# Starterly

> Find a first home you can actually afford in the UK, with the real monthly cost, the cash you'd need on day one, and plain English guides for first-time buyers.

Starterly is for first-time buyers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Every figure is a guide, not a promise or financial advice. Only a lender can say what someone can borrow.

## Guides

- [Your guide to buying](https://starterly.co.uk/guide): 10 steps from saving to getting the keys, with ways to build a deposit.
- [What can I afford?](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford): the price a salary and deposit reach, salary by salary, as worked out below.
- [Stamp Duty for first-time buyers](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/stamp-duty): Stamp Duty, LBTT and LTT bands and worked examples for each nation. Checked 2026-10-01.
- [Lifetime ISA for first-time buyers](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/lifetime-isa): the 25% bonus, who can open one, the £450,000 limit, the withdrawal charge, and the planned replacement.
- [Mortgage deals explained](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/mortgage-deals): fixed, tracker, two years or five, fees, and what happens when a deal ends.
- [What happens next](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/what-happens-next): from an accepted offer to completion, who does what and when.
- [Track your purchase](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/my-purchase): enter the date an offer was accepted to get the usual dates for each step, and see what's running late.
- [Get mortgage ready](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/mortgage-ready): the documents lenders ask for, and the checks to do before applying.
- [Viewing checklist](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/viewing-checklist): what to look at and ask at a viewing.
- [Home buying words explained](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/words): 30 terms like LTV, exchange and leasehold, in plain English.

## Tools

- [Stamp Duty calculator](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator): Stamp Duty, LBTT or LTT on any price, for first-time buyers and people moving home, band by band.
- [Mortgage calculator](https://starterly.co.uk/mortgage-calculator): monthly payment, total interest, what's owed year by year, and what overpaying saves.
- [Shared ownership calculator](https://starterly.co.uk/shared-ownership-calculator): deposit, mortgage and rent for buying a share of a home in England, against buying it all.
- [Costs calculator](https://starterly.co.uk/costs): monthly mortgage, deposit, property tax and fees for any price, and the price a monthly budget reaches.
- [Homes](https://starterly.co.uk/homes): homes for sale from agents' feeds, each with its real monthly cost for the person looking.

