First Time Buyer April/May 2021

the Ultimate Guide to... GETTING ON THE LADDER, THE PROPERTY MARKET AND HELP TO BUY April/May 2021 £3.95 firsttimebuyermag.com

OLYMPIC DIVER TOM DALEY CREATES THE PERFECT SPRING RECIPE

WIN!

A GTECH SYSTEM VACUUM CLEANER AND GTECH HEATWAVE WORTH £450

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT LIFESTYLE? THEN ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY

WHAT THE BUDGET MEANS FOR FTBS

“It's very easy to get carried away so ensure you take a checklist of things your property must have” The Property Twins 04>

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EDITOR’S LETTER

E D I T O R I A L – 020 3488 7754

Editor-in-Chief SARAH GARRETT sarahg@spmgroup.co.uk Editor LYNDA CLARK lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk Editorial Assistant DAWN HARKER Junior Editorial Assistant KATIE WRIGHT Creative Director RYAN BEAL Sub Editor KAY HILL Social Media DAWN HARKER Contributors CHRIS CLARK, DEBBIE CLARK, ADAM CRAWFORD, DAWN HARKER, KAY HILL, JONNIE IRWIN, LAURA DEAN-OSGOOD, LESLEY PRICE, GINETTA VEDRICKAS, KATIE WRIGHT

A D V E RT I S I N G – 020 3488 7754

Director of Advertising/Exhibition Sales LYNDA CLARK

lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk

Welcome This is a very special time of the year when the dark months of winter are over and we move on to brighter days. Many of you will now start thinking about buying your first home, but we know that it can be hard to navigate the process as there are many steps to take along the way. That is why we launched the National Home Buying week on 22-27 March, to try to help, inform and guide you on the journey to homeownership. We have a dedicated website – nationalhomebuyingweek.co.uk – which has lots of information about the stages involved, with everything from