When you are buying your first family home, it is indeed an exciting time.

There’s a multitude of things to think about, from which person gets which bedroom, to the colour of the paint in the kitchen to the mortgage indemnity policy and engrossment. OK, so those last 2 aren’t likely to be on your shortlist of fun things to think about.

Unfortunately, in the eyes of the law, both are more important than who sleeps in which room, as both are required in the conveyancing process. Legally defined as the process of transferring real property from one person to another, conveyancing law is a bit complicated and can confuse even the smartest of people. Often taking up to 6 months on the straightforward side of the process, it is highly recommended that when you are buying a home or any property, you seek legal advice.

At Andrews and Andrews, our conveyancing solicitors in Emsworth have over 70 years of helping people buy their first homes and can help you with the seemingly never-ending paperwork, while also liaising with the sellers of the property. We can offer you a jargon-free breakdown of the entire process and inform you of what each step entails, so you will always know where you are in the procedure. Perfect!

Back to those 2 words in the intro; what are some of the other terms used by our conveyancing solicitors in Emsworth?

Chain

An idea that each sale of a property is dependent on buyers and sellers lower in the chain; a longer chain can complicate the buying process and if you want to buy a home with a long chain, contact our conveyancing solicitors in Emsworth for advice.

Completion date

The date when the conveyancing process ends; money is transferred into the sellers’ account, deeds are transferred and the former owner is legally required to leave the property.

Deed

A deed is a legal document, which states who is the legal owner of the property, or who has the legal charge over a property if it has been purchased with a mortgage.

Engrossment

The final version of a legal document, which is signed by all the relevant parties. In conveyancing, these documents are usually contracts related to the price of the property and an agreement on the final value.

Mortgage indemnity policy

Often insisted upon by mortgage providers, a mortgage indemnity policy is a way to protect the lenders’ financial losses if your home is repossessed. It can also cover other circumstances, such as losses caused by the drop in property value.

Stamp duty

An unpopular tax which is paid by people who are purchasing a residential property or land. It is only applied to the purchase of single properties (not a group of properties) and is not required on properties which have been bought for up to £500,00 until the 31st of March 2021. If you have bought previous properties, you will need to pay an additional 3% on stamp duty.