HomeReady
Plan your first home purchase with simple tools and clear next steps
Work out your deposit, monthly costs, upfront budget, and buyer readiness with practical tools built for UK first-time buyers.
Best place to start
Step 1
Check where you stand
Use the checklist and readiness score to see your current position.
Step 2
Work out the numbers
Use the deposit, monthly cost, and move-in tools to plan properly.
Step 3
Learn what comes next
Read the buyer guides to understand the process with more confidence.
Why HomeReady helps
Built to make the buying journey feel clearer
HomeReady gives first-time buyers simple tools, plain-English guidance, and a clearer sense of what to do next.
Made for first-time buyers
Every page is designed around the real questions first-time buyers usually get stuck on, from saving a deposit to understanding monthly costs.
Plain English, not jargon
The aim is to make the process easier to follow without throwing legal terms, mortgage jargon, or confusing numbers at you all at once.
Helpful before bigger decisions
Use HomeReady to feel more prepared before speaking to a broker, lender, or estate agent, so you can move forward with more confidence.
Tools that explain themselves
Each calculator gives you a plain-English result, not just a number, so you know what it actually means.
Built for UK first-time buyers
Every tool and guide is focused on the real costs, decisions, and next steps UK first-time buyers face.
Use it in any order
Start with the checklist, a calculator, or a guide — there is no fixed path and no pressure to do it all at once.
How HomeReady works
A simpler way to get buyer-ready
HomeReady helps you understand where you are, work out the key numbers, and decide what to do next.
01
See where you stand
Start with the checklist or readiness score to get a simple picture of what is already in place and what still needs work.
02
Work out your numbers
Use the calculators to plan your deposit, monthly costs, and move-in budget before you start making decisions.
03
Move forward with clarity
Read the guides and follow your next steps so you can feel more confident about buying your first home.
Start here
Not sure what to do first?
Pick the option that matches what you need right now. You do not need to do everything in order.
Best first step
I want to know where I stand
Start with the checklist if you want a simple view of what you have already done and what still needs work.
Money focus
I want to work out my numbers
Use the deposit calculator if you want a clearer idea of what you may need to save for the kind of property you want.
Quick snapshot
I want a fast readiness check
Try the readiness score if you want a quick sense of how close you are and what to improve next.
Explore the tools
Each page is designed to help with one part of the buying journey.
First-time buyer checklist
See what you have already sorted, what still needs work, and what to focus on next before you start buying.
Open checklist →
Deposit calculator
Work out how much you may need upfront and get a clearer picture of what buying could realistically cost.
Calculate deposit →
Monthly cost calculator
Look beyond the mortgage payment and estimate the real monthly cost of owning your first home.
Work out monthly costs →
Move-in cost planner
Plan for the one-off costs that catch buyers out, from legal fees and surveys to moving and setup costs.
Plan move-in costs →
Readiness score
Get a quick snapshot of how prepared you are right now and what could make the biggest difference next.
Check readiness →
Buyer guides
Read simple, plain-English guides on the key steps, costs, and decisions every first-time buyer needs to understand.
Read guides →
Common questions
First-time buyer questions, answered simply
A few quick answers to help new buyers understand where to start.
Where should I start as a first-time buyer?+
Start by understanding where you stand now. The checklist and readiness score can help you see what is already in place, what still needs work, and which step makes most sense next.
How much deposit do I actually need?+
It depends on the property price and mortgage available to you, but the deposit is only one part of the upfront cost. You may also need to budget for legal fees, surveys, mortgage costs, moving costs, and a buffer for the unexpected.
Is the deposit the only money I need before buying?+
No. Many first-time buyers focus on the deposit first, but there are usually other upfront costs as well. HomeReady helps you plan for both the deposit and the extra buying costs so there are fewer surprises later.
How do I know if I can afford the monthly cost?+
It helps to look beyond the mortgage payment on its own. You also need to think about bills, council tax, service charges if they apply, maintenance, and the wider cost of running your home each month.
Do I need perfect credit to buy my first home?+
Not necessarily. Stronger credit can help, but first-time buyers do not need everything to be perfect before they start planning. The useful first step is understanding your position clearly so you know what may need improving.
What does HomeReady help me do?+
HomeReady helps you understand your numbers, track your progress, and feel clearer about your next step. It is designed to make the buying journey feel simpler, calmer, and easier to follow.