Some of the paperwork might be unfamiliar but employing an experienced solicitor to guide you through the process will ensure it’s no more difficult than usual.
So what can you expect?
Once you’ve found your new home and reserved it with the developer, you’ll start the Help to Buy application process by completing a property information form. You’ll be asked questions about the property and your income, and it's at this stage that you should be speaking to a financial adviser who will guide you through your mortgage application. Now is the time to instruct your solicitor.
Once you’ve submitted your application and been approved the Help to Buy agent will issue to you, your solicitor and the developer the ‘authority to proceed’ pack. At this stage, your solicitor should start to take charge of the process for you. The solicitor will be asked to complete some additional paperwork on your behalf, and they will submit that paperwork together with a copy of your mortgage offer, your valuation and a form that they will have received from your developer disclosing any incentives.
If the Help to Buy agent is happy, your solicitor will be issued with authority to exchange. It's the green light for your solicitor that the Help to Buy funding is all in place, so they are now safe to proceed.
So when will you get your keys?
It depends on how quickly the developer can complete the build. You might be able to move quickly, or you might have to wait a little while.
Happy house hunting!