Author: Robyn Wilson

Saving for a deposit and maintaining your weekly brunch habit might seem mutually exclusive, but they don’t have to be. All it takes is a well-thought-out savings plan – one that works with your budget and lifestyle – to make your home-buying dream a reality.

You make this city, so you should get something back. A home you can call your own. Somewhere you can put your stamp on. That’s where we come in. We built Pocket Living around the idea that everyone should have a fair opportunity to get on the housing ladder, and we’re here to help you get there.

In this blog, we’re sharing our top tips on saving for your first home, whatever your circumstances. From ISAs to bank accounts and more, we’ll help you understand everything you need to know about saving. Let’s get started.

Mortgage rates might not seem like the most interesting topic, but as a first time buyer, it’s important to understand what they are, what impacts them and how they could affect you.

At Pocket Living, we want to make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about stepping onto the property ladder. So, in this guide, we’ll explore the base rate, the forecast for mortgage interest rates and what you should consider as a first time buyer before committing to a mortgage deal.

Buying your first home can be a bit of a minefield. From terminology to hidden costs, there’s a lot to get your head around. 

In this blog, we’re delving into the expenses you can expect as a first-time buyer. This will give you an idea of how much you need to save alongside your deposit to purchase a Pocket home.

An Income Boost is a little-known guarantor mortgage scheme that lets someone close to you – like a parent, sibling, or even a friend – help your application without giving (or lending) you money. Their income gets added to yours, so you can borrow more without upping your deposit. That extra boost could be the difference between “almost there” and “keys in hand.”

Getting on the property ladder can feel like a daunting task for first-time buyers. With the average time to save a house deposit nearing 10 years (18 years in London), homeownership might sometimes feel out of reach. But with a Deposit Boost, you could make your dream of owning a home a reality sooner than you think.

A Deposit Boost is a type of buying scheme that allows loved ones like parents or grandparents to help give you a leg up on the property ladder, without needing to dip into their cash savings, investments, or pensions. Here’s how it works, some key benefits, and considerations to help you decide if it’s the right option for you.

The UK government’s new Commonhold White Paper could mark a major shift in homeownership, aiming to replace the current leasehold system with the commonhold model. But what does this actually mean for flat owners and buyers?

In this guide, we break down the key differences between leasehold and commonhold, what the proposed changes involve and how they could impact future homeowners, including those buying Pocket homes.

Ah, the start of a new year – the perfect excuse for a fresh start, a new diary and a long list of overly ambitious new year’s resolutions. But if this is the year you’ve decided to trade in your rented digs for a place to call your own, we’ve got some realistic, first time buyer specific new year’s resolutions to help you get there. And don’t worry, these won’t involve kale smoothies or 5 a.m. wake up calls – just a bit of planning, saving and savvy decision making.