Buying real estate in the UK

Usually a deposit of 10% is paid to the sellers solicitor/lawyer at the time of exchanging on freehold contracts, which binds you to completing the purchase. Property is mostly freehold with some leasehold for apartments. Leaseholds vary between 99 and 999 years.

You will ordinarily make an offer to buy subject to survey and contracts. In Scotland neither the buyer or seller can pull out of the sale once an offer has been accepted.

N.B: Recently, a Government trial to protect homebuyers by making sellers put together a "Home Condition Report" which is to be paid for by the seller and contain basic information including local searches and surveys has been held. Should this become national policy in England and Wales, the time taken to complete sale agreements could be reduced.

Solicitor / Lawyer

A solicitor/lawyer who specialises in conveyance work would carry out all the legal work on your behalf. A specific conveyancer can also be used.

Fees

You would expect to pay around 4% of the buying price. This will comprise of your solicitor/lawyer fees and land registry. Other costs would include stamp duty which you would pay for properties costing over £60,000 / $87,500, charged at between 1-2% dependent on the properties selling price. Valuation fees and survey costs would normally be associated with mortgage applications.

Property Tax

Local council taxes are payable annually on a rating system between band A the lowest to H, the highest, and will be calculated by valuations of other similar homes in your area. Expect to pay from around £400 / $600 upwards per year.

United Kingdom:

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AdvertNI - Northern Ireland
http://www.advertni.co.uk/

Alan Cooke Estate Agents
http://www.alan-cooke.co.uk/

Arrowsmith Estates Jersey
http://www.arrowsmith-estates.co.uk/

Ashtons Estate Agent
http://www.ashtons.co.uk/

Atkinsons Residential Estate and Letting Agents
http://www.atkinsons-residential.com/

Barber and Son
http://www.barberson.co.uk/

Barry L Hawkins Estate Agents
http://www.barryhawkins.freewire.co.uk/

Beals Independent Estate Agents
http://www.beals.co.uk/

Bentley's Estate Agents
http://www.bentleys-estates.com/

Bentons Estate Agents
http://www.bentons.co.uk/

Bobby Joseph Estate Agents
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Bonett's Estate Agents
http://www.bonetts-property.co.uk/

Bradleys Estate Agents
http://www.bradleys-estate-agents.co.uk/

Bradford and Bingley Estate Agents
http://www.bb-ea.co.uk/

Bramleyand Dinnes Estate Agents
http://www.bramley-dinnes.co.uk/

Bridges Estate Agents
http://www.bridges-estate-agents.co.uk/

Brooklands Estate Agents
http://www.brooklandsestateagent.co.uk/

Browne's Estate Agents
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Bruntwood Estates
http://www.bruntwood.co.uk/

Burridge Estate Agents
http://www.burridge-property.co.uk/

Cairds Estate Agents
http://www.cairds.co.uk/

Capital Sales Estate Agents
http://www.capital-sales.co.uk/

Chequers Estate Agents
http://www.chequershomes.co.uk/

Church and Hawes Estate Agents
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CJ Hole Estate Agents
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Colman and Green Estate Agents
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Connell Estate Agents
www.connells.co.uk/

Curchods Estate Agents
http://www.curchods.co.uk/

Davis Tate Estate Agents
http://www.davistate.co.uk/

Derek B. Phillips Estate Agents
http://www.derekbphillips.co.uk/

Donald Carter Estate Agents
http://www.donaldcarter.co.uk/

Evans Bros Estate Agents
http://www.evansbros.co.uk/

Find a property
http://www.findaproperty.com/

Finns Estate Agents
http://www.finnsestates.co.uk/

Fish4Homes
http://www.fish4homes.co.uk/

Forest Esates - Independent Estate Agents
http://www.forestestates.co.uk/

Fowey River Estate Agents
http://www.foweyriver.ndirect.co.uk/

Freelands Estate Agents
http://www.freelands_motherwell.co.uk/

Friend and Falcke
http://www.friendandfalcke.co.uk/

FW Gapp Estate Agents
http://www.fwgapp.co.uk/

Gainsford Estate Agents and Valuers
http://www.gainsford.co.uk/

Garner Lamb, Estate Agents and Surveyors
http://www.garnerlamb.co.uk/

Gibbins Richards Estate Agents
http://www.gibbinsrichards.co.uk/

Good Migrations
http://www.goodmigrations.co.uk/

Graham Poulton County Estate Agents
www.grahampoulton.com/

Green and Co - Independent Estate Agents
http://www.greenand.co.uk/

Haart Estate Agents
http://www.haart.co.uk/

Haigh and Sons Estate Agents
haighandsons.co.uk

Harris Estate Agents
http://www.harrisestateagents.co.uk/

Hassett Estate Agents
www.emnet.co.uk/hassett/

HOME SEEKERS - the worlds greatest market place for promoting U.K homes.
www.homes-seekers.co.uk

