The Sun first-time buyer story

The most useful thing a first-time buyer can do is ignore the national headline. The measures disagree: one lender index reports a small annual fall, while the official ONS and HM Land Registry figures show the average English home up 1.8% in the year to June 2026. Neither describes the street you are buying on. Before you offer, look at what has actually sold nearby in the last few months, because that is your real evidence, not a national average.

On price, a flatter market rewards patience. Focus on homes that have been listed a while or already had a price reduction, and base your offer on those recent sold prices rather than the asking price. A seller who has waited three months is usually ready to listen.

On the mortgage, get a decision in principle early and compare across lenders, because rates vary widely by deposit size. Judge the deal on the monthly payment you can comfortably sustain, not on the headline rate alone.

With Lloyds now showing prices down 0.4% over the year, this is the best window first-time buyers have had in ages, but only if you do your homework. Don't just fall in love with a property, research the street, not just the postcode: comparable sales, recent renovations nearby, EPC rating, broadband and crime data all affect what a fair price is. That's the same 18-point check I run for my own clients before they make an offer. Negotiate from evidence, not gut feeling - if a home's been sitting for weeks, use that to push the price down. On the mortgage side, speak to a broker with access to the whole market, not a restricted panel, because the difference between deals can be thousands over the term, and just because a calculator says you can borrow a certain amount doesn't mean you should stretch to the max, keep room for a rate rise or a change in circumstances. Falling prices only help you if your mortgage still leaves you breathing room.

This might have been the hottest summer on record as far as the weather is concerned but the housing market has been more of a damp flannel.

With stock levels continuing to rise, and buyers registering at a reduced rate, property prices are experiencing a period of readjustment across many regions in the Uk.

This presents an opportunity for first time buyers and they can take advantage of a bargain by pouncing quickly. In order to do this, they will need to get the right professional team round them. Instruct a mortgage broker to get the finance in place and choose a good lawyer who can carry out ID and AML checks pre offer. This way, it doesn’t always come down to price, but speed and proceedability will be key

A small fall knocks just over £1k off the average home. That on its own won't change anyone's life. What has changed is the mood. After two months of falls, sellers who have been stuck on the market since spring are far more willing to do a deal. So offer under the asking price on anything that has been listed a while, and ask the agent how many times the price has already been cut.

Get your mortgage agreed in principle before you start viewing. In a slower market a seller will often take a lower offer from a buyer who is ready to go over a higher one who isn't. And don't wait on the Bank of England before locking in a rate. Most lenders let you swap to a cheaper deal right up to the day you complete, so you're covered if rates go up and you still get the drop if they fall.

Being document-ready is essential to keep your budget accurate for borrowing and buying, and to qualify for the cheapest options when you are ready to apply. One or two lenders let you book a mortgage deal early, at the Decision in Principle stage, such as Nationwide BS, and hold it for a period of time. So if the market moves the wrong way, you have time to find a property without a panic, and saving on your mortgage payments.

Negotiation isn't about being clever…it's about position and being ready! Find a seller who needs to move fast, and you've already won. The agent knows it. The seller knows it. Everyone's time is on the clock."
"Buyers lose before they even make an offer. They rock up unprepared, uninformed, nothing in place. To a seller and an agent, that screams weakness. The best negotiation tactic? Show up ready and be clear with your intentions to purchase!

A 0.4% fall won't buy you a cup of coffee, but the nerves behind it will. Sellers who've watched their home sit unsold for months are the ones who'll take an offer well below asking, so ask the agent how long it's been listed and what's already fallen through before you give a number. Then sort the mortgage before the offer, not after. A proper agreement in principle makes you look like a buyer who'll actually complete, and that's worth more to a nervous seller than an extra few thousand on the price.

Get mortgage-ready before you fall in love with a place, not after. Sort your Decision in Principle, get your broker on speed dial, and don't just grab the first rate you see. The cheapest-looking deal with a fat fee attached can cost more than the pricier one, depending on the size of the loan.

A 0.4% national fall does not mean every first-time buyer should expect a bargain. Look at recent sold prices for comparable homes locally, how long the property has been listed and whether the asking price has already been reduced.

