Your first home, figured out.
Buying a home involves more than the deposit. Explore illustrative upfront costs, mortgage repayments, ongoing bills and how much savings might remain. Compare two scenarios without signing up.
For standard UK residential purchases only. Not suitable for additional properties, non-UK resident surcharges, shared ownership or specialist transactions.
1. Your buying scenario
Assumes a standard repayment mortgage with a constant rate for illustration. Actual lending decisions, rates, charges and bills may differ.
2. Your reality check
Upfront cost breakdown
| Deposit | — |
|---|---|
| Estimated property purchase tax | — |
| Other upfront costs | — |
| Total cash needed | — |
Understand the costs behind your numbers
Your estimate is a starting point. For a deeper explanation of legal fees, surveys, moving expenses and what happens after your offer is accepted, explore our first-home resources.
Read the free hidden costs of buying a house article →
Explore the optional 21-page house-buying guide (£4.99) →
The calculator and article are free. The guide is an optional paid educational download.
3. Compare your scenarios
Save scenario A, change your inputs, then select Compare.
Important information and sources
This free calculator is general educational information, not mortgage, tax or financial advice. It does not assess affordability or eligibility, and it does not guarantee any mortgage offer. It assumes a standard residential purchase by an individual, not an additional property, company purchase, non-resident purchase or other transaction subject to higher rates. Additional-property surcharges and special cases are not calculated. Property-tax rules and reliefs depend on circumstances and may change. Check your position with a qualified professional.
Tax estimates use standard residential rates and relevant first-time buyer relief rules intended for the 2026/27 period. Verify rates before relying on the result. Official sources: HMRC: SDLT rates, Revenue Scotland: LBTT, Welsh Government: LTT. Tax bands verified against official guidance: 4 November 2026.
Related tools: mortgage affordability calculator, mortgage repayment calculator and UK Budget 2026 first-time buyer explainer.
Saved comparisons are stored only in this browser's local storage. They are not sent to Life Figured. Clearing browser storage removes them. The share button copies only the tool URL, not your figures.
What does buying your first home actually cost?
Your deposit is only one part of the upfront cash required. Depending on where you buy and your circumstances, you may also need money for property purchase tax, a solicitor or conveyancer, a survey, removals and other costs. Some mortgage products have arrangement or valuation fees too.
For example, for a £250,000 first home in England with a £25,000 deposit and £3,500 of additional fees, the illustrated upfront cash needed is £28,500 if first-time buyer SDLT relief applies. Your actual costs may be different.
Frequently asked questions
Does this tell me how much a bank will lend?
No. This estimates costs for an example purchase. A lender will assess income, outgoings, credit history and its own criteria.
Why are the tax estimates different across the UK?
England and Northern Ireland use Stamp Duty Land Tax, Scotland uses Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, and Wales uses Land Transaction Tax. Reliefs and bands differ.
How much deposit do I need for a first home?
Different mortgage products have different deposit requirements. This calculator lets you test a deposit amount and see the corresponding illustrative mortgage payment, but it cannot determine whether a lender will accept your application.
What happens if my savings do not cover the upfront costs?
The results show a negative savings balance when your entered savings are lower than the deposit, estimated purchase tax and other upfront costs. This is a prompt to revisit the example, not a recommendation to borrow more.
Are ongoing home ownership bills included?
Yes, if you enter estimates for bills and maintenance. These amounts are not automatically calculated from your postcode or property and may differ substantially from actual costs.
Can I use this for a second home?
No. Higher rates and other special rules are excluded. Consult the official calculators linked above.