A First-Time Buyer’s Guide to Buying a New Build

As a first-time buyer, you may feel daunted by the prospect of buying a new home. It’s the most expensive purchase you’re likely to make in your adult life and probably the most complex one too. This article will help you make sense of how to find and buy your new home.
Help to Buy Schemes
If you’re unsure about how to get your foot on the property ladder, the government have introduced Help to Buy schemes to help first-time buyers. To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
The property should be an existing or new build in the UK, priced up to £600,000
Your mortgage must be a repayment one, not interest only
You cannot let the property to someone else
The size of the mortgage you apply for must be less than 4.5 times your income
For the full list of eligibility requirements, refer to the government’s Help to Buy website.
How to Buy a New Build Home
Where do you start when looking for a new build home to buy? There are a number of ways to find your perfect property once your budget is in place.
Look online to find a development that looks suitable for you. You should do some research into the developer’s track record, as well as the area and its amenities. The main question to ask yourself is, can you see yourself living there?
If you’re looking for a bargain, you should consider finding your new build home using an online property auction. This is an alternative way to find a property and can save you money. Property auctions aren’t just for developers who are looking for a bargain to renovate – you can find a property that is priced to sell, rather than being left sitting in the window of an estate agent. Contact auction houses and ask to be put on their mailing lists so that you can receive details of different properties on sale at auction.
Advantages of Buying a New Build
As well as the government’s financial incentives, there are many reasons why buying a new build is good for a first-time buyer. Here are some of the benefits:
New builds are easier to purchase as there’s no upwards chain.
They come with a 10-year National House-Building Council (NHBC) warranty that covers structural defects. Most developers also provide their own two-year warranty.
They are built to the latest specifications so you won’t have to make any major repairs and they should be energy-efficient, which gives you the benefit of lower utility bills.

This article aims to give you an overview of what you need to consider when buying a new build as a first-time buyer. Use our top tips to find the perfect new-build property to buy and make your home today.

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

for sale sign london
Breaking News

New-build demand dips in Q3 as homebuyers sit tight ahead of autumn statement

The latest market analysis from Property Inspect has found that fewer than one in five new homes are currently securing a buyer, with homebuyer demand for new-build properties falling on both a quarterly and annual basis. Property Inspect analysed current market listings looking at what proportion of new-build properties are already marked as sold subject…
Read More
Breaking News

Rightmove celebrates 25 years of viral property moments

As Rightmove marks its 25th birthday, we’re celebrating the properties that stopped people mid-scroll, sparked thousands of shares, and became internet sensations. From a house with its own Tardis to a shark crashing through a roof, these homes prove that the UK property market is anything but ordinary. With billions of minutes spent on Rightmove…
Read More
Breaking News

Rental stock availability in England rises by 19.7%

The latest rental stock analysis from Adiuvo, the UK’s leading provider of 24/7 property management solutions, reveals that tenants in England are benefitting from a 19.7% increase in stock over the 12 months leading up to Q3 2025. In some areas of the country, annual stock growth easily exceeded 50%. Adiuvo has analysed rental listings…
Read More
Breaking News

Tenant demand continues to climb in Q3 as rental market shows no signs of cooling

The latest market analysis by Dwelly, one of the UK’s leading lettings acquisition and success planning experts, has revealed that tenant demand continued to climb across the rental sector during the third quarter of this year, with West Sussex home to the highest demand, whilst Rutland saw the largest quarterly increase. Dwelly’s Rental Demand Index* analyses…
Read More
Breaking News

Halifax House Price Index for September 2025 – Thoughts from the Industry

Halifax House Price Index for September 2025. The latest index shows that: On a monthly basis, house prices fell by -0.3% between August and September 2025. However, house prices were up 1.3% on an annual basis. The new average house price now sits at £298,184. Thoughts from the Industry. Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, comments:…
Read More
Breaking News

Halifax House Price Index for September 2025

House prices in September 2025 were -0.3% lower than the same month a year earlier. Average house price – £298,184 Monthly change -0.3% Quarterly change +0.4% Annual change +1.3%   Amanda Bryden, Head of Mortgages, Halifax, said: “The average UK house price edged down by -0.3% (£794) in September, following a modest rise in August.…
Read More