buy myfirst home
Buying your first home

Your own place.
Let’s find
your way in.

Understand deposits, compare ways to buy and prepare for the steps ahead - from your first budget to the keys.

Get my free first-home guide Build my starting budget → Your First Home scheme: latest facts

For first-time buyers in England.
Plain English. No need to know it all already.

Two young adults cooking breakfast together in a kitchen
A place to call yours.Photo: Toa Heftiba / Unsplash
By Rob Davies · Mortgage broker · First qualified in 2003Last updated
The Your First Home announcement

The headline is
only the beginning.

Budget 2026 · England · opening stages confirmed

Your First Home will offer up to 20% equity borrowing with deposits from 2.5%. Pre-registration is planned by the end of December 2026, applications from February 2027 and first loans from April 2027.

Income limits and London price caps are published. Full operational rules and later charges still need checking.

Your First Home: rules, dates and costs Sign up for scheme reminders →What the Budget means for first-time buyers →
A row of modest brick new-build houses with front doors and planted borders
New builds are part of the picture, too.Illustrative photograph, not a scheme listing. James Feaver / Unsplash
Start with what’s on your mind

There’s more than
one way to get there.

You don’t need every answer today.
Just a useful place to begin.

01 / Smaller deposits

“Will I ever
save enough?”

Understand no-deposit, £5k and 5% deposit mortgages - with the conditions beside the possibilities.

Explore low-deposit options 02 / Building your cash

Make your
savings count.

LISA bonuses, saving habits and the money you’ll need beyond the deposit. Give each pot a purpose.

Understand saving & LISAs
Beyond the deposit

From “one day”
to moving day.

Buying a home comes with a lot of firsts. Here’s help with the next one.

Browse the buying guides
  1. 01

    Find your starting budget

    Income and everyday life come before a property price.

  2. 02

    Look beyond the listing

    What to notice, what to ask and what a viewing cannot tell you.

  3. 03

    Make an informed offer

    Keep your budget, questions and conditions in view.

  4. 04

    Know what happens next

    The checks, paperwork and people between an offer and the keys.

Your private planning workspace

Less guesswork.
More of a plan.

Your budget, unfamiliar costs, house hunting and the next step - brought together in one place.

Start with your income and spending. Save your questions, compare homes and return to your work without giving an email address.

Open or continue my plan
MY FIRST HOMEYour next useful step
  1. 01
    A budget for real life

    Start with what comes in and what goes out.

  2. 02
    The whole cash picture

    Your deposit, buying costs and a little breathing room.

  3. 03
    Your next useful step

    From saving and searching to viewings and offers.

Your own figures. Your own pace.

Questions you might be asking

Is this a government website?

No. Buy My First Home is an independent first-time-buyer information site run by Rob Davies. Official sources are linked so you can check the original information.

Do I have to give an email address to use the information or tools?

No. Reading the guides and using the tools does not depend on joining an email list. The planner starts with your income and spending, and keeps unknown costs visible.

Does a smaller deposit mean I can afford the home?

Not on its own. Income, commitments, monthly payments, other buying costs and lender checks still matter.

Sources

Original information checked 28 October 2026. Lender criteria and government plans can change.