The top 10 tips for first-time buyers

Whether you’re building or buying your first home, the process can be both exciting and daunting. There was a time when the main focus was on transport links, what area had the best schools, and whether we wanted a new-build or a period home to do up.

But with the mortgage market changing dramatically in recent years, and lending criteria under constant scrutiny, dreams of a new abode and high-end fixtures and fittings ...