Your Comprehensive Guide to Buying Your First Home in Scotland

Find a solicitor estate agent to represent you

When buying a home in Scotland, it’s a legal requirement that you have a solicitor represent you. They’ll guide you through your first time buyer journey, and make offers and deal with selling agents on your behalf. ESPC works with hundreds of solicitor estate agents across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, the Borders, central and West Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway, so you can find an ESPC solicitor estate agent now.

An ESPC Charter firm can offer you additional peace of mind, they are committed to delivering exceptional service beyond legal requirements. Look out for the ‘Chartered Firm’ tag when searching for an ESPC solicitor estate agent.

Secure your mortgage

A mortgage in principle (sometimes called a decision in principle) is a document from a bank or building society that tells you how much they will be willing to lend you. This is an essential step in helping you work out how much of a deposit you might need and how much you can afford to spend on your first home.

Using an ESPC Mortgage specialist to help you with this step is vital. They will be able to guide you through the process, advise on any first-time buyer government schemes you may be eligible for and secure the best financing options tailored to your needs. Get in touch with ESPC Mortgages now for a free initial consultation.

Understand your budget

Once you know how much a bank will lend you, it's time to work out your overall budget.

Other costs that are involved in buying a house include:

• extra money to bid over the Home Report value (your bank won't lend more than the property's Home Report value)
• Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT)
• legal fees
• removal costs
• homewares that you'll need to purchase soon after moving in

Your chosen solicitor estate agent and mortgage adviser can advise you on your budget in more detail, and give you up-to-date advice on the current property market.

Search for your dream home on espc.com

There are hundreds of properties available on our website that are ideal for first-time buyers, and you can use our search function to filter for exactly the kind of property you want.

ESPC also lists around 80% of properties exclusively for 72 hours, so you can get ahead of other buyers and find your dream home before it’s listed anywhere else. Look out for the ‘exclusive’ tag on the property listings pages.

Don’t forget to sign up to My ESPC, to receive new property alerts, save searches and create watchlists of your favourite properties so you can keep ahead of the game.

Viewing and making an offer on a property in Scotland

On our website you can book an appointment to view your favourite properties directly from the property's page, making it easy for you to quickly book in viewings.

Before viewing a property, it is important to review the property’s Home Report to understand the current state of the property. Find out more about how to understand a home report. Unlike other portals, you can instantly download Home Reports on our website meaning you can access these quickly. 

We've compiled a list of 10 questions all first-time buyers should ask before making an offer (and several of them are most applicable at the viewing!).

When you’ve found a property you want to buy, you can ask your solicitor estate agent to make an offer on your behalf. They'll also advise if you should bid more than the asking price. Remember that your bank will only lend up to the value shown on the Home Report.

Finalising your property purchase

Congratulations! You’re now well on your way to buying your first home in Scotland.

Prepare to formalise your mortgage and complete the legal conveyancing process with support from your solicitor estate agent. They will be able to guide you through the process, answer any of your questions and help you prepare the appropriate paperwork.

Once your purchase has gone through, it's time to get organised! Our handy moving house checklist provides a step-by-step guide to moving home.

Additional advice and support

We firmly believe that everyone deserves access to free, unbiased guidance when navigating the process of purchasing their first home.

You can make use of our complimentary advisory services through the following avenues:

• Explore our First-Time Buyers Resources Hub: Access our dedicated hub that compiles everything you need to know as a first-time buyer, all in one place. From comprehensive guides to expert tips, you'll find valuable resources to support you throughout your home buying journey.
• Attend one of our free property events: We regularly organise specialised events tailored for first-time buyers. These events offer you the opportunity to delve deeper into the home buying process and get tailored advice for free.
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter: Stay informed by subscribing to our newsletter. We compile recent articles, share our Ask the Expert schedule, feature our latest podcast episodes, and highlight our favourite properties currently available on espc.com.
• Join one of our insightful Ask The Experts sessions, where you can get tailored, professional advice from experienced solicitors and mortgage advisors—all in a relaxed, friendly setting. Visit our Events page for details on upcoming Ask The Experts sessions.
• Tune in to our podcast, The ESPC Property Show: Access valuable insights by listening to our podcast, where we cover topics relevant to first-time buyers. You can find our first-time buyer episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our YouTube Channel. 

These free resources are designed to empower you with the knowledge and support you need to make informed decisions throughout your home-buying journey.

Get started! 

Start your first-time buying journey now. Whether you’re ready to go or would just like to find out more, find an ESPC solicitor estate agent and get in touch with ESPC Mortgages to get started!