Category: First time buyer

While renting in London is basically a rite of passage for city makers, there comes a time when the prospect of owning your own place becomes ever more appealing.

Deciding whether to buy a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make, and what you can afford will most likely sway your decision. For many first time home buyers, the monthly cost of owning a home could actually be cheaper than renting. In 2025, average rents in London reached £2,736 per month, whereas the average first time buyer’s mortgage repayments were £1,162 per month.

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but if you’re thinking about moving from renting to owning, this blog will help you decide whether buying a home in London is right for you.

As a first time buyer in London, you’ve probably asked yourself which borough is right for you. Of course, affordability matters, but so do local amenities and good transport links. Choosing where to buy your first home is a big decision, so it’s important to pick somewhere that suits your lifestyle.

In 2021, we conducted research to rank the best London boroughs for first time buyers, based on factors that matter to them, such as property prices, access to Cycle Superhighways and Green Flag parks and the number of train stations and bus stops. Boroughs that performed well included two locations of current Pocket developments: Croydon and Waltham Forest.

Below, find out why the locations we’ve chosen for our available Pocket homes are perfect for you, the city makers.

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.