An offer becomes more persuasive when it is supported by a mortgage agreement in principle, deposit evidence, a solicitor ready to proceed and flexibility over completion. Being chain-free can sometimes be worth as much to a seller as a slightly higher offer.

Buyers should compare the total mortgage cost rather than focusing only on the headline rate, including fees, incentives and what the repayments could become when the initial deal ends. A broker can search across lenders and identify any first-time buyer or higher loan-to-value products that fit.

Most importantly, do not spend the full amount a lender is prepared to advance. Keep money available for surveys, legal costs, moving and repairs, and be prepared to walk away if the survey changes what the

First-time buyers should remember that the asking price is exactly that: an asking price. If a property has been on the market for a while, has already been reduced or the seller needs to move quickly, there may be room to negotiate. Do your homework on recent comparable sales and make an offer you can justify rather than simply picking a number.

Just as importantly, compare borrowing options before deciding what you can afford. Different lenders can reach very different affordability figures for the same buyer. A small fall in house prices helps, but finding the right lender could potentially make a much bigger difference to the property you can actually buy.

A 0.4% annual drop in house prices gives first-time buyers a rare window of leverage, but they must act fast. The headline dip means sellers are nervous, making it the perfect time to negotiate hard. Ditch the politeness: target properties sitting on the market for over three months and offer 5% to 10% below asking. You are chain-free, which is pure gold to a seller trapped in a stagnant market.

To secure the best mortgage deal, preparation is everything. Lenders are hyper-focused on affordability right now, so pause all major credit spending, clear outstanding card balances, and ensure your credit file is immaculate before applying.

Crucially, don’t just chase the lowest rate. Look closely at upfront product fees, which quietly add thousands to the total cost. Get a verified Mortgage in Principle in hand before viewing to prove to estate agents you can cross the finish line fast.

Don't let a 0.4% dip do your thinking for you. On a £250,000 home that's about a grand, less than you'd move in a decent negotiation, so it isn't really where the opportunity is. The things that genuinely help a first-time buyer are the ones you control. Base your offer on what similar homes on the street actually sold for, and go in harder on anything that's been listed a while or already reduced, because those sellers want a deal done. On the mortgage, the biggest saving usually comes from your deposit tipping over a threshold, like reaching 10% or 15%, which moves your rate far more than a small fall in prices ever will. Get a decision in principle before you offer, so you look serious and know your number. And don't stretch to the maximum a lender allows just because it's offered. Work back from a monthly payment you're comfortable with, because that's the figure you actually live with, not the headline house price.

First time buyers who want to take advantage of this need to get ready before they start viewing. That means an agreement in principle ideally secured by a broker, where your income and deposit has been evidenced, credit checked, paperwork done. In a softer market the discount goes to whoever can move quickest, because sellers will take less in exchange for certainty. Being ready is the negotiation. Everything else is just hoping.

But don't be fooled by the headline either. Prices aren't falling everywhere. They're falling in the places that had already become unaffordable, mainly London, the south and east, where demand has dried up. Go north and prices are still going up.

And any benefit from lower prices is quickly being offset by rising mortgage rates. Lenders have already started repricing upwards this month.

Prepare prepare prepare. The most appealing offers are from buyers who are ready and have everything prepared.

Make sure you are in the most proceedable position possible. Make sure you have spoken to either your lender or a broker in advance to see what you can borrow and to make sure there are no hidden surprised.

Check your credit file to make sure it is accurate, and make sure all your addresses on all your documents are consolidated to where you live and not multiple addresses. Make sure you have all your docs in your correct name if you have recently changed it or got married. Ensure your deposit is easily evidenced and make sure the source of your deposit is acceptable by speaking to your broker or lender.

Falling house prices may give first-time buyers more negotiating power, but preparation is key. Before viewing, establish a realistic budget, obtain an agreement in principle and have your deposit and documents ready.

Research recent sold prices, how long the property has been listed and any work it needs. This can support a sensible offer below the asking price.

Don’t choose a mortgage based on the headline rate alone. Product fees, incentives and the total cost over the deal period all matter. A broker can compare the options and identify lenders or schemes that suit your circumstances.

Most importantly, don’t rush because prices have dipped. Buy when the property is affordable and you still have money available for legal fees, surveys, moving costs and unexpected repairs.

