01382 539 313 info@legaleagles.tv 12-14 Maule Street, Monifieth, DD5 4JN

First Time Buyers Guide

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Everything you need to know about buying your first home in Tayside and Angus — from budgeting to key collection.

The Process at a Glance

Your Step-by-Step Journey

Sort Your Finances

Get a mortgage in principle and know your budget before you start viewing — it puts you in a much stronger position.

Find Your Property

Browse TSPC — Tayside's market-leading property portal — and follow our social media for sneak-peek listings.

Make an Offer

Call us 24 hours on 01382 539 313 and we will advise you through every stage of making a successful offer.

Get the Keys

We handle missives, conveyancing, and settlement so all you need to do on entry day is collect the keys.

Finances & Knowing Your Budget

Finding out how much you can borrow is one of the first steps — it defines your budget before you fall in love with a property you can't afford. While online calculators give a rough figure, the next step is a mortgage in principle from an independent mortgage advisor or your bank.

We strongly recommend using an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) rather than going direct to your bank. An IFA can scan the whole marketplace and find the best deal available — your bank can only offer products from its own range.

Searching for Property in Tayside

In Tayside and Angus, TSPC has been the market leader for buying and selling local property for over 50 years. It's where you'll find all the latest listings from local solicitor-estate agents.

We also update our social media regularly — you may spot a 'coming soon' property before it officially hits the market and get one of the first viewings.

Before viewing, always check the Home Report. In Scotland sellers are legally required to provide one. It contains a survey, property questionnaire, and energy report — giving you key information before you even step through the door.

Notes of Interest & Closing Dates

Not ready to offer yet? We can note interest on a property for you — it's free and alerts the seller's agent that you're interested. If a closing date is set, all offers must be submitted by a fixed deadline. We can advise on strategy using our knowledge of current local market conditions.

Offer Accepted — What Happens Next?

Once your offer is accepted, our team takes over. There are two parallel processes:

  1. Missives — The formal contract stage. Solicitors exchange letters until missives are concluded, making the transaction legally binding. We will always seek your explicit instruction before concluding — you are never committed without your say-so.
  2. Conveyancing — We examine the title deeds, identify any burdens or conditions, and report our findings in plain language before completion.

The whole process typically takes around 8 weeks. On entry day, once funds have been transferred, the keys are yours.

Nothing in this guide constitutes legal advice — always consult a solicitor before acting.