How long is a piece of string? There are many variables at play when considering the ideal deposit to make your house purchase, but the primary one is most likely to be “What is the minimum deposit I can get away with to buy this house?”

Most of us, especially in our early years in the housing market, stretch ourselves to buy the best house we can afford. This is usually a balancing act between location, size and then add-ons like off street parking, garage, extra bedroom… swimming pool? OK, so most of us have to wait a while for the pool, but a minimum number of bedrooms and a location near a decent school are probably high on most family’s wish lists.

Post Credit Crunch, mortgage lenders are under a greater obligation than ever to make sure that the loans they make are affordable. They are also keen to see their customers putting some of their own money into the purchase. Therefore, at present, you will be required to put down a minimum of 5% of the purchase price, leaving 95% on mortgage.

In simple terms, the more deposit you can scrape together, the better the mortgage terms and the better the interest rate you are likely to obtain. Also, with a larger deposit you are of course borrowing less and there is therefore less to pay back and mortgage repayments will be cheaper.

The best deals on the market will usually require a 40% deposit, but with most first time buyers having between 5% and 20% to put down, there are mortgages to suit all. Of course, this is only part of the equation.

For an initial, no obligation, discussion to clarify your options why contact us or call now on 01628 507477.

Recent posts

Nationwide Electronic Signature   Web Larger

Nationwide is the first lender to allow mortgage deeds to be signed electronically and without the need for a witness.

Deals of week web larger

Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.

Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.

Santander 98 Percent   Web Larger

‘My First Mortgage’ from major high-street lender Santander is specifically for those wanting to buy their first property. It allows first-time buyers to purchase 98% of the property’s value. However, certain criteria must be met to be eligible.

Team MR Y Not PR   Web Larger

Maidenhead, Berkshire – 26th January 2026 – Dedicated independent mortgage experts, Mortgage Required, are delighted to have acquired fellow experienced brokerage, Y-Not Finance.

The acquisition connects two well-respected brokerages, both with a wealth of experience and shared values, to continue providing the best advice on all aspects of the mortgage market.

Ground Rents 250   Web Larger

As part of the UK government’s plans to change the leasehold system to help families struggling with unaffordable ground rent costs.

The Prime Minister announced this morning (27 January) that ground rents will be capped at £250 per year, reverting to a peppercorn rate after 40 years.

Five Common Reasons Additional Borrowing   Web Larger

Additional borrowing, also known as a further advance, is when you borrow more money on your existing mortgage for a specific reason agreed with your lender.

Here are five of the most common reasons for additional borrowing. 

2025 Round Up   Web Larger

Property search site Zoopla has estimated that the UK housing market will end 2025 with approximately 1.15 million completed sales – 4.5% more than the previous year.

Take a look at the 2025 summary of the UK housing market.

New Home   Web Larger

If buying your first property, or moving home, is on your to-do list this year, the new year can be a great time to take this big step. In this short blog, we look at what you need to consider as you plan and prepare for your home-buying journey.