A new home is probably to be one of the most expensive purchases you will make during your lifetime.
Besides the property itself, you will have likely heard of other costs you may incur. Whether you are a first time buyer, or you are just unsure about the costs of purchasing, here is our breakdown on what costs to expecting when buying a new home.
Mortgage fees
If you are obtaining a mortgage on your property, your lender will normally charge an arrangement fee; this is an administration fee which can cost up to £2,000 and varies from lender to lender. This fee can be added to your mortgage or paid up front.
The lender will also need to carry out a valuation on the property and will send a surveyor to assess this. Some, but not all, lenders recharge this to the borrower. So be prepared to incur these costs which are based on a percentage value of the property.
Mortgage fees do vary depending on the lender, a mortgage adviser will be able to advise you on the fees charged by each lender before you make your application.
Mortgage broker and adviser fees
A mortgage broker or adviser will explain the most suitable mortgage type for you and are able to assist you in making an application.
They will also be able to provide advice on the mortgage fees for each lender. Although they are not essential and you can apply to the bank directly, brokers are particularly useful if you are unsure which mortgage you can afford and if you are concerned about your credit rating.
You should expect to pay around £500 for a mortgage broker although some do recover their fees from the lender directly so that you are not charged.
Many brokers offer a free no obligation consultation and your estate agent may also recommend using a certain broker.
Survey costs
Although your mortgage lender will carry out a valuation, it is advisable but not compulsory to get a full survey.
This will assess the condition of the property and highlight any issues with the property which may prove costly.
There are two types of survey, a home buyers report costs between £350 – £1000 again this is dependent on the value of the property and will cover the general condition of the property. A building survey can cost between £500 – £1300 and is a more in depth survey covering the buildings structure and is advisable for older properties.
Solicitor’s fees
You will need a solicitor to carry out the legal work for you. A solicitor will carry out searches which can cost around £200 depending on the area of the property. The solicitor’s costs themselves will normally depend on the purchase price of the property. Contact us for a FREE no obligation quote for your conveyancing fees.
Stamp duty
If you are purchasing a property over £125,000 stamp duty is payable. The stamp duty is scaled and depends on the purchase price of your property:
| Purchase price | Stamp Duty rate |
| up to £125,000 | Zero |
| over £125,000 and up to £250,000 | 2% |
| over £250,000 and up to £925,000 | 5% |
| over £925,000 and up to £1.5 million | 10% |
| over £1.5 million | 12% |
Removal costs
If you are moving from another property, you will most likely require help moving. It is worth enquiring with removal companies how much the move will cost you as this can vary depending on distance and amount of items.
Insurance costs
If you are purchasing with a mortgage, the lender will require buildings insurance is put in place before completion; this is separate to contents cover. Insurance companies offer competitive rates but it may be worth using a search provider to obtain a quote.
Get in touch
If you are thinking of purchasing a property, get in touch with our residential conveyancing solicitors in Leeds and London on 0800 988 7756.
