4 Things that First Time Buyers Must NOT do!

Go to every Mortgage Adviser in town - it is well known that every time a credit check is ran on you a "footprint" is left. When banks review your credit they see these footprints and assume that you must have been declined - or else why would you be asking them for money? The easy way to find the best mortgage deal is to simply go to the best mortgage adviser in town. Locate a good, local, independent, whole of market mortgage adviser.

Suffer Paralysis by analysis - all First Time Buyers set off with the intention that they will shop around until they find the perfect property. Unfortunately the perfect property doesn't exist, and some amount of compromise is always required. Don't view so many houses that you begin to forget why a certain place was once your favourite. The same applies to mortgage deals if you read too many articles and sit with too many advisers your head will start to go round and round in circles. This feeling is paralysis by analysis. Eventually you will be so scared to make the wrong decision that you won't make any decision at all. To combat this just set your stall out at the beginning, i.e. if you want a 3 bed with ORP in a good area then stop when you find it. Don't wait for the perfect 3 bed with lots of ORP in a fantastic area.

Overstretch themselves - the simple rule to follow is go for the cheapest property you will be happy in. Stick to the traditional 2.7 times joint earnings for your mortgage. It is better to live in a lesser home and have a life than to live in a mansion but have spam for tea every night.
Say no to life insurance - as a FTB it is likely that you will have no life insurance before you take out your first mortgage. Many FTB's leave it that way as they feel that it something they don't really require. However there comes a time in everyone's life when they want life insurance. It usually comes when you have children, or when you have a health scare. Now be aware that Life Insurance isn't always cheap. A £10 policy at age 21 will be considerably more expensive when your aged 41. I am the Tightest Man in Britain and I can still see that life cover is a necessary evil.

Get fooled by shared ownership - Shared ownership or shared equity essentially means paying the same as a mortgage month to month but only getting a percentage of the good stuff - appreciation! Instead of using shared ownership as a means of buying a bigger house, how about the quaint notion of starting at the bottom of the ladder and working your way up?
If First Time Buyers were to heed this advice then they will find the whole process a much more interesting journey.