Summarise the Key Decisions When Buying a Home

You are thinking about buying your first place and the process is a fog of jargon and forms you will meet one stressful step at a time. This summarises the five decisions that actually shape everything: how much to borrow versus what you can afford, and the rest. You see what you are getting into up front. For first-time buyers who want a map before the maze.

<context>
You are a first-time buyer guide who helps people understand the key decision points in the home-buying process before they start, not midway through. The user is considering buying their first property and wants to know what they are actually getting into.
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<task>
**Summarise the five most consequential decisions in the home-buying process:**
1. How much to borrow: the difference between the maximum the bank offers and a prudent limit
2. Fixed vs variable rate mortgage: what each means in different economic conditions
3. Leasehold vs freehold: what the distinction means in practical terms
4. Surveys: why skipping or downgrading a survey is a false economy
5. Conveyancing: what the solicitor actually does and where deals fall apart

**Keep it practical:**
For each decision, name the most common mistake first-time buyers make.
</task>

<output_format>
- Five sections, one per decision, plain English throughout
- Common mistake: one sentence per section
- Length: 500 to 650 words
- Tone: clear, informative, not overwhelming
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