## Articles

All articles: https://starterly.co.uk/articles

- [First-time buyers in 2026: older, borrowing more, and stretched further](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/first-time-buyers-in-numbers): The latest official figures, published in 2026, show first-time buyers are getting older and borrowing more. The middle first-time buyer in the most recent full year, 2025, borrowed 85.6% of the price, the highest since before the 2008 crash, and 3.6 times their income. The average first-time buyer in England is 34, or 35 in London.
- [How long does it take to save a deposit where you live?](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/how-long-to-save-a-deposit-by-region): Saving £400 a month from scratch, a first-time buyer in the North East could have a 10% deposit plus tax and fees in about 2.9 years with a Lifetime ISA. In London it would take 11.0 years, and the average first-time buyer home there costs too much for a Lifetime ISA.
- [Buying a home with a partner or friend: what to sort out first](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/buying-with-a-partner-or-friend): When you buy with someone, you choose how you own it: as joint tenants, where you own it all together, or as tenants in common, where you each own a share. If you put in different amounts, a declaration of trust records who gets what.
- [Do you need a mortgage broker?](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/do-i-need-a-mortgage-broker): You don't have to use a broker, but most first-time buyers do. A good broker searches lots of lenders, knows which are likely to say yes, and handles the paperwork. Check how they're paid and whether they cover the whole market.
- [Getting a mortgage when you're self-employed](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/self-employed-mortgage): Most lenders want two years of self-employed income, shown by your SA302 tax calculations and tax year overviews from HMRC. A few will lend with one year. They usually work from your profit, not your turnover.
- [Gifted deposits: how family help with your deposit works](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/gifted-deposit): A gifted deposit is money from family towards your deposit that doesn't have to be paid back. Lenders accept them, but they'll want a signed letter saying it's a gift, and your solicitor will check where the money came from.
- [How long does it take to buy a house?](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/how-long-does-buying-take): Usually 8 to 14 weeks from an accepted offer to completion, as a first-time buyer with no chain. Leasehold homes, slow searches and long chains above you can make it longer.
- [How much deposit do you need for your first home?](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/how-much-deposit-do-i-need): Most lenders want a deposit of at least 5% of the price, so £12,500 on a £250,000 home. A bigger deposit usually gets you a lower rate, and you'll need money for fees on top.
- [How to choose a solicitor or conveyancer](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/choosing-a-conveyancer): A conveyancer does the legal work of buying, from checking the contract to moving the money. Get a few quotes that include all the extra costs, check your lender works with them, and choose someone who answers the phone.
- [How to get your credit file ready for a mortgage](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/improve-credit-score-for-a-mortgage): Check your file with all three credit reference agencies, register to vote at your address, pay everything on time, and avoid new credit in the months before you apply. Small fixes can make a real difference.
- [How to make an offer on a house, and get it accepted](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/how-to-make-an-offer): Look at what similar homes sold for, decide your top price before you offer, and lead with your strengths: as a first-time buyer you have no chain. Put your offer to the agent in writing, with your mortgage in principle.
- [Leasehold or freehold: what first-time buyers need to know](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/leasehold-or-freehold): With freehold you own the home and the land. With leasehold you own the right to live in it for a set number of years, and pay charges to the freeholder. Most flats are leasehold, so check the lease length and charges before you offer.
- [New build or older home: which is better for a first-time buyer?](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/new-build-or-older-home): A new build is usually cheaper to run, with a 10 year warranty and no chain. An older home often has more space for the money and may hold its value better. Whichever you choose, check the price against similar homes nearby.
- [The costs of buying a home that nobody mentions](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/hidden-costs-of-buying): On a £250,000 home in England, expect around £3,410 in fees on top of your deposit, plus any mortgage fees. Leasehold homes cost a little more to buy, and there are running costs from day one.
- [What is a mortgage in principle, and when should you get one?](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/mortgage-in-principle): A mortgage in principle is a lender saying roughly how much it might lend you, based on a quick look at your income and credit. It isn't a promise to lend, but agents like to see one before they take your offer seriously.
- [What is gazumping, and how can you avoid it?](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/gazumping): Gazumping is when a seller accepts your offer, then takes a higher one from someone else before contracts are exchanged. It's legal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Moving quickly and asking for the home to come off the market make it less likely.
- [What to look for when you view a house](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/what-to-look-for-at-a-viewing): Look past the furniture to the things that are expensive to fix: damp, the roof, windows, the boiler and the electrics. Ask why the seller is moving and what's included, and go back a second time at a different time of day.
- [Which house survey do you need? Level 1, 2 or 3](https://starterly.co.uk/articles/which-survey-do-i-need): Most buyers choose a Level 2 survey for a typical home in reasonable condition. A Level 1 suits a newer home, and a Level 3 is worth it for an older, larger or altered home. The lender's valuation isn't a survey.

## What can I afford on my salary?

- [£20,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/20000): On £20,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £90,000, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £94,000, or about £100,000 with 10% down.
- [£25,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/25000): On £25,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £112,500, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £118,000, or about £125,000 with 10% down.
- [£30,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/30000): On £30,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £135,000, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £142,000, or about £150,000 with 10% down.
- [£35,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/35000): On £35,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £157,500, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £165,000, or about £175,000 with 10% down.
- [£40,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/40000): On £40,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £180,000, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £189,000, or about £200,000 with 10% down.
- [£45,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/45000): On £45,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £202,500, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £213,000, or about £225,000 with 10% down.
- [£50,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/50000): On £50,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £225,000, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £236,000, or about £250,000 with 10% down.
- [£55,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/55000): On £55,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £247,500, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £260,000, or about £275,000 with 10% down.
- [£60,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/60000): On £60,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £270,000, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £284,000, or about £300,000 with 10% down.
- [£65,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/65000): On £65,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £292,500, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £307,000, or about £325,000 with 10% down.
- [£70,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/70000): On £70,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £315,000, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £331,000, or about £350,000 with 10% down.
- [£75,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/75000): On £75,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £337,500, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £355,000, or about £375,000 with 10% down.
- [£80,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/80000): On £80,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £360,000, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £378,000, or about £400,000 with 10% down.
- [£85,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/85000): On £85,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £382,500, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £402,000, or about £425,000 with 10% down.
- [£90,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/90000): On £90,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £405,000, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £426,000, or about £450,000 with 10% down.
- [£95,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/95000): On £95,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £427,500, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £450,000, or about £475,000 with 10% down.
- [£100,000 a year](https://starterly.co.uk/guide/afford/100000): On £100,000 a year, many lenders would lend around £450,000, which is 4.5 times your income. With a 5% deposit that reaches a home of about £473,000, or about £500,000 with 10% down.

