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How much cash do you actually need to buy a house?

How this calculator works & sources ↓

The mortgage is only part of it. Stamp duty, legal fees, surveys and moving costs all land before you get the keys — see the full number upfront.

This calculator is UK-specific — stamp duty rates and thresholds work very differently in other countries, so there's no region switcher here.

House buying costs

Work out the total cash you need on completion day — not just the deposit.

Deposit needed—
Stamp duty (SDLT)—
Legal, survey, moving & other fees—
Total cash needed upfront—
Mortgage loan amount—

Stamp Duty Land Tax figures are illustrative, based on current England & Northern Ireland residential rates. Scotland (LBTT) and Wales (LTT) use different bands. Always confirm the exact figure with your solicitor before exchanging.

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What Nobody Tells You About Buying a House guide cover
LIFE FIGURED GUIDE · £4.99

Buying a home? The mortgage isn’t the whole cost.

Deposits, stamp duty, legal fees, surveys, mortgage fees, moving costs and the bills that arrive afterwards — brought together in one practical 21-page guide.

See what’s inside →

Frequently asked questions

Does this include the mortgage payment itself?

No — this is the cash needed upfront alongside a mortgage: the deposit, stamp duty, and one-off fees. The ongoing monthly mortgage payment is a separate cost, covered by the mortgage calculator.

What is stamp duty and who pays it?

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax the buyer pays on property purchases in England and Northern Ireland, charged in bands based on the purchase price. Scotland and Wales have their own equivalents (LBTT and LTT) with different thresholds.

Do first-time buyers pay less stamp duty?

Yes, up to a point. First-time buyer relief removes stamp duty on the first portion of the price and reduces it on the next portion, but only on purchases up to a set price threshold — above that, standard rates apply with no relief.

What other costs are people likely to miss?

Survey fees, solicitor fees, mortgage arrangement fees, land registry fees, and moving costs are the ones most commonly left out of a budget — none of them are optional, and together they can add up to several thousand pounds.

Take the guesswork out of your budget

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TRANSPARENT CALCULATIONS

How we calculate this

Adds the purchase costs and estimates you enter. Property taxes, reliefs and legal fees vary by location and eligibility; verify current rules before budgeting.

Sources and further reading: HMRC Stamp Duty Land Tax · Scottish Revenue LBTT · Welsh Revenue LTT

Methodology note added October 2026 · Prepared by Adam, founder of Life Figured · General educational estimates, not personalised financial advice. Rates and thresholds should be checked with official sources before making decisions.