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The buying process

Buying a new home is a life-changing experience. Discover how to make your buying journey a smooth and stress-free one with our simple step-by-step guide.

Work out your budget

Choosing the right time to buy is different for everyone. But whatever your situation you need to be clear and confident about your financial position and how much you can afford.

When working out your budget, you need to know your credit score and how much money you have for a deposit. You’ll also need to consider how you’ll pay for typical additional costs, such as a service charge.

Then it’s a good idea to get a mortgage offer in principle from a lender. This will give you an idea of how much you can actually borrow.

Buying a new-build home is a great option, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. New-build homes typically have lower maintenance costs and come with warranty periods. They also often feature integrated appliances, so you won’t need to buy a washing machine, fridge, or freezer.

To get started, register your interest in one or more of our developments. We’ll then be in touch with more information.

Find the perfect home for you

Research favourite locations

It’s important to research the areas you’re thinking of buying in. Look into things like the local schools, public transport, shops, and parks or green spaces. A great piece of advice is to visit the area at different times so you can see what it’s like at weekends or in the evening

We have new developments across the country, offering everything from metropolitan apartments in the heart of city life, such as High Definition MediaCity in Salford Quays, to family homes in country villages, such as Morwick Springs in Yorkshire. Our sales teams can share their expert insights into each area to find the right home for you.

Now’s the time to also think about different buying options. Your deposit and mortgage are often much less if you buy with shared ownership or the First Homes scheme, for example.

Explore our homes across the country

Find your dream home

It’s good to decide what features are essential in your new home and what are ‘nice to have’. Decide if you want a garden or utility room, for example, or if you need a minimum number of bedrooms.

We have a huge range of new homes to suit all tastes and budgets, with floor plans, images, and specifications that will help you find your dream home.

Find your perfect home

Our sales policies

The policies below only apply to sales outside of London covered by Homes England. The affordability policy for homes purchased in the Greater London area will continue to be assessed in accordance with the GLA’s Capital Funding Guide.

We operate a first-come, first-served policy that will initially prioritise any qualifying armed forces personnel, as defined by the Homes England Capital Funding Guide and any protected sites or areas where we're required to give priority to applicants with some form of local connection.

At the next level of prioritisation, Clarion will ensure that all applications to purchase a shared ownership property meet the affordability guidance as detailed in the Capital Funding Guide. On this basis, we'll operate a first-come, first-served process that prioritises those buyers who have undertaken a detailed affordability assessment, carried out by our qualified and regulated panel mortgage advisor, who has determined the appropriate affordable share that the applicant(s) can purchase. This will ensure that decisions made about eligibility and affordability are made in a fair and consistent manner and that all applicants meet the criteria set out in the Capital Funding Guide.

The detailed affordability assessment will involve the applicant(s) providing all the required documents, including a valid Agreement in Principle from their chosen mortgage lender. The allocation process will be done in order of the applicant(s) completing this assessment, referred to as the sign off process. The panel mortgage advisor will be transparent and open in providing a detailed and reasoned explanation as to what documents need to be provided and how to do this at the point of initial enquiry.

Clarion will ensure that all cases meet Homes England affordability guidance as detailed in the Capital Funding Guide. Ensuring all purchases are affordable and sustainable. Further guidance on the methodology for assessing applicants can be found at 1.Shared Ownership 6B.7.8 in Homes England Capital Funding Guide.

The extract below, from the Capital Funding Guide sets out the methodology for assessing applicants:

(A) Gross income
(B) Less gross
(C) Less known commitments (loans, credit cards, childcare, etc.)
(D) Less housing costs of the Shared Ownership purchase (rent and service charges)
(A-B-C-D) = income available to support a mortgage, other essential expenditure (identified through a budget planner) and to meet the provider's surplus income policy

We will work to the policy that the applicant must have a minimum of 10% of their net mortgageable income remaining after all deductions and the five-year stress-tested rent level has been applied as part of the assessment process.

In addition to the Homes England affordability calculation, we would also expect the applicant to have a minimum of 10% of their total net income remaining on the panel mortgage broker's budget planner. This falls in line with the panel mortgage broker's mortgage compliance affordability. The panel mortgage broker will advise of the appropriate share to be purchased based on our affordability policy and is unable to suggest a share that does not fall within these parameters, as we would not deem it affordable or sustainable.

This rule shall apply irrespective of whether the applicant is using the panel mortgage broker, or if they have chosen their own route. As part of the sign off, the panel mortgage broker will provide both calculations to Clarion to ensure that the purchase is both affordable and sustainable.

