Land Registry data reveals a steep year-on-year rise in fraudulent activity involving forged documentation, identity theft, and digital system loopholes. Properties with no mortgage or high equity have become prime targets, with £27 million in property value illegally transferred in 2024 alone.

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming. With so much to consider—budgets, mortgages, legal paperwork, and finding the right property—it’s easy to feel lost in the process. This guide outlines the key things every first-time buyer should know before taking that first step onto the property ladder.

Should you haggle with the agent over their fees? Is it true that if they can't negotiate well with you, they won't be any good when you get an offer? Or does it start the relationship off on the back foot?

Moving can feel overwhelming. Between packing boxes, coordinating logistics, and managing a thousand details, it's easy to think that calling an estate agent should be one of the last items on your to-do list. But here's the truth I've learned from years in this business: