Seen House I like - what now? (Scotland)

HouseBuyer1

I've been searching on google, mainly along the lines of 'House Buying Guide - Scotland', 'Scotland House Buying Step by Step', 'Role of Solicitor in Scotland House Buying' etc.

All come up with some fairly decent guides but they all seem to have different info, some more detailed than others, some totally different information...

I want one big, clearly easy to read, definitive guide to buying! lol

googler

HouseBuyer1 wrote: »

I've been searching on google, mainly along the lines of 'House Buying Guide - Scotland', 'Scotland House Buying Step by Step', 'Role of Solicitor in Scotland House Buying' etc.

All come up with some fairly decent guides but they all seem to have different info, some more detailed than others, some totally different information...

I want one big, clearly easy to read, definitive guide to buying! lol

http://www.lawscot.org.uk/forthepublic/buying--selling-a-property

That's a high-level view, but it's from the horse's mouth. I've come across guides written by online agents and others working in E&W that are just plain wrong, as have been some of the replies that you've had here. Some that I've seen make no mention of the role that Home Reports play, and they've been in force since Dec 2008, so that tells you how up-to-date (or not) those guides are

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/BuyingSelling


The Government's take on it.

http://www.which.co.uk/money/mortgages-and-property/guides/moving-house-in-scotland/

I can't see anything obviously wrong with Which's take on affairs.

If you have more questions, just ask.

scottishblondie

OP depending on who your mortgage provider is (going to be) they may have a list of solicitors that they are willing to work with. I would suggest that at the same time as making tentative enquiries on your own for a solicitor, you also look at which mortgage product you want to apply for in case you find you are limited by this.

I'm moving into my new house in just under a month. I had to use one of HSBC's "approved" solicitors for my legal work, or pay an extra fee to cover them getting their own solicitor. There was also a fixed price structure for the legal costs.

HouseBuyer1

I see... this is where I get confused though... How can you pick a solicitor and begin the proceedings, but at the same time your checking mortgage products to find a solicitor who that lender will like?

It's all a bit confusing... lol I mean I have obviously been looking at a few different lenders products anyway, but I am only 21 and will have only been in my job for 3 months so need a lender who is more leniant to this...

scottishblondie

I applied for an agreement in principal with HSBC, who gave me the list of their approved solicitors in my area. I chose one, and we went from there. After my verbal offer was accepted the solicitor started negotiating the missives, and I did the full mortgage application.

If I were you I would choose a product and get an AIP. It might be an idea to contact a broker - I'm not sure many lenders will be open to someone who has been in their job such a short time unless you have a hefty deposit?

Hasbeen

If it is the house for you? put an offer in subject to survey. Scottish law.
Do not trust the homebuyers report! basically not worth the paper it is printed on. Very cursory, more into green energy rubbish.
For a proper report get qualified surveyor in for detailed report and valuation.
If not happy you can pull out, no problems.:)

hcb42

Having bought three houses in Scotland, and sold them all, and same in England, I often notice both in day to day life and even on here, the perception is that in Scotland if you so much as twitch in front of an estate agent/solicitor you are in a binding deal, and that is not the case!! There are still legal hoops to jump through it is not as simple as "I offer you £XXXK" and you are bound by it..!

missile

HouseBuyer1 wrote: »

....I am only 21 and will have only been in my job for 3 months so need a lender who is more leniant to this...

I think you will find it very difficult to secure a mortgage. I suggest you speak to a mortgage broker first. Any solicitor will want to see evidence that you can obtain funding before he will bid on your behalf.

googler

Hasbeen wrote: »

If it is the house for you? put an offer in subject to survey. Scottish law.
Do not trust the homebuyers report! basically not worth the paper it is printed on. Very cursory, more into green energy rubbish.
For a proper report get qualified surveyor in for detailed report and valuation.
If not happy you can pull out, no problems.:)

It's not a homebuyer's report, it's a Home Report. If it's not worth the paper it's written, then why do reputable, qualified RICS surveyors put their names to them every day of the week? You make it sound as though the current HR wasn't produced by a qualified surveyor....

And how will the OP get a more detailed survey than that in the HR without spending way more than the HR cost the seller? If he gets a standard mortgage survey, that won't be any more detailed than the one in the HR

scottishblondie

Hasbeen wrote: »

If it is the house for you? put an offer in subject to survey. Scottish law.
Do not trust the homebuyers report! basically not worth the paper it is printed on. Very cursory, more into green energy rubbish.
For a proper report get qualified surveyor in for detailed report and valuation.
If not happy you can pull out, no problems.:)

The Home Reports in Scotland are actually very detailed - nothing like the HIPs in England.