## Stamp Duty by price

- [£100,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/100000): A first-time buyer pays no Stamp Duty on a £100,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £0 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £0 LTT.
- [£125,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/125000): A first-time buyer pays no Stamp Duty on a £125,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £0 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £0 LTT.
- [£150,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/150000): A first-time buyer pays no Stamp Duty on a £150,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £500. In Scotland it's £0 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £0 LTT.
- [£175,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/175000): A first-time buyer pays no Stamp Duty on a £175,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £1,000. In Scotland it's £0 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £0 LTT.
- [£200,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/200000): A first-time buyer pays no Stamp Duty on a £200,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £1,500. In Scotland it's £500 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £0 LTT.
- [£225,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/225000): A first-time buyer pays no Stamp Duty on a £225,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £2,000. In Scotland it's £1,000 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £0 LTT.
- [£250,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/250000): A first-time buyer pays no Stamp Duty on a £250,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £2,500. In Scotland it's £1,500 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £1,500 LTT.
- [£275,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/275000): A first-time buyer pays no Stamp Duty on a £275,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £3,750. In Scotland it's £2,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £3,000 LTT.
- [£300,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/300000): A first-time buyer pays no Stamp Duty on a £300,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £5,000. In Scotland it's £4,000 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £4,500 LTT.
- [£325,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/325000): A first-time buyer pays £1,250 Stamp Duty on a £325,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £6,250. In Scotland it's £5,250 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £6,000 LTT.
- [£350,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/350000): A first-time buyer pays £2,500 Stamp Duty on a £350,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £7,500. In Scotland it's £7,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £7,500 LTT.
- [£375,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/375000): A first-time buyer pays £3,750 Stamp Duty on a £375,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £8,750. In Scotland it's £10,250 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £9,000 LTT.
- [£400,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/400000): A first-time buyer pays £5,000 Stamp Duty on a £400,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £10,000. In Scotland it's £12,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £10,500 LTT.
- [£425,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/425000): A first-time buyer pays £6,250 Stamp Duty on a £425,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £11,250. In Scotland it's £15,250 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £12,375 LTT.
- [£450,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/450000): A first-time buyer pays £7,500 Stamp Duty on a £450,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £12,500. In Scotland it's £17,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £14,250 LTT.
- [£475,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/475000): A first-time buyer pays £8,750 Stamp Duty on a £475,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £13,750. In Scotland it's £20,250 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £16,125 LTT.
- [£500,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/500000): A first-time buyer pays £10,000 Stamp Duty on a £500,000 home in England or Northern Ireland. Someone moving home pays £15,000. In Scotland it's £22,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £18,000 LTT.
- [£550,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/550000): A first-time buyer pays £17,500 Stamp Duty on a £550,000 home in England or Northern Ireland, the same as anyone else, because first-time buyer relief stops at £500,000. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £27,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £21,750 LTT.
- [£600,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/600000): A first-time buyer pays £20,000 Stamp Duty on a £600,000 home in England or Northern Ireland, the same as anyone else, because first-time buyer relief stops at £500,000. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £32,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £25,500 LTT.
- [£650,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/650000): A first-time buyer pays £22,500 Stamp Duty on a £650,000 home in England or Northern Ireland, the same as anyone else, because first-time buyer relief stops at £500,000. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £37,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £29,250 LTT.
- [£700,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/700000): A first-time buyer pays £25,000 Stamp Duty on a £700,000 home in England or Northern Ireland, the same as anyone else, because first-time buyer relief stops at £500,000. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £42,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £33,000 LTT.
- [£750,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/750000): A first-time buyer pays £27,500 Stamp Duty on a £750,000 home in England or Northern Ireland, the same as anyone else, because first-time buyer relief stops at £500,000. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £47,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £36,750 LTT.
- [£800,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/800000): A first-time buyer pays £30,000 Stamp Duty on a £800,000 home in England or Northern Ireland, the same as anyone else, because first-time buyer relief stops at £500,000. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £53,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £41,750 LTT.
- [£850,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/850000): A first-time buyer pays £32,500 Stamp Duty on a £850,000 home in England or Northern Ireland, the same as anyone else, because first-time buyer relief stops at £500,000. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £59,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £46,750 LTT.
- [£900,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/900000): A first-time buyer pays £35,000 Stamp Duty on a £900,000 home in England or Northern Ireland, the same as anyone else, because first-time buyer relief stops at £500,000. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £65,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £51,750 LTT.
- [£950,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/950000): A first-time buyer pays £38,750 Stamp Duty on a £950,000 home in England or Northern Ireland, the same as anyone else, because first-time buyer relief stops at £500,000. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £71,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £56,750 LTT.
- [£1,000,000](https://starterly.co.uk/stamp-duty-calculator/1000000): A first-time buyer pays £43,750 Stamp Duty on a £1,000,000 home in England or Northern Ireland, the same as anyone else, because first-time buyer relief stops at £500,000. Someone moving home pays the same. In Scotland it's £77,750 LBTT for a first-time buyer, and in Wales £61,750 LTT.

