First Time Buyer Mortgage Advice in Nottingham
There are a lot of different things that potential home buyers in Nottingham must take into consideration, whether their journey will be as a first time buyer in Nottingham or you’re moving home in Nottingham.
The sort of things you’ll have to bear in mind will include your personal finances, any mortgage arrangements and the finding the best deal you possibly can for your personal and financial situation (this is something we can help with).
Before all that though, before even deciding on the house you wish to buy, you have to know where it is you want to live. What do you want nearby, what’s important, do you like thriving scenes or quiet settings?
Below we have collated a list of the various factors you’ll need to consider when you start looking for your new home.
Things to Consider When Moving Home in Nottingham
1. Where to Live: City Centre or a Rural Location
First of all you need to decide what type of setting you wish to call home.
Maybe you prefer the hustle and bustle of the big city and are looking to live closer to the centre? Maybe you prefer the quiet life and wish to live on the outskirts, perhaps near some countryside?
You will need to carefully consider your choice here, as determining this will have an impact on any potential commutes to work, the choice of local amenities, shops and schools.
2. Transport
Although we see more and more people in the UK working from home, for a vast majority of homeowners, you’re going to have to factor in the way you will be getting to work.
It’s not just work of course, you’ll also have to factor in local convenience accessibility, such as how easy it will be to get to the local shops or any other businesses/services you require the use of.
Will you be able to walk where you need to go, or do you need to drive? If you do, will you need to access any motorways to get there?
Beyond that, what if you don’t drive? Are there are buses, coaches, taxi companies or train stations nearby? Depending on location, these options may be limited greatly, especially if you’re looking to buy in the middle of nowhere.
3. Education
If you happen to have children, it is generally considered important to factor in what schools are in the area and the quality of those schools.
By taking a look at school league tables online, you will be able to judge for yourself what the best options for your children may be and plan accordingly.
There are some great schools across Nottingham for kids to get a good education, as well as options for further education beyond that.
Check the catchment areas too, as the area you’ve been looking at may not fall into the catchment area for a particular school that you may have wanted for your children.
4. Local Amenities
Depending on the type of lifestyle you lead, the sorts of things you will be looking for in an area may differ. Some people may have the preference of having nearby shops to visit.
Others may not be so fussed about that (especially now that home deliveries of your weekly food shop exist!) but may want to be close to a gym or a local pub.
Some that have children or pets may prefer to live close to parks or open spaces. We highly suggest that you make a shortlist of the things you need and what you would like to prioritise nearby.
When you find a house you are interested in, you can then take a look at your compiled list and see how much of it you are able to tick off.
5. Family & Friends
This is a personal choice and will be dependant on your circumstances. Some people will rely on family support, often when it comes to children. You may need family nearby for childcare or school runs.
Having a social life is also usually a crucial part of people’s lives. Do you want your friends to be as close as possible? Would you prefer to have some distance between them so you can visit sporadically?
6. Value For Money
Your choice of home location will also determine how far your money is going to go. Depending on location, you may have a different option of houses to choose from.
For example, some areas may allow you to find a 4 bedroom house for the price of a 2 bedroom flat in another area.
You may have to compromise on some of the things you previously listed as wanting nearby, in order to find an affordable property near the area you were set on.
7. Where to Live – Local Community
Some of us would prefer to be a part of and contribute to a local community.
With this in mind, you may possibly wish to surround yourself in a local area that is involved in arts, crafts, book fares and local events at the community hall or town/village green.
Take the time to look and see what activities occur in the local area. For best results see if there are any local or even town websites.
Maybe even visit the area beforehand and get to know some of the locals. They will likely be able to inform you on current events and what is available nearby.
8. House Prices – Long Term
The chances are your new home is a long term investment and you’ll be wanting to see house prices increase, in the event you ever do decide you want to look at moving home in Nottingham.
In order to be more informed about this you could look to see if the local area has any investment plans, new road links, planned development projects, shops, sports facilities or if there are any companies looking to call it home base.
All of these can have an affect on the future of your new homes value, so if this is something that is important to you, you should definitely make sure that you do plenty of research ahead of time.
Date Last Edited: November 20, 2023
