Depending on your income you could try looking at a Rural Home Ownership Grant if they are still available - See
http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_016499.pdf
Contact Pentland Housing in Thurso if you live in Caithness for more information.
37/39 Traill Street, Thurso, Caithness KW14 8EG
Email
[email protected]
Tel: 01847 892507
They might also be able to suggest other schemes that might help depending on your own personal circumstances.
Shared ownership is also another possibility for some people - See
http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-4419.cfm
Again Housing Associations like Pentland Housing or Albyn can supply details if they have properties available. There are pluses and minuses to these schemes and it all depends on your circumstances if they are suitbale and if there are properties available that can be purchased using the scheme.
I am unaware of a scheme whereby the government will pay a percentage of your mortgage. In the past tax relief was available on interest payments but this was scrapped a few years ago.
Some points to remember when thinking about taking out a mortgage might be -
Remeber that interest rates can change and that recently they have risen making the mortgage payments go up. Any new increases in rates will hit your payments and if you take out largemortgage you may not be able to afford the repayments. Therefor you need to consider very carefully how much you can afford to borrow. Think about the increased payments that might be involved if the rate goes up by one percent, two percent etc.
If you cannot meet the payments the house will be repossessed and you will still owe any arrears on the mortgage if the house is sold and does not clear the mortgage.
The more you can pay as deposit the less you may have to borrow on a particular property.
If you borrow more than three times your salary and you do not have aany pay rises coming in future years you are likely to be squeezed financially if interest rates go up.
Don't take out an Endowment linked mortgage - although you are not likely to be offered one now. Just be aware that they were very bad for many people. Plenty on the web about this.
Remebr there are other costs in addition to the mortgage such as mortgage protection. Shop around for the best quotes. Get a few quotes as they are not always the same price and some folk just take the first one they are offered in ignorance.
Here is a link to a government leaflet with some advice -
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/158820/0043125.pdf
Good Luck with it.