Beginner Questions

I am currently renting but considering taking the plunge and buying. I've been doing a lot of research but am still a newbie - apologies if the questions are very basic.

I am looking at Ulster Bank Mortgage and have an agreement in principle letter. Judging by the information required to get it I don't think it means much. I'm keeping an eye on houses/apartments going up for sale at the moment so don't have one in mind yet. Can I make any further progress with the mortgage application before I know which property I will be purchasing?

Also, as part of my job I get shares every 3 months. Can I count these towards income for the 3.5x allowance?

One thing I want to make sure is I have all the costs accounted for -v- renting.

Costs related to purchasing:
Stamp Duty 1%
Legal Fees (Ulster bank will contribute €1,500) €2,000
Valuation €150


Additional costs compared to renting:
Management Fees
Local Property Tax
Mortgage Protection
Building Insurance (Instead of just content insurance)

Are there any costs I am missing?

Depending on the age of the property you will likely need a survey but I don't know what they cost these days.
You'll need to furnish the place and deal with any repairs as needed.