate properties that are being | | | | communication with the seller's agent. Be realistic |
| auctioned, houses that are being build or have just | | | | about the offers you put in. Offers that are too |
| been built, and homes that need improvement | | | | low may seem like a good way to buy a |
| and so on. You need to decide what type of | | | | property at a bargain price but some people have |
| property you want to buy. | | | | lost out on good properties when another party |
| When viewing properties, make an effort to find | | | | stepped in and got the property by gazumping |
| out about the property as much as possible. You | | | | them. |
| can do some research online and find out the | | | | |