Buying your first home in Newcastle is an exciting milestone, but the mortgage process can feel like a maze.

To help you feel confident from start to finish, here’s a clear breakdown of the ten main steps you’ll follow on your journey to getting the keys to your new home.

Step 1: Your Free Initial Mortgage Appointment

The first stage is reaching out to our team to arrange your free initial mortgage appointment. As a first time buyer, you might have lots of questions and may not know where to begin.

During your appointment, your dedicated mortgage advisor in Newcastle will get to know your situation, answer your questions, and explain the full process in plain English.

This is your opportunity to outline your home buying plans, discuss any concerns and start your journey with the support of experts who know the mortgage market inside out.

Step 2: Mortgage Affordability Assessment

Once you’ve booked your appointment, your mortgage advisor in Newcastle will look closely at your income, regular spending, and any existing commitments.

This assessment helps us work out what you can comfortably borrow and what your monthly repayments could look like.

By getting a clear picture of your finances upfront, we’ll help you avoid disappointment later, so you only look at homes within your budget.

Step 3: Mortgage Agreement in Principle

After your affordability check, the next step is securing a mortgage agreement in principle. This document is an important part of the process for first time buyers in Newcastle.

It shows sellers and estate agents that a lender is willing to consider you for a mortgage, based on your current circumstances and a credit check.

While it isn’t a guarantee, having this agreement in place gives you credibility when making offers and can give you an edge over other buyers.

We aim to arrange your agreement in principle within 24 hours, so you can start your property search without delay.

Step 4: Finding The Right Solicitor 

You’ll need a conveyancing solicitor to handle all the legal aspects of your purchase.

Your solicitor will take care of everything from managing contracts and local authority searches, to dealing with the transfer of funds and making sure all paperwork is in order.

Choosing the right solicitor is important, as they’ll play a crucial part in moving the process along.

We don’t offer conveyancing in-house, but your mortgage advisor in Newcastle can recommend trusted firms we know provide a reliable service.

Step 5: Making an Offer on a Property 

With your finances prepared and legal support arranged, you can start viewing properties and make an offer when you find the one that’s right for you.

Your agreement in principle puts you in a strong position, showing sellers you’re serious and able to move quickly.

If your offer isn’t accepted first time, don’t worry, it’s normal to negotiate, and your advisor will support you throughout.

Once your offer is accepted, it’s time to reconnect with your mortgage advisor so we can help you move to the next stage.

Step 6: Submit Your Documents 

With your offer agreed, we’ll guide you through providing all the documents needed for your mortgage application.

This includes ID, proof of address, recent payslips, bank statements and evidence of your deposit. If you’re self employed in Newcastle, we’ll let you know exactly what’s required for your situation.

Collecting everything in advance helps keep the process smooth, and our team is on hand to answer questions or chase up anything outstanding.

Step 7: Progressing Your Mortgage Application 

Now it’s time to submit your full mortgage application to the lender. We’ll handle this for you, sending all your paperwork and supporting documents in one go.

As your application moves through the lender’s checks, our mortgage administration team in Newcastle will keep you updated, chase progress where needed, and deal with any queries that arise.

This means less stress for you and a smoother journey to approval.

Step 8: Property Valuation / Survey 

Before the lender will issue a mortgage offer, they’ll arrange for a surveyor to value the property you’re buying.

The survey checks that the property is worth what you’ve agreed to pay, and highlights any issues that might affect its value or require repairs.

There are different types of surveys available, from basic valuations to more detailed reports. Your mortgage advisor will explain the options and help you choose the right one for your needs and your property.

Step 9: Receiving Your Mortgage Offer 

Once your lender has reviewed your application, checked your documents, and received the property valuation, they’ll issue your mortgage offer.

This is the official confirmation that your mortgage has been approved, and you’re almost at the finish line.

Our team will check through the offer with you, answer any final questions, and make sure everything matches what you were expecting before you proceed.

Step 10: Completion

With your mortgage offer accepted and all the legal work finished, your conveyancer will arrange for funds to be transferred and set a completion date.

Once this is done, you’ll be able to collect the keys and move into your first home in Newcastle. We hope this marks the start of an exciting new chapter.

Remember, when your mortgage deal is due for renewal (known as a remortgage), our team will be here to help with your remortgage and any future moves.

Date Last Edited: July 21, 2025