Home Buying Guide - Scotland

Here's a list of all the steps involved in buying a home. We can help you at every stage of the process as part of our Home Buying Service

1. How much can you borrow? 
2. Finding your dream home 
3. Conveyancing – the Legal part
4. Valuation or survey 
5. Making an offer
6. Applying for your mortgage
7. Your Mortgage offer
8. Conclusion of Missives
9. Collecting the keys

Our professional Mortgage Advisers will help organise all the parts of the Home Buying Service that you choose at the same time as arranging your mortgage.

1:  How much can you borrow?

First of all you need to check that you can get a mortgage. We'll give you a Mortgage Promise which, in a matter of minutes, simply tells you if we can give you a mortgage and how much you can borrow.

Our Mortgage Promise is subject to a satisfactory valuation of the property to be mortgage and the information supplied by you being correct.

Do an online Mortgage Promise

Make sure you're comfortable with the initial costs of moving – they can soon add up!

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

Top^

Step 2:  Finding your dream home

You won't buy anything more expensive than your home – so it's understandable that you'll be excited and nervous about choosing the right one!

Here's some hints and tips on starting the search and tips when viewing a property

You've found your dream home but how do you buy it? Now you need to 'note interest' in the property, as part the legal process……

Top^

Step 3: Conveyancing – the legal part

To 'note interest' in the property you're interested in, you need to start the legal process of buying or selling a property – called conveyancing.

A conveyancer is a qualified person who will check the legal title and obtain searches to check there's anything that could adversely affect the property and its value.

Your conveyancer will deal with the documents and liaise with the seller's conveyancer. They can 'note interest' in a property for you and make an offer on your behalf. They'll arrange the conclusion of missives and agree a settlement date.

We can help you sort out all the legal work – all at a great value fixed fee cost.

Top^

 Step 4: Valuation or Survey

Now you need to arrange a valuation - Halifax will need a valuation to make sure the property is worth what you want to pay for it. Perhaps you may want a more detailed survey done for your own peace of mind? We can help arrange all this for you - .

Top^

Step 5: Making an offer

This is when things start to get really exciting. You've found your dream home, you're happy with the valuation and you now want to make an offer.  You can make the offer, usually through your conveyancer. If it's accepted you're then committed to proceed to conclusion of missives.

Top^ 

 Step 6: Applying for your mortgage

It's important that your mortgage suits your needs and your lifestyle. Take a look at our simple steps to choosing the right mortgage to get you started.

Your Halifax Mortgage Adviser will take you through the different types of mortgage that are available and can help you choose the one that's best for you.

You can choose to start your Halifax mortgage application online – it helps to be prepared by getting some application details  ready before you start

At the same time we can arrange insurance cover to help make sure you're covered if something unexpected happens.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

Top^

Step 7: Your Mortgage offer

Once we've made all the relevant checks, we will make you a mortgage offer. This is a document setting out the details of the mortgage which will arrive by post. A copy goes to your conveyancer too. You need to check this and let us know if there is anything you don't understand.

Top^

Step 8: Conclusion of Missives

This is when the terms of sale and purchase of the property, including the date you collect the keys (settlement date) are confirmed.

You'll need to sign the documents (that transfer the property over to you and the mortgage document – known as standard security).

Top^

 Step 9: Collecting the keys

On the day of completion the property becomes yours and you can collect the keys. 

Before you collect the keys to your new home you need to do some planning in advance – it will make moving in a lot less stressful if you're prepared!

When you move in you'll probably start considering all the ways you can improve your home – from decorating to making it more energy efficient.

Once you're with Halifax you can rest assured we won't forget you. We'll invite you for a free mortgage review every year, to give you peace of mind that you're getting the most from your mortgage. Plus you could borrow more money – whatever your plans, such as home improvements or a new car.

Top^

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage