Steps to buying

Step 1: Financial assessment (if you're buying a shared ownership home)
If you're buying a shared ownership home we'll need to confirm you're eligibility and carry out an affordability assessment.

We recommend that you appoint independent legal advice when buying a new home.

When buying through Shared Ownership, Older Persons Shared Ownership, or Discount for Sale schemes make sure you're aware of the policies below before deciding to reserve a home:

• Adverse Credit Policy

• Cash Purchase Policy

• First Come First Served Policy

• Minimum Monthly Surplus Policy

Step 2: Viewing
We’ll make an appointment for you to view the property so you can have a look around, ask any questions and make sure that it’s right for you.

Step 3: Decision in Principle (if buying outright)
If you're buying outright, a Decision in Principle (also known as an Agreement in Principle) is provided by your mortgage lender showing that they can, in principle, give you a mortgage.

Step 4: Reservation
Once you’ve made your choice you can reserve your property. We hold the home for you for an agreed amount of time and it's taken off the market so no one else can reserve it. You'll pay a £500 reservation fee, which is deducted from your final purchase cost.

On some sites you may be asked to complete a financial assessment and instruct a solicitor before making your reservation.

Step 5: Choose a solicitor
You can now choose a solicitor. If you're buying a shared ownership home it's always best to make sure you find one who is experienced in shared ownership sales. If you need any help we can recommend some for you to choose from.

Step 6: Notification of sale
You’re nearly there!

We'll send a notification of sale to both your solicitor and ours instructing them to start the conveyancing process. You'll have 28 days from this date to exchange contracts.

Step 7: Exchange of contracts
Once all the details of the sale have been finalised, we'll swap documentation to confirm that the property sale is legally binding and at the agreed asking price. You'll pay your deposit at the same time, which will be held by our solicitors.

If the home is already built and ready, we'll also confirm the completion date (this is essentially 'moving-in day').

If you're buying off-plan then exchange of contracts will take place on notice. This means that when the property is ready our solicitor will confirm with your solicitor (this is the ‘notice’). You'll then need to complete within a specified period from the time of notice being provided.

Step 8:Home Demonstration
Before the sale is completed we'll arrange a Home Demonstration for you with one of our team. You'll have the opportunity to view your home, learn how everything works and ask any questions.

Step 9: Completion
Completion day is moving-in day! On the day of completion, the final money to buy your home is transferred from your solicitor to ours.

Once this is confirmed, we'll meet you at the property and give you the keys to your brand-new home!