How to understand the UK property market to help you to save as a family

We have a mortgage. We have also rented in the past, and even been landlords, but that does’t mean we have a CLUE about the property market here in the UK, and what we need to be thinking about when we are looking to buy, or get a mortgage.

My husband is an accountant even, and sometimes we both find the different options for homeowners to be incredibly complicated. Sometimes you just wish there was a lovely little Superhero type man around that could fly in and answer all of those questions that you had, but were a bit scared to ask.

Oh, hold on, there may just be someone that can help…someone that doesn’t look like a plumber and about to main you with a plunger. Oddly, this image makes me feel slightly uneasy, and not ready to take on the property world….

I was lucky enough, as editor of KiddyCharts, to take part in a hangout with Legal and General‘s CEO, and a number of other people within the property sector in the U.K. that know an awful lot more about bricks and mortar than we do.

In fact, along with myself and a number of others on the hangout, we were able to ask some key questions about property in the UK as part of their #Moneyhangout series; with a view to helping families save a bit of cash.

This may only be two minutes, but there is invaluable advice on property in the UK covering:

• Re-mortgaging
• Getting a rental property,
• Saving for a deposit to get the best deal, and
• Upsizing your current house.

The full hangout is around 30 minutes, so feel free to take a look at the whole discussion. There is some helpful information here to help you in your journey to finding a home, and much of this advice applies whether you are in the UK or elsewhere.

One of the key lessons I gained from the hangout was that it is imperative to plan well, both before you go to any meeting around either renting or buying, or before visiting a potential house. Make sure you really have a good idea of what it is that you want, and your longer term plans for the property.

For example, if you are a family of one now – do you plan to have more kids? Are you likely to want to stay there for a long period, or are you expecting to move soon, therefore a house that requires a lot of work isn’t suitable.

Remember, it is important to be honest with yourself when you are buying, that way you are much more likely to be able to future proof your house.

Do you have any tips for getting that family home? If you do, please let us know below.

Disclosure: We were paid to take part and write about this hangout by legal and general, but all advice and opinions are our own.

Photo credit: smokedsalmon (header image) and vectorolie / freedigitalphotos.net

Helen

Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!

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