If you are unsure how much you can borrow, our mortgage calculator can help. Fill in the details to get an idea of how much you can borrow and what your monthly repayments will be. Our calculator isn’t a guarantee of how much we’ll lend or if we will lend, but it’s a good starting point for you.

Your credit report gives you and mortgage providers an overview of your finances and helps them decide if you’re likely to repay the money you borrow. Before you apply for a mortgage it’s important that you check your credit score and if necessary, correct any errors. We have a handy guide to credit scores that has more details.

Before you apply for your first time buyer mortgage its important that you check you are on the electoral roll. This may not be something you would think would matter, but mortgage providers use this to check your identity, so without it, you may not get a mortgage.

Your local electoral registration office can tell you if you’re on the list if you’re not sure.

Sainsbury's Bank accepts no responsibility for the content of external websites. Links to external websites may include tips and information, it does not constitute advice and should not be used as a basis for any financial decisions.

If you have a bigger deposit you may get a lower mortgage interest rate. You can get a mortgage with us by having as little as 5% deposit but the more you can put down could open up different deals that may suit your needs better. Also, don’t forget about the other costs of buying your first home, such as legal fees, moving costs and home improvement expenses.

If you’re struggling to get the money together for a deposit, the government may be able to lend a helping hand with one of their mortgage schemes to help you buy your first home.

Got your deposit? Your next step is getting a decision in principle (DIP). This will let you know how much we are likely to lend you. We’ll do a ‘soft’ credit check on you and ask you about your finances to see if you’re eligible.

A decision in principle isn’t a guarantee of a mortgage but gives you a good idea of the amount you can borrow and the budget you have for your first home. It also shows estate agents and sellers you’re serious about your search. You would still need to make a full mortgage application and the amount agreed in your decision in principle could change.

Want to apply for a decision in principle? Apply online or speak to our team on 0345 111 8010**, don’t worry you’re not committing to do anything, it will just help you plan your search better. We can save your details for when you are ready to move on to the next step.

When you make a successful application for a decision in principle it will be valid for 90 days, if you make your mortgage application within that period you can immediately continue with a full mortgage application with Sainsbury’s Bank.

Figure out what you want before you start looking for your first home. Where you want to live and where you can afford to live may be two very different things, so do your research and find out what your budget gets you in different areas. Also, think about what’s important, do you need to be near good schools or transport links?

Being armed with the knowledge of what you want can help you narrow your search and save you looking around houses that aren’t suitable. Create a list of must-haves that are non-negotiable.

• What do you want? A flat, a house or a bungalow? Semi-detached or detached? New build or older property? Garden?
• What size property do you want? How many bedrooms do you need? Do you need off-road parking? Can you afford the size you want?
• Where do you want to live? Near family and friends? Close to work? Good local pub or nightlife? By a train station?

Keep an eye on all the online property sites to help you find your first home, you can even set up alerts to receive details of properties that meet your criteria.

Use your local estate agents too, they can also send you property updates if you ask them and can also give you useful information about local areas and house prices.

• Meet with them to chat about what you want and your position.
• Keep in touch with them about what they’ve got on their books and maybe get a heads up on what's coming on soon.
• Be realistic with them when discussing your budget, so they can help you get the right place for you.

When you’ve found somewhere you want to view, consider the following:

• Take a friend or family member with you - they might spot something you miss.
• Don’t be worried about asking questions.
• Take your time, it’s a big decision and one that shouldn’t be rushed.
• Explore the area and imagine yourself living there.

We’ll ask you questions about finances to make sure you can afford the mortgage and we are lending responsibly. Getting everything we need ready can help speed things up.

We need to know:

• Details of your deposit.
• Your address for the last three years.
• Details about your job.
• Your yearly income including any bonuses and overtime.
• What you spend every month (like any loan and credit card payments).
• What your household spends every month (on things like food, energy, water and travel).
• Details of the property you want to buy (only if you've got one in mind).

When you apply, we'll ask to see things like:

• Your payslips to evidence any income you receive
• If you are looking to include any bonuses, commission or overtime, we’ll also need to see a recent P60
• Bank statements for your current account so that we can assess your affordability
• Proof of your name and address – like your passport, driving licence or utility bills
• Proof that any deposit which was a gift does not need to be paid back. This could be a letter from the person who gave it to you confirming this.

During your mortgage application, we’ll let you know exactly what we need in order to complete this. It’s important to be as accurate as possible when running through your application so it’s helpful to have this information to hand. Check out our Income and ID guide for more information on what we might ask for.