The affordability assessment is undertaken in two stages. The first stage will be based on the financial information that is provided by the applicant to the panel mortgage broker, who will provide an initial assessment based on this information. If the applicant passes the initial first-stage assessment, they will progress to a full assessment, that will require the applicant to provide documents to evidence the information provided in this initial assessment. The panel mortgage advisor can give you more detail around what documents need to be provided and how to do this at the point of initial assessment.

The 10% surplus helps to protect the applicant against possible increased costs or unforeseen circumstances that have not been budgeted. The panel mortgage advisor will be transparent and open in providing a detailed and reasoned explanation through the policy that we have set when providing the outcome of the assessment.

A more detailed presentation of the methodology and data examples can be found at 1.Shared Ownership 6B.7.8 in Homes England Capital Funding Guide in the budget planner guidance note.

Shared ownership

A purchase option for you that is achievable.

A PDF brochure - Latimer's ways to buy guide

Ways to buy with Latimer

Download out PDF guide on the different way you can purchase your home.

Apply for a mortgage

Different lenders, including banks and building societies, offer different mortgages so it’s good to shop around for one that suits you. Speaking to an independent mortgage adviser (also known as a broker) can really help.

We work with a panel of advisers who can help you. They’re already familiar with our developments and are experts in all the buying options we offer. They’ll help save you time and guide you in getting an agreement in principle.

The size of your deposit determines how much money you need to borrow. On a private sale you normally need at least 10% of the purchase price as a deposit. But if you’re buying through shared ownership it can be even less as you only pay a deposit on the share price, or, as in the case of the First Homes scheme, the discount market price.

You can find out more about mortgages on the Money Saving Expert website.

Arrange a viewing

Once you’ve found a home or development that appeals to you, simply register your interest. We’ll then be in touch with more detail.

Many of our developments have stunning show homes for you to view. These are a great way to see the quality of our homes and to check out the fixtures and finishes you can expect.

Lots of new-build homes are sold off-plan. This may mean there isn’t a show home to view. Instead, we’ll guide you through a range of plans, galleries and virtual tours to give you the best idea of what the property has to offer.

Find out more about buying off-plan

Organise the legal things

Once you’ve found your perfect home, you may need to complete a shared ownership or First Homes application.

At this point a financial assessment with one of our panel brokers will confirm your affordability to progress with the sale. Our sales team will advise you.

Whatever your buying route, once a reservation deposit is paid, your property will be taken off the market. Once your full deposit has been paid, the purchase is legally binding.

You’ll need to instruct a solicitor to work on the legal side of things for you. Your solicitor will:

check the lease and speak to your mortgage lender and our solicitors
carry out searches and anti-money laundering checks
check the paperwork and confirm your mortgage is in place to complete your purchase.

Using our recommended solicitors

We work with a panel of experienced solicitors as they have first-hand knowledge of our developments and all the buying options we offer. Their expertise saves everyone time and keeps your buying process on track.

When your home has been reserved, you will have a dedicated member of the sales team to manage the progression of your home, from reservation through to exchange and completion.

Register your interest in one or more of our developments. We’ll then be in touch with more information about our recommended solicitors.

Move in

Our customer home experience team will contact you once a completion date has been agreed. We'll arrange a time to meet you and hand over your new home keys on the day you move in.

Your new home will have been professionally cleaned and a minor fault check (also known as 'snagging') will have been done by us. We don’t accept independent snagging lists but will discuss with you how we resolve any snags.

Prior to moving in we'll also organise a home demonstration to explain how everything in your new home works. We'll discuss details of warranties as well and provide you with your home user guide.

If you’ve bought with shared ownership, we’ll let you know about your relationship with Clarion as a landlord on your remaining share. If you want to find out about increasing your share at any point, take a look at our Staircasing page.

Did you know?

It can be cheaper to move earlier in the week. Most people tend to complete on their property on a Friday with plans to move in over the weekend. Moving home earlier in the week makes it cheaper to move and our team will be available to answer any first day queries you may have.

On the day of completion, we’ll meet you to give you the keys and welcome you to your new home. We're on hand for the next seven days to ensure you settle in. We'll also assist in troubleshooting any immediate issues you may come across.

Furness Quay penthouse lounge, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester

Find a home

Find your ideal new home with Latimer.

Related resources

Buy outright

Your brand-new Latimer home awaits you.

Help to own

Options that help family members provide financial support to first-time buyers.

Buying off-plan

Buying off-plan is a great way to secure your place on the property ladder.