The housing market is very much a buyers market at the moment. Stamp duty and high rates have all but killed the £300k+ property market, leaving sellers desperate and with little option but to reduce their house price in order to make a move happen. I still hear people say they are waiting for rates to drop but the market is an absolute dream for First time buyers who can name their price on a purchase. My advice for any FTB is to go out and take advantage of a market that is fully focussed at getting people on the property ladder, you can wait to save a few quid by rates dropping over the year, but your big win at the moment is the ability to get £5k to £10k off your property price.

First-time buyers finally have something they haven’t had much of in recent years – bargaining power. If a property has been sitting on the market, has already been reduced or the seller needs to move, don’t be afraid to negotiate. Being chain-free is a real weapon and certainty can be worth thousands to a seller. Get your mortgage sorted before you start offering. Check your credit files, reduce expensive debts where possible, avoid taking new finance and get an agreement in principle. Also compare the total cost of mortgage deals, not just the headline rate. And don’t wait endlessly for the ‘bottom’ of the market. Nobody rings a bell when prices hit their lowest point. If you find the right home, can comfortably afford it and negotiate a sensible price, a softer market can be a great opportunity to get on the ladder.

Getting a mortgage is one thing. Being happy in your home with that mortgage is something else. Threading the needle means using expert advice where you need it and also being honest with yourself. Yes, house prices are looking favourable right now and it could be the perfect time to buy. But don't get swept up in the headlines. Is the property right for you? Are the monthly mortgage payments actually comfortable, leaving enough for you to live your life after the money leaves your account? And have you got the right mortgage product term – giving you flexibility to move after a few years, or the security to set down roots over a longer term? This is such an exciting time for so many first-time buyers, but I caution: take the time you need to think and make the right decision for yourself today and in the future. That way, when you do get your keys, you'll actually can be happy and comfortable in your home – and not worried about the monthly budget.

Cornwall's property market is cooling after the post-pandemic frenzy, and first-time buyers finally have the upper hand. Asking prices are slipping throughout the country with entry-level homes now averaging £229,000. Second-home owners and holiday-let landlords, stung by higher tax, want quick clean sales with many now taking 10% below asking without a fight. Look slightly inland to Camborne, Redruth, Helston or St Austell to stretch your budget further, and target listings with Section 106 local connection clauses as they knock out-of-county cash buyers clean out of the running. For the mortgage, it’s always wise to get your Agreement in Principle sorted early, then use every price cut to jump into a cheaper loan-to-value bracket. A regional broker earns their fee here. Cornish quirks like non-standard construction and mundic checks catch out anyone unfamiliar with the ground. And remember: a solid deposit and zero chain beats a higher, riskier offer every time.

The first annual price fall since 2023 confirms we are in a buyer's market, and first time buyers hold the strongest hand of all because they are chain-free. Every £10,000 off the price is roughly £50 off the monthly mortgage payment, and right now there are deals to be had.

Three tips. First, get an agreement in principle from a whole of market broker before you offer: it tells the vendor you can actually proceed. Second, have a solicitor lined up, so the moment the sale is agreed the legal work starts and your ducks are visibly in a row. Third, check the sold data. Rightmove shows what similar homes nearby actually went for, and if the asking price is above that, offer accordingly.

Remember, an asking price is a wish, not a valuation. A property listed at £300,000 is not necessarily worth £300,000, so getting an offer accepted at £285,000 does not automatically mean you have bagged a bargain. Do your own research online, and ask your mortgage broker for their view before you offer.

A 0.4% national fall doesn't make property cheap, but it does give first time buyers some negotiating power, and they should use their biggest advantage: they have nothing to sell.

Chain free, with a mortgage agreement in principle and solicitor lined up, you're the buyer sellers want. That puts you in a stronger position to offer below asking, especially on a home that's been listed for months. Check what similar homes sold for rather than what they were listed at, ask how long it's been on the market and whether the seller needs a quick sale. The worst they can do is say no.

Flexibility can save far more than haggling £5k off a house. Moving your search a few miles, considering a different station or postcode, or buying a smaller property can dramatically change what your deposit will buy.

Then get the mortgage right: tidy your credit record & clear expensive debt. And don't wait for the bottom. If you can afford the right home, trying to time the market can be a false economy.