As well as the relevant things from the list above, you’ll also need to show us at least one of the following:

• Certified accounts signed off by a suitably qualified accountant
• Self-Assessment Tax Calculation Forms (SA302) accompanied by Tax Year Overviews
• Accountant’s certificates signed off by a suitable qualified accountant

Accountants signing and verifying your financial statements or accountant's certificates must be a member of a suitable professional body i.e.:

• Institute of Chartered Accountants, CA, ACA or FCA
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland, ICAS, ACAS, FCAS
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, ICAI
• Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, ACCA or FCCA
• Chartered Institute of Taxation, ATII or FTII
• Association of Authorised Public Accounts, AAPA or FAPA
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, CIMA, ACMA or FCMA
• Association of Accounting Technicians, MAAT or FMAAT
• Association of International Accountants, AAIA or FAIA

During your mortgage application, we’ll let you know exactly what we need in order to complete this. It’s important to be as accurate as possible when running through your application so it’s helpful to have this information to hand. Check out our Income and ID guide for more information on what we might ask for.

If you want to make an offer, speak to your estate agent – they'll let you know how their process works.

Pitching your offer at the right level can be hard. The asking price is a guide, but that doesn't mean you can't get it for less or that you won't have to pay more.

Here are a few things to help:

• Squeeze your estate agent for information, like what price the seller is looking for and how much interest has been shown in the property. Remember they get a commission from the sale.
• Look at similar properties in the area and what they've gone for recently.
• Think about the seller's situation. Are they in a chain, do they want to move quickly?

The most important thing is to decide what you can afford and how much you'd be happy to pay for the property. Your first offer might not be your best, but make sure you know what your ceiling is and stick to it.

Tip: Sell yourself. Make sure the seller knows:

• You’re chain free
• How flexible you can be on moving dates
• Your finances are sorted
• You’re ready to move

Once your offer's been accepted, it's time to choose your solicitor or conveyancer from our panel. They will handle the legal side for you. It's a good idea to compare rates and make sure you know what you're paying and when, before you go ahead.

Once you've chosen who to go with, they'll start routine checks on the property to make sure there are no issues. If you have any questions about the property, let them know upfront so they can get answers for you.

Your solicitor will also find out what's included in the sale with a fixtures and fittings form, which is included in the contract you sign later.

Apply online or speak to one of our qualified mortgage advisers on 0345 111 8010** to let them know you want to go ahead with a mortgage.

During your appointment, it can take up to two hours to go through everything, so give yourself plenty of time. You'll also need to have all documents to hand. Check our Guide to Confirming Income and Identity (PDF, 172KB) to make sure you have everything you need.

Our mortgage adviser will run through all your mortgage options over the phone and recommend the best one for you. If you’re ready, they'll then take you through the application.

Your solicitor will check the mortgage offer, and once they have confirmed that everything is in order, we'll get the money ready for completion. You’ll then receive your welcome letter when everything is completed.

Other mortgage companies will have a similar process, but these may vary.

We will look to arrange a valuation of the property to confirm what it's worth and make sure there are no major defects that will potentially affect the price.

It's a good idea to get a more detailed survey carried out on the property too. That way there will be no nasty surprises down the line.

If the surveyor spots any problems or anything that needs urgent repair, get a specialist to provide a quote for the work. Then, see if the seller will accept a lower revised offer to allow for it.

When your solicitor or conveyancer has everything they need and everyone in your chain is ready, you can exchange contracts.

You'll need to pay your deposit to your solicitor at this point, so they can make the official payment for you.

You may need to take out buildings insurance in case anything happens to the new property before you move in.

Then, you'll need to sign the contracts and set a date to complete on your purchase. Once all the contracts are signed, you've legally agreed to buy the property. There's no turning back, so make sure you're 100% happy to go ahead before you sign.

Your solicitor or conveyancer will ask you to sign the mortgage deeds so they can transfer the property ownership to you.

They'll arrange for the money from Sainsbury's Bank to be ready on the day you complete. They'll also ask for the rest of the balance if you're paying any more in cash, along with the money to pay the Stamp Duty.

On the day of completion, once all the money has changed hands, they'll let you know when you're the proud owner of your new home. You can then collect the keys from the agents and start unpacking your new life.

We have a panel of solicitors for you to choose from. It's a good idea to compare rates and make sure you know what you're paying and when, before going ahead.

Once you've chosen who to go with, they'll handle the legal side of things for you. From putting in your offer and doing searches on the property; to checking the contracts and transferring the money.

When you've found a property you like, your solicitor will either put in an offer or put in a note of interest with the seller's agent. A note of interest makes sure you are kept in the loop about any changes and when the closing date is for making an offer.

Check the Home Report carefully, so you know exactly what you're getting.

You might also want to think about getting your own independent survey done on the property you want to buy. The surveyors of Home Reports have a duty of care to both the buyer and the seller, so it's up to you if you want to rely on their findings.

You may have to pay for an independent valuation arranged by Sainsbury’s Bank. So, you may want to wait to see if you get the property before you commit to one. You can always make your offer subject to survey.

