Brought to you by CCPC.

Buying your first home is one of the BIGGEST commitments you'll ever make.

Getting the keys to your new pad can be both an exhilarating and exhausting experience. But, from finding the best estate agent in town to making it through a bidding war - keys in hand, you've made it!  Yes, it can be really fun (looking back!) but you'll definitely encounter a few shockers along the way - you think you know it all but none of the hours spent online, or the advice from your nearest and dearest, can prep you for what's to come. To share the love, we've decided to bring you eight things which we learned after buying our first home. 1. Buy the house you know you can afford There is nothing worse than living in a gorgeous new home with no furniture because you are too broke to buy anything! Getting a great mortgage rate can make monthly payments a little less harsh and hopefully allow you to have some money left over for that lovely couch! CCPC's mortgage comparison tool can help you get the best deal on your mortgage. 2. Cashback special offers Cashback offers are attractive because they give you money in the short term. But they might not make financial sense in the long term if you look at how much the mortgage will cost you overall. The lenders that have these special offers often have higher interest rates, so it’s important to look at the interest rate they are offering. 3. The search can take longer than you think Don't make commitments that will make things challenging if your property hunt takes longer than expected. If you're renting, stay on a month-to-month agreement so that you can make the move quickly and without any extra cost 4. Find a solicitor for the legal stuff While you are house hunting, you should also look for a solicitor to do the conveyancing – this is the legal work to transfer ownership of the property from the seller to you. It is a good idea to choose a solicitor when you start looking at houses, because as soon as you have an offer accepted, the estate agent will ask for your solicitor’s details to pass onto the seller’s solicitor. Your solicitor will also check that the sale of the property is legal – that the person who is selling the property owns it and has the right to sell it, and that nobody else could claim to own it Solicitors’ fees vary, so get written quotes and details about their professional fees and other costs. 5. The work is NEVER done As soon as you finish fixing the roof, it’ll be time to work on the windows and on it goes. Creating your dream home can take years — which is good, because it’ll give you time to save up the necessary funds. 6. CCPC buying a home step-by step guide This step by step guide is everything you need when buying your first house and will navigate you through the whole process and tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about buying your first house. Everything from saving for your deposit to closing the deal, you'll need this in your life. 7. Negotiate (Yes that’s it. Haggle!) The price of a property is not set in stone and sellers are often willing to negotiate, especially if they want a quick sale or to find the right buyer. If you don’t ask, you don't get. 8. Finally, it’s nothing like the property shows you see on tv – unless you’re ridiculously rich! We all make mistakes sometimes, that’s just life but buying a house is too important for that laissez-faire attitude you normally swear by. So, if  you're on the hunt for your first pad here are some handy tips and a mortgage comparison tool to help you on your way. Keep these tips in mind and shop smart before signing on the dotted line. Brought to you by CCPC.