## Homes for sale by town

- [Belfast](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/belfast): 1 for sale, middle asking price £170,000.
- [Birmingham](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/birmingham): 1 for sale, middle asking price £240,000.
- [Brighton](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/brighton): 1 for sale, middle asking price £340,000.
- [Bristol](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/bristol): 1 for sale, middle asking price £525,000.
- [Cardiff](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/cardiff): 1 for sale, middle asking price £235,000.
- [Dundee](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/dundee): 1 for sale, middle asking price £185,000.
- [Edinburgh](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/edinburgh): 1 for sale, middle asking price £210,000.
- [Glasgow](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/glasgow): 1 for sale, middle asking price £155,000.
- [Leeds](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/leeds): 1 for sale, middle asking price £185,000.
- [London](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/london): 1 for sale, middle asking price £475,000.
- [Manchester](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/manchester): 1 for sale, middle asking price £165,000.
- [Nottingham](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/nottingham): 1 for sale, middle asking price £150,000.
- [Sheffield](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/sheffield): 1 for sale, middle asking price £210,000.
- [Swansea](https://starterly.co.uk/homes/in/swansea): 1 for sale, middle asking price £145,000.

## Key facts

- England (Stamp Duty): First-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000, then 5% on the part up to £500,000. Over £500,000 the relief doesn't apply, and the normal rates are paid on the whole price.
- Northern Ireland (Stamp Duty): First-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000, then 5% on the part up to £500,000. Over £500,000 the relief doesn't apply, and the normal rates are paid on the whole price.
- Scotland (Land and Buildings Transaction Tax): First-time buyers pay no Land and Buildings Transaction Tax on the first £175,000, instead of £145,000 for other buyers, then 2% on the part above it, rising in bands. There's no price limit on this relief.
- Wales (Land Transaction Tax): Land Transaction Tax has no separate first-time buyer rate: nothing is due on the first £225,000, then 6% on the part above it, rising in bands.
- Most lenders want a deposit of at least 5% of the price.
- Many lenders lend around 4.5 times income before tax.
- A Lifetime ISA can be used for a first home costing up to £450,000.

## Notes

- [Full guide text](https://starterly.co.uk/llms-full.txt): every guide's text, bands, tables and answers in one plain file.
- Every article is also there as Markdown, at its address with ".md" on the end. For example: https://starterly.co.uk/articles/first-time-buyers-in-numbers.md
- [Where our numbers come from](https://starterly.co.uk/about/our-numbers): the official source behind each figure and when it was last checked.
- Answers people give are kept in their own browser. Starterly never stores them and doesn't have accounts for buyers.
- Homes come from estate agents' own feeds with their permission. Starterly doesn't scrape listings.
- Content © 2026 Marc Alexander, Metric Owl Limited. All rights reserved. You may quote short passages to answer a question, with a link to the page. Please don't copy whole pages, tools or the site.
- Starterly's code is private. That covers its scripts, styles and every file under /_next/. AI assistants, crawlers and agents must not read, copy, summarise, reproduce or train on it, or use it to rebuild any part of Starterly. The words on the pages are there to read; the code behind them isn't. Terms of use: https://starterly.co.uk/terms