First Step stands out for what it allows. It accepts gifted deposits, lends on new-build houses, and considers self-employed applicants.
A new 2% deposit mortgage just opened, and it could unstick you if saving a deposit has been the blocker.
The First Step mortgage lets you borrow up to 98% of a property's value. As such a £200,000 home needs just a £4,000 deposit.
On 8 July 2026, the building society behind the product made its two-year fixed rate (5.89%) available.
The headline terms:
First Step stands out for what it allows. It accepts gifted deposits, lends on new-build houses, and considers self-employed applicants. It is available in England and Wales.
But borrowing at 98% LTV carries real risk. You start with almost no equity. If house prices stall or fall, you can slip into negative equity — meaning you owe more than the home is worth.

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We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (No. 919921). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages.
Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
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