I’m Charles Calvert, a mortgage broker at Easy Mortgages. This is general information, not personal advice. Always check the figures against your own situation before you decide anything.
How much are first-time buyer costs in Hampshire beyond the deposit? Buyers often budget for the deposit and forget stamp duty, solicitor fees, surveys, broker fees and the cash needed for moving day. Here is a county-wide checklist you can adapt for Fareham, Gosport, Winchester, Portsmouth or Southampton.
In January 2025, first-time buyers are still weighing higher living costs against property prices that vary sharply across the county. A clear cash checklist matters as much as the mortgage rate on the illustration.
The big ticket items
- Deposit. The larger part of your cash, sized to the property and the rate band you want.
- Stamp duty. Depends on price and whether first-time buyer relief applies at the time you complete — I will confirm current rules for your numbers rather than quoting a figure that may not match your completion date.
- Solicitor / conveyancing. Get written quotes; leaseholds cost more than simple freeholds.
- Survey. RICS Level 2 or Level 3 depending on age and condition; new-builds need snagging eyes too.
- Broker fee. My purchase fee is £495, only when you receive the full mortgage offer.
Often forgotten
- Mortgage valuation fees if the product does not include one.
- Buildings insurance from exchange.
- Removals or van hire, and temporary storage.
- Initial furnishings and essential repairs.
- Service charges or ground rent on leaseholds (ongoing, but due early).
How to use this checklist
Build a simple spreadsheet with a row for each item and a contingency line (many buyers add a buffer for surprises). Share it with me when we talk — I would rather trim the loan slightly than see you complete with an empty current account.
Scheme names and eligibility (shared ownership, First Homes where available locally, or older Help to Buy stock you might be buying second-hand) change over time and by site. We check what actually applies to the plot or property in front of you, rather than assuming a national headline still fits Hampshire stock in early 2025.
This guide is broader than a Fareham-only costs note; use it when you are comparing areas across the county. Your first chat is without obligation.
Deposit gifts and proof of funds
Family gifts are common across Hampshire purchases. Lenders and solicitors will want a gift letter and a clear trail from the donor’s account. Build that into your timeline so conveyancing is not waiting on a relative’s bank login at the worst moment.
If part of your deposit is in stocks and shares ISAs or premium bonds, plan sale and clearing times. “I have the money” and “the money is in the conveyancer’s account” are different dates.
Region-by-region cash reality
A Gosport terrace and a Winchester semi need different cash buffers even at the same LTV percentage. Survey risk, service charges and likely early maintenance differ. Your checklist should flex with the property type, not just the postcode average.
A Fareham broker’s closing thought
Every Hampshire case turns on its own income, credit and property detail. The sections above are a map, not a personal recommendation. When you are ready, bring your numbers and we will test them against current lender criteria together — calmly, and without obligation on the first conversation.
I have helped clients across Fareham, Whiteley, Locks Heath, Portchester, Gosport, Portsmouth, Eastleigh, Southampton and Winchester with variations of this question. Patterns repeat; your paperwork is still unique. That is why a short, honest fact-find beats another hour of late-night browsing.
If anything in this article conflicts with a letter from your own lender or solicitor, their document wins for your case until we review it together. Rules and product features change, and your file may carry facts no article can see.
Bring your questions to a first conversation whenever you are ready — there is no obligation, and no fee for that initial chat while we establish whether a full application makes sense.
If you would like to talk this through for your own numbers, you can get in touch here or email contact@easy-mortgages.co.uk. I am based in Fareham and help clients across Hampshire.