If you want to make an offer, the most important thing is to decide what you can afford and what you'd be happy paying for the property. But you also need to think about:

• How much similar properties are going for in the area
• How many people are making offers on the property
• Anything else you want to include in the sale, like fixtures and fittings

Your solicitor will submit your offer in a formal letter. If there are lots of other bids, the seller's solicitor will look at them all at the same time on the closing date and contact your solicitor with a decision.

Tip: Sell yourself. Make sure the seller knows:

• You’re chain free
• How flexible you can be on moving dates.
• That your finances are sorted.
• You’re ready to move

If your offer is accepted, the seller's solicitor will send all the relevant paperwork to your solicitor to get the ball rolling.

The paperwork will include the title deeds and property searches. The seller's solicitor will also send either a written acceptance or a written qualified acceptance, which means the property is yours if everyone can agree on the details of the sale.

The two solicitors will also arrange a date to complete the sale or the date of entry. If you want to carry out your own survey, it's a good idea to do it now. Then make sure you're happy with what the valuer finds.

Apply online or speak to one of our qualified mortgage advisers to let them know you want to go ahead with your mortgage.

When our adviser calls you for your appointment, it can take up to two hours to go through everything, so give yourself plenty of time. You'll also need to have all your documents to hand, these are detailed above under 'what you need to apply'.

Our mortgage adviser will give you advice and run through all your mortgage options over the phone and recommend the best one for you. They'll then take you through the application if you're ready.

When we have everything we need, we'll arrange a valuation of the property you want to buy. If our underwriters are happy to lend you the money based on the valuation, we'll send you a mortgage offer.

Your solicitor will check the mortgage offer and once they have confirmed that everything's in order, we'll get the money ready for the date of entry. We'll then send your welcome letter.

Other mortgage companies will have a similar process, but double check so you know exactly what you need to do.

Once you're happy with the details of the contract, your solicitor will send a letter concluding the deal. This is called the conclusion of missives.

When that's done, there's no turning back. You are legally committed to buying the property. In some occasions you may have to pay a holding deposit to secure the property.

You also need to get buildings insurance for your new property, and go through the conditions of the title deeds. These detail conditions such as putting the bins out correctly or how you can use or change the property.

When everything is ready to go, your solicitor will ask the mortgage company for the money, ready for the day of entry. If you're paying any more in cash, you need to give it to your solicitor so they can pay it for you. You'll also need to give your solicitor the money for the Land and Buildings transaction tax.

On the day, once all the money has changed hands, your solicitor will let you know when you're the proud owner of your new home. Then you can finally collect the keys from the agents and start unpacking your new life.

When you apply for a mortgage with us, we’ll do a credit check. So, before you start, look to put any errors right on your credit report and see if there's anything else on there that could trip you up. Just one late payment could make all the difference – even if it was years ago.

It's essential to get an accurate valuation of the property. If the value is different when we come to assess the property, it can affect the amount we can lend you and how much you pay each month.

Other surveys on the property might flag up damage you hadn't seen before (or even the dreaded Japanese knotweed) which needs to be dealt with.

If this happens, you might need to renegotiate the price so you can secure the mortgage you need and afford any essential work.

Start telling people and companies you’re moving, you’ll be surprised how many there are to tell. Use our handy moving checklist (PDF, 100KB) so you can tick them off as you go along.

We’re all guilty of keeping things we are never likely to use again, like those clothes that no longer fit. Getting rid of them before you move reduces the number of things you need to pack and may even make you a few pounds if you sell them.

Need a new sofa or dining room table? Consider ordering these a few weeks before your move in date, as they can take several weeks to be delivered. Arrange for them to arrive at your new home just after you move in.

If you are planning on using a removal company to move your stuff into your new house, book them in advance. Or if you’re going to do it yourself, be sure to hire a van. Here’s some things to think about when booking movers:

• Get a few quotes to compare so you have an idea of what it should cost.
• Lots of people move at the weekend, if you can move during the week instead, you could save money.
• Find out if your movers include insurance for your belongings in transit or organise your own.
• Give the movers a plan of where you want the boxes and furniture to go in your new home.

Getting a head start on the packing can save you valuable time nearer to moving day:

• Start packing the non-essentials – books, DVDs and other items you can live without for a few weeks.
• Don't over-pack your boxes, someone's got to lift them (plus you don't want any box-splitting incidents on moving day).
• Label your boxes so you know which room they go in when you get to your new home.

Make sure you have packed everything and pack a separate bag of things you’ll need when you get to your new home, such as the kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, sugar, milk and biscuits - you and the movers will need a well-earned break once you're in your new home.

If you are leaving a rental property make a note of the meter readings before you leave and jot down or photograph the ones in your new home to avoid estimated bills.

While your new home is empty give it a good clean, trust us this will be easier to do before you begin unpacking. Check out our guide to making your moving day as smooth as possible.