Home School, in association with Ulster Bank, is a six-part series that guides you through the process of buying a house for the first time. Let's be honest; getting on the property ladder can be daunting. Home School, presented by first-time buyer and entertainment.ie's Brian Lloyd, will demystify the home buying process and help first-time buyers not feel so overwhelmed with the process. 

Knowing where you want to buy can seem like the most obvious and maybe the easiest part of buying a home for the first time.

After all, by the time you're ready to buy, you're more than likely checking through what's available in the area you want and you've already got an idea of what to expect and what to look out for. An estate agent, however, can guide you to something you might not expect and you may not be initially looking out for.

That's why I went to Carolina Lees, Senior Negotiator at Savills Ireland, to get a better understanding of what's available on the residential market in areas such as Stoneybatter, Drumcondra and Dublin at large.

Carolina explained to me about the best way to approach picking an area to live in, specifically with reference to how your life may change - i.e., kids - in the next five to ten years, and that the area you're living in should be suitable for it.

We also discussed how it's never a bad idea to look at properties that might be slightly above your budget, not to mention looking outside areas you may not have initially considered to find something you'll like.

As well as this, Carolina and I also talked about the difference between second-hand properties versus new build, and how that relates to the bidding process. I was actually quite surprised to learn that new builds are set at a fixed price, unlike second-hand properties which can be negotiated.

After answering all of my questions, we set off for Drumcondra and Stoneybatter to take a look around and get a feel for the areas, something that Carolina recommended to me. With all the information and tips Carolina has given me, I feel ready as I'll ever be to get into the house buying market.

When you're ready to join the market, you'll need to talk to someone about a mortgage - and that's where Ulster Bank can help. Request a call back to discuss the right mortgage for you at ulsterbank.ie.

Ulster Bank Ireland DAC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.