How soon after your first graduate job can you buy?

Landing the first salaried job is the moment buying a home stops feeling impossible and starts feeling close. The thing most graduates get wrong is how long they have to wait.

Not as long as you think

Plenty assume you need a year in the job. In reality some lenders will lend from your first payslip, and a few even on a signed contract before you start, as long as the role is permanent. Others do want three to six months. So the wait depends on the lender, not on some universal rule.

It is worth checking how soon after a new job you can get a mortgage rather than sitting on your hands for a year you might not need to lose.

What matters more than time served

The deposit and your other debts move the needle more than months in post. A graduate with a small deposit and a clean file often does better than someone with longer service and a maxed-out card. Keep the spending boring in the months before you apply.

The MoneyHelper first-home pages are a free, neutral place to see what a realistic deposit looks like on a graduate salary.

Written by Ellie Barnes. General information for first-time buyers, not financial advice; figures current for 2026.