Financing your home

First of all, it is best to arrange an appointment with a mortgage advisor or bank to see how much you can borrow. When considering buying there will be associated costs such as:

• Deposit on your property purchase
• Lawyer’s fees
• Stamp duty on your purchase
• Surveyor’s fee
• Insurances: Building, Content and Life Insurance
• Removal costs
• Monthly mortgage payments

Proof of housing qualifications

You must qualify under the Control of Housing (Jersey) Law in order to purchase property in Jersey. You can visit The Population Office or Social Security who will issue your Registration Card, which you will need as proof of your qualifying status. We will need to see this (as your agent) and so will your lawyer and mortgage lender.

To help you obtain your Registration card, here is a comprehensive list on Housing Qualifications/categories.

House search

• Take a look at our comprehensive property listings. We are uploading new properties daily. We also hold a confidential register of properties that are not openly marketed, please ask for details.
• Telephone or email our office and let us register your requirements, that way you can be sure to receive the very latest property listings and price reductions.
• In addition to the properties we feature on our website, we also advertise extensively on social media including Linkedin, Facebook and Instagram as well as in property magazines, so be sure to look out for our latest properties for sale.
• We have regular Open Viewings which we will upload to our Open Viewings Page here on our website.
• When you have identified suitable properties, make an appointment with us to view them and we are happy to arrange a time to suit you.
• You will find our house viewing check list a useful tool to help narrow your search:

We are here to help

• Once you have viewed a property, let us have your honest feedback, it will help us find your perfect home quicker.
• We will help and advise you at every step of the way. With our in depth local knowledge of the market, we can advise on each property you view, comparing them on condition, space, location, price and value. We compare them not only to other properties on the market but also to properties sold and prices actually achieved. All this will help reassure you and will help you with your buying decision.
• We take our job very seriously and so we are members of the National Association of Estate Agents, The Property Ombudsmen Scheme and the Jersey Estate Agents Association. All are governed by a Code of Practice on how we run and go about our business. It gives you protection and some recourse through a national independent redress scheme. Indeed, Gill Hunt is President of the JEAA and Channel Islands Representative of the NAEA. Make sure you are protected.

Purchasing

• Once you have decided on a property that is right for you, make an offer through us. At this stage you should already have your finances in place. This is important as you will be much more attractive to a vendor if you are a ‘ready, willing and able’ buyer. It will put you in a stronger negotiating position and let the vendor know that you are serious.
• Once we have negotiated the agreed sale price with the vendor and all parties are agreed, we will send instruction letters to both legal representatives as to the terms of the sale. We will agree a completion date, this usually takes 4-6 weeks.
• Once your offer is agreed you will need to re-visit your mortgage advisor or bank, so they can compile the necessary paperwork for final sanctioning. Some lenders place a time restriction on their mortgage offer, so it is important that you act in a timely manner.
• You will need to arrange a Jersey advocate to advise on the legal aspects of purchasing your home. The advocate will check the title deeds, boundaries, encroachments, rights of way, servitudes, planning or building restrictions, covenants, water and drainage rights.
• Generally, you will require a survey to be carried out on your prospective purchase. The survey and value will be required by any lender before monies are advanced for the purchase. The main surveys for this purpose are: Valuation Survey, Homebuyers’ Survey and Full Structural Survey. Your surveyor will advise on the most appropriate survey for your needs.
  Both the buyer and seller must attend or be legally represented at the Royal Court of Jersey to pass contracts of sale. The court sits every Friday afternoon.
• We will organise a set of keys to be ready for you as soon as you pass contract.

Moving in to your new home

• Generally, you will have Friday afternoon and half of Saturday to pack your final items and then move to your new home on Saturday afternoon. As your agent we will liaise with both parties to ensure a smooth stress free move.
• We have created a list to help when preparing for that all important move. Please click here for our Moving Check List