Navigating your house sale or purchase amidst the cost of living crisis

Getting on the property ladder can be a daunting process for first-time buyers, and even those who have purchased a property before. The same can be said for people looking to sell their property – with so many steps to the process it can be hard to know where to start.

Luckily, Slater Heelis can help. Having been based in Manchester for over 250 years and recently opening new offices in Sale, the law firm boasts a wealth of experience and expertise when guiding clients through residential property transactions, whether they are buying, selling or renting.

This advice has never been more important than in today’s turbulent economy. House purchases are much more vulnerable to falling through for a variety of reasons such as difficulties obtaining a mortgage. Research conducted by the Home Builders Federation has also found that the English housing market is the worst in Europe, with the lowest number of properties available for buyers.

On a positive note, just because we are experiencing a cost of living crisis, it doesn’t mean the wheels of the property market have to stop. The Manchester Evening News sat down with Zara Banday, director and head of residential property at Slater Heelis, to discuss how the long-established firm is supporting its clients during the current climate in getting either a purchase or sale over the line

Zara also answered some of the most common property-related questions the firm receives on a daily basis. Carry on reading below to find out her advice.

Zara says: "It is a sign of the current times sadly, but the most common pitfalls facing our clients looking to buy a home is mortgage affordability and actually securing a suitable lender."

She added: "One of the biggest uncertainties in today's