No price in mind yet?

You do not need to have found a property, have a large deposit or be ready to apply. Start by answering three smaller questions.

1. What could you comfortably spend each month?

Look at take-home income and actual spending. Use the guided planner to build the unfamiliar home bills from explained starting figures. For Council Tax, the local helper lets you compare bands before you know a property. Include travel and any costs that will change when you move. Keep current rent separate from a future mortgage (a loan secured on your home) so you do not count both accidentally.

2. What cash is genuinely available?

Separate ordinary savings, usable Lifetime ISA (a savings or investment account with a government bonus and withdrawal conditions) money and any confirmed gift. Decide what needs to stay accessible. Buying costs and a reserve matter as well as the deposit.

3. What borrowing needs checking?

A salary multiple cannot tell you what a lender will offer. A lender or regulated broker can assess your income and commitments. If income varies or you are self-employed, ask what evidence different lenders accept.

Then choose a price to explore

Look at asking prices for homes that meet your actual needs in the area you want. Asking prices are not valuations or guaranteed purchase prices. Enter a tentative amount in the planner, keeping its provisional nature in mind. A cheaper home only helps if it is a suitable home.