Background

First Time Buyers

Being a first-time buyer is both exciting and daunting. Our experienced residential conveyancing lawyers can help you with every aspect of your first-time property purchase, explaining each step of the process and ensuring that you are in the best possible place to make the right decisions.

Our conveyancing team has helped thousands of first-time buyers to navigate the confusing and sometimes pressured process of purchasing a property. From dealing with estate agents and getting your mortgage approved to commissioning professionals such as surveyors and making sense of their reports, there is a lot to learn and a lot of unfamiliar terminology. We’ll help to take the heat and the jargon out of the process, providing straightforward, easy-to-understand, expert advice and moving you towards completion and getting the keys in your hand.

At Coodes, we sit on most of the lenders’ panels. That means we have the advantage of being able to act for both you and your lender, saving you time and, potentially, money.

Your first-time home purchase will be handled by an experienced senior lawyer supported by an assigned assistant. That way, you’ll have two people you can contact who will know about the progress of your purchase and help to answer any queries you may have. This personal approach has enabled us to help clients throughout Cornwall and Devon and in return, their positive feedback has led to us winning a host of customer service awards at the ESTAS Conveyancer Awards.

First-time Buyers Stamp Duty Land Tax Relief

Most property purchases are subject to a special tax called Stamp Duty Land Tax. However, if you are a first-time buyer, you will only need to pay this tax if the purchase price of your property exceeds £425,000. For purchases between £425,001.00 and £625,000.00, Stamp Duty Land Tax is charged at 5% on the portion above £425,001. There is no relief for first-time buyers buying over £625,000.00.

To qualify, you need to fulfil certain criteria. Call our conveyancing team for more information.

Fees for conveyancing

We recognise that you may be nervous about the legal costs of property transactions. That’s why we offer fixed fees for conveyancing, with no hidden costs. With Coodes as your new-build conveyancing solicitors, you’ll have complete certainty – about the process, the progress, and how much it’s going to cost.

First-time-buyer savings schemes

In recent years the government has introduced a series of schemes to help first-time buyers, including the current Lifetime ISA (LISA). If you have one of these and are intending to use it as part of the payment for your property, you will need to meet certain requirements to access your funds. We are used to dealing with first-time buyers and the requirements of these schemes and will help you to progress your purchase smoothly ad with as little stress as possible.

Affordable housing schemes for first-time buyers

The explosion in house prices in recent years has made it difficult for many first-time buyers to get onto the housing ladder. There are a number of affordable-housing schemes that can help, including resale price covenants. Because the process of buying an affordable housing property is different, it is important that you have advice from conveyancing lawyers who understand exactly what you need. Our award-winning conveyancing service includes a specialist team dedicated to the affordable-housing sector who understand all the affordable-housing schemes and can offer the very best advice tailored to your needs.

Team

Sarah Cowley

Head of Residential Property

Kathryn Shaw

Associate

Laura Noble

Associate

Sophie Jones

Associate

Emma Pearce

Licensed Conveyancer

Hannah Knight

Paralegal

Heidi Start

Solicitor

Lianne Priest

Solicitor

News & Events

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Key contact

A photo of Sarah Evans

Sarah Cowley

Head of Residential Property

Get a quote

We have a very clear pricing structure and ensure that you have a very clear idea of what your move will cost from the outset.

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Get in touch

Call us on 0800 328 3282, or complete the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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