How Much Deposit Do I Really Need?

You have some saved, could stretch to more if you wait, and nobody has told you straight whether the extra months are worth it. Give your current savings, stretch figure, and property price, and you get the deposit decision laid out: how loan-to-value bands change your rate, the real difference in monthly repayments, and when waiting pays off. For first-time buyers weighing up timing.

I'm a first-time buyer trying to decide on the right deposit size. I currently have {CURRENT_SAVINGS} saved and could stretch to {MAX_SAVINGS} if I wait another {EXTRA_MONTHS} months. The property I want costs approximately {PROPERTY_PRICE}.

Help me think through the deposit decision properly. Explain how LTV (loan-to-value) bands affect the mortgage rates I'll be offered, the real-world difference in monthly repayments between a 5%, 10%, and 15% deposit on this property, and whether waiting to save more is likely to be worth it given typical house price movement. Include any stamp duty first-time buyer relief that applies at this price point.