5 things to know if you’re a first-time homebuyer in Sale, M33

Buying a home is a big deal. Especially as the M33 postcode is a hot one – not least because Sale was recently named one of the best places to live in Britain in 2023 by The Sunday Times. However, the housing market has changed quite a bit in the last few months and isn’t quite as cut-throat as it has been in the last three years – especially for first-time buyers. 

The Sale M33 market remains competitive, especially at the first-time buyer price point

We spoke to local property experts to round up five of the top tips you need to know if you’re a first-time buyer looking in Sale. 

1. Do your research 

Sounds obvious, but from speaking to local estate agents, many first-time buyers come to them having not looked at the local market. Spend some time ahead of house viewings looking into Sale’s different areas, including Sale Moor, Brooklands and Ashton-upon-Mersey. 

If you are hoping to expand your family in your new house, research school catchment areas – Sale is an extremely popular area due to its proximity to excellent schools and catchment areas are very strict (and often surprising to those who haven’t done their due diligence!)

Get to know the area: Once you’ve pinpointed an area you like, pass by at different times of the day to see what traffic is like. Given the commitment that house-buying is, don’t be afraid to dig deep with your research at this stage! 

Prioritise: Come up with a list of must-haves and some deal breakers. You should also work out in which areas you’re willing to compromise (and compromise will be necessary, sorry!) The more flexible you are, the more options you’ll have.

2. Talk to the professionals and get your papers in order 

Again, this seems obvious, especially in a fast-paced market, but many first-time buyers don’t have their mortgage in principal arranged ahead of viewings. This is less than ideal, according to local property expert James Ashworth at Ashworth Holme. 

“I would always recommend that buyers speak to a mortgage broker ahead of time, as they will determine a buyer’s options and work out exactly what a buyer can afford. If buyers get to the stage of wanting to make an offer on a property, they have a greater chance of securing a property if they have their mortgage arranged and have spoken to a solicitor well in advance.” 

3. Be prepared to offer ‘a cherry on top’

Now, we’re not talking money here (we’ll come to that later). Vendors might be more open to selling to buyers who are more flexible with their moving date, for example. A great way to make this flexibility clear is through a personal letter to the seller, which agents are usually very happy to pass on to them on your behalf. In fact, James would highly recommend doing so: 

“A ‘covering letter’ type of email is something we would also suggest to buyers – these can be useful in any house-buying process, but especially if it is a best and final situation. A personally-written email makes the process less faceless and vendors are more likely to respond to a buyer if they fill in a bit of background about themselves.

“Buyers don’t have to sell their soul to win over a vendor, but if they can give them a reason for choosing them, the seller is going to be more reassured that the buyer is a good, solid choice to sell their property to.” 

4. Make a strong offer

Currently in the M33 market, the average time it takes to sell properties is slower compared with last year and for a first-time buyer, it’s a nicer market to be looking in – but that doesn’t mean you should get complacent with your offer. 

The Sale market remains competitive, especially at the first-time buyer price point. Local agents consistently advise that buyers find out what the seller is really looking for, and then match (or exceed, if affordability allows) their expectations. 

5. Seek out opportunities for (reasonable!) negotiation 

Last year, the vast majority of M33 properties went for, or above, their asking price. This year, numerous are going under asking. So, in theory, there are more opportunities for negotiation for first-time buyers who need to stick to their budget. But before you offer a cheeky lower price, consider how long the property has been on the market. If it’s brand new to the market, sellers are not going to be open to negotiation until they have seen how much interest there is in the property. A lower offer on day one isn’t going to curry favour with the sellers!

James’s advice? “Always speak to the agent! Both agents and vendors are keen to sell houses and want to agree a sale, so if that means taking a lower offer, agents will always put that offer to the vendor. 

“Not everything sells over asking price, so it’s worth putting in an offer – just be prepared for a bit of negotiation along the way!”

Find out more about the Sale M33 property market.