Buying your first home in Eastbourne? We help first-time buyers across the town, from Hampden Park and Langney to Old Town and Sovereign Harbour, work out what they can borrow, which schemes could help and how to get from offer to keys with as little stress as possible.
Many first-time buyers start with flats and smaller houses in Hampden Park, Langney and Roselands, or with flats in the town centre and around Sovereign Harbour. Old Town and Upperton have more period houses, while some buyers look just over the boundary towards Willingdon and Polegate for newer homes.
Each type has its own lender questions. Converted Victorian flats near the town centre can have short leases or high service charges. Some purpose-built blocks need fire safety paperwork before a lender will proceed. Ex-local-authority flats are fine with many lenders but not all, depending on the block. We check these points before you make an offer, not after the valuation.
Commuting matters too: the fastest trains from Eastbourne to London Victoria take around an hour and a half, and Brighton is under an hour away, so some buyers working elsewhere in Sussex choose Eastbourne because their money goes further.
Most lenders lend around four and a half times income, and some go higher for certain professions or higher earners. The deposit can be as little as 5% with some products, though more choice opens up at 10% and 15%. Lenders look at your credit file, your spending and any debts, so it is worth checking your credit report early. Our guide to improving your credit score has some practical steps.
If you are self-employed, on a probationary period or have a gifted deposit from family, it is still possible to buy, but the paperwork needs more care. Gifted deposits need a signed letter and proof of where the money came from.
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Stamp duty. First-time buyers pay no stamp duty on the first £300,000 and 5% on the portion between £300,000 and £500,000. If the price is over £500,000, first-time buyer relief does not apply.
New-build schemes. The government's Your First Home scheme is due to open for applications in February 2027, with first sales from April 2027. It offers an equity loan of 20% of the price, interest-free for five years, on new-build homes, with a minimum deposit of 2.5% and an income cap of £110,000 outside London. Local price caps have not yet been published. Our guide to the Your First Home scheme explains how it works.
Discounted and shared homes. Eastbourne Borough Council has affordable housing schemes in progress, including Bedfordwell Road and Old Orchard Road. National First Homes rules give a discount of at least 30% for eligible local buyers, with a price cap and income limits. Shared ownership is another route, where you buy a share and pay rent on the rest.
We start with a free initial chat about your income, deposit and plans, then get an agreement in principle so you can make offers with confidence. Once you have an accepted offer, we recommend a mortgage, submit the application, chase the lender and solicitor, and keep you updated until completion. We can also help with protection such as life insurance and income protection, so the mortgage is covered if something goes wrong. Find out more about our mortgage advice in Eastbourne.
Transparent Mortgage Services is an independent broker run by Russell Braiden CeMAP, and we explain every step in plain English. We are directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 925926) and rated 5.0 stars from 109 Google reviews. We are based in Hastings and most Eastbourne clients work with us by phone or video, with documents uploaded securely; you are also welcome at our Hastings office.
Our broker fee is £599. For a purchase it is payable when your mortgage offer is issued; for a remortgage to a new lender it is charged on completion. Where there is adverse credit the fee is £999, or up to 1% of the loan. We do not charge a fee for product transfers with your existing lender, and we confirm any fee in writing before we start. Book a free initial chat or call 01424 444597.
Some lenders accept a 5% deposit, though 10% or more usually gives you more choice and lower rates. On a new-build home, the Your First Home scheme, due from April 2027, is planned to allow a deposit from 2.5%.
Not on the first £300,000. You pay 5% on the part of the price between £300,000 and £500,000. Above £500,000 the normal rates apply instead.
No. It is for new-build homes only and is due to open for applications in February 2027. Local price caps have not been published yet.
Our fee is £599, payable when your mortgage offer is issued, or £999 (or up to 1% of the loan) where there is adverse credit. We confirm the fee in writing before we start.
Yes. Gifted deposits are common, and some lenders offer family-assisted mortgages that use savings or property from a parent. Each has different risks for the family member, so we explain them clearly.
Important: Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Transparent Mortgage Services is a trading style of Transparent Financial Associates Limited, which is directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 925926). 17 Havelock Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1BP. Telephone 01424 444597.
