I don't know if this is relevant coming from across the Atlantic but a generally good idea here is to save up as much as you can for a deposit beforehand to take the heat off some of the mortgage repayments.
Set aside/factor in a budget for redecorating, and be sure you can afford where you're buying. If you're going "above budget", be sure that you still have an amount to live on per month that isn't going to cause depression/$$ arguments with the significant other.. my best friend got married just under 2 years ago and bought a place that he's struggling to keep paying repayments on, and with a 2nd baby on the way its causing all kinds of drama
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