The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Modbury
A first purchase at the £400,000 Modbury average needs about £48,300 in cash, made up of £40,000 deposit, £5,000 stamp duty with first time buyer relief, and roughly £3,300 in fees.
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to. There is no obligation.
A first purchase at the £400,000 Modbury average needs about £48,300 in cash, made up of £40,000 deposit, £5,000 stamp duty with first time buyer relief, and roughly £3,300 in fees.
What a first Modbury purchase costs in cash
On the local average the deposit is £40,000, stamp duty is £5,000 and fees are near £3,300. Total cash needed is about £48,300.
First time buyer relief saves you £5,000 against the standard charge of £10,000 at this price. Rates are those in force from April 2025. Confirm the current position on gov.uk before you exchange.
Where the upfront cash goes
The commercial page for this town sets out the introduction itself: Mortgage advice in Modbury.
Borrowing power on a Modbury income
What the first year actually costs
Band D council tax in Devon is £2,584 a year, which is £215 a month. Add energy, water, insurance and maintenance.
Protection belongs in the same budget. If the mortgage depends on two incomes, it depends on both people staying well enough to earn. That is the part of the purchase we advise on directly.
Average prices sit below the £500,000 relief ceiling, so most first purchases here still qualify. Check your own price against the threshold.
The Modbury detail first buyers ask about
The schools families ask about here are Modbury Primary School, Ivybridge Community College (a secondary option), Kingsbridge Community College (a secondary option) and Post-16 & sixth-form options. 2 local schools were rated Good or Outstanding overall at their most recent graded Ofsted inspection. Ratings age between inspections, so read the latest report before you rely on one.
On getting about: Modbury to Ivybridge (by car) takes about 15 to 20 min.
By price, Modbury ranks 6 of the 32 Devon locations we cover, at £400,000 against a county average of £354,375. Band D council tax here is £2,584, against an average of £2,675 across the towns we cover in the county.
What your money buys in Modbury
Modbury is a historic hilltop wool and market town of slate-hung Georgian houses on the A379 in the rural South Hams.
The full local guide covers schools, transport and the market in detail: Modbury property and area guide.
| Budget | What it buys here |
|---|---|
| Around £250,000 to £330,000 | A cottage, terrace or flat in or near the old town, the more accessible way into Modbury. |
| Around £330,000 to £500,000 | A Georgian or Victorian house, or an interwar, postwar or estate family home, a classic Modbury home. |
| £550,000 and above | A larger detached, period or country home in or around the town, the top of the local market. |
- A characterful hilltop Georgian market town
- More affordable than the South Hams coast
- A genuine full-time community, not a resort
- Well placed for Plymouth, the A38 & the coast
- Modbury Primary (Good) in the town
- No railway station (nearest Ivybridge/Totnes)
- A small rural town, limited town-centre services
- No secondary school, children travel to Ivybridge or Kingsbridge
- No dual carriageway in the town, car-dependent
- Nearest full A&E is at Plymouth (~30 to 40 min)
Modbury is known locally for The slate-hung Georgian wool town, and The South Devon Chilli Farm. Modbury's steep main street of distinctive slate-hung Georgian houses, the legacy of its medieval and Georgian wool wealth, and one of the most characterful market-town streets in the South Hams.
Practical detail for Modbury: the PL21 postcode district, none, the nearest stations are Ivybridge (~15 to 20 min) and Totnes on the Great Western mainline and nearest A and E is Derriford (Plymouth) ~30 to 40 min, the closest of the South Hams towns; or Torbay; Kingsbridge has a Minor Injuries Unit.
Modbury at a glance
| Upfront cost | Modbury figure |
|---|---|
| Average price | £400,000 |
| Deposit at 10% | £40,000 |
| Stamp duty, first time buyer | £5,000 |
| Stamp duty, standard rate | £10,000 |
| Legal, survey and moving | £3,300 |
| Total cash needed | £48,300 |
| Monthly repayment illustration | £2,105 |
Figures are local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own numbers before acting on them.
Ask about Modbury
Three details is all we need. You are told before anything is passed to a partner firm.
Your checklist
- Total cash of about £48,300, not just the deposit
- Your stamp duty position confirmed on gov.uk
- A first year running cost budget including £2,584 council tax
- Income protection quoted before completion, not after
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to. There is no obligation.
Check broadband before you make an offer in Modbury
Broadband speeds can vary street by street in Modbury, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.
We can introduce you to a specialist who can combine your mobile, broadband and utilities into one bill. There's no fee for the introduction.
We don't provide these services ourselves. Switching household bills is not a regulated financial service, so FCA protections and the Financial Ombudsman do not apply. We'll only pass your details to the specialist if you ask us to. See our privacy notice.
Questions people ask
How much money do I need to buy a first home in Modbury?
Do first time buyers pay stamp duty in Modbury?
What is the biggest hidden cost?
How do I check broadband speed at a property in Modbury?
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