Howards Estate Agents
http://www.howards.co.uk/

Hudson Moody
http://www.hudson-moody.com/

Hydegate Estates
http://www.hydegate.com/

John Dennis Estate Agents
http://www.dennisestateagents.co.uk/

John Curtis
http://www.johncurtis.co.uk/

John Jackson and Dick Estate Agents
http://www.jacksondicklaw.com/

J.S. Atherton and Co
homepages.newsquest.co.uk/atherton

Keats Estate Agents
http://www.keats-estate-agents.co.uk/

Keats Estate Agents
http://www.keats.org.uk/

Kings Estate Agents
http://www.kings-estateagents.co.uk/

London Property Guide
http://www.londonpropertyguide.co.uk/

R Longstaff and Co
http://www.longstaff.com/

Lords Estate Agents
http://www.lordsonline.co.uk/

MacMillans Estate Agents
www.members.aol.com/move2day

McCormick and Nicholson
http://www.mccormicknicholson.co.uk/

Martyn R Cox and Co - Estate Agents
http://www.martyncox.com/

M. Coleman Estate Agents
http://www.mcoleman.co.uk/

Merrys Estate Agents
http://www.merrys.co.uk/

Michael Moon Estate Agents
http://www.mm-estate.co.uk/

Millest and Partners Estate Agents
www.millestandpartners.com/

Morgan Beddoe Estate Agents and Auctioneers
http://www.morgan-beddoe.co.uk/

Murray Donald & Caithness
http://www.md-c.co.uk/

National Directory of Estate Agents
http://www.ukpropertyshop.com/

Newman Estate Agents
http://www.newman-property.co.uk/

Oakridge Estate Agents
http://www.oeal.co.uk/

Pearsons Estate Agents
www.pearsons.com/

Penyards Estate Agents
http://www.penyards.com/

Pococks Estate Agents
http://www.pococks.co.uk/

Pool Townsend Estate Agents
http://www.pooletownsend.co.uk/

Pricket and Ellis Underhill Estate Agents
http://www.n6peu.co.uk/

Principle Estate Agents
http://www.principlehomes.co.uk/

PropertyAt.com - Northern Ireland
http://www.propertyat.com/

Property Finder - Wales
http://www.propertyfinder.com/

PropertyLive
http://www.propertylive.co.uk/

Property Northwest
http://www.property-northwest.co.uk/

Property Sight
http://www.property-sight.co.uk/

Property Wales - Wales
http://www.property-wales.co.uk/

Property World Scotland
http://www.propertyworld.co.uk/

Richard Bruce Estate Agents
richardbruce1.co.uk

Robbie Haworth Estate Agents
http://www.robbie-haworth.co.uk/

Robert Ouslam and Company Property Agents
http://www.oulsnam-online.com/

Russell and Russell Estate Agents
www.russellrussell.com/

Samuel's Independent Estate Agents
http://www.samuelsea.co.uk/

Satchells Estate Agent
http://www.satchells.com/

Scott and Stapleton Estate Agents
http://www.scottandstapleton.co.uk/

Scottish Property Network - Scotland
http://www.scottishproperty.co.uk/

South Forrest Estate Agents and Solicitors
http://www.southforrest.co.uk/

Stonegates Estate Agents
http://www.stonegateestates.co.uk/

Stuart Saunders Ltd
http://www.stewartsaunders.co.uk/

Swoffers Estate Agents
http://www.swoffers.co.uk/

Taylors Estate Agents
http://www.taylors-ea.co.uk/

Team Association - National
http://www.teamprop.co.uk/

Thimbleby and Shorland
http://www.thimbleby.demon.co.uk/

Tina Dent Estate Agents
http://www.tinadent.co.uk/

Travel Smith Alderney/Sark
http://www.travelsmith.co.uk/

Wilkie & Co Estate Agents
http://www.wilkie.co.uk/

Winterthur Life UK Ltd
http://www.winterthur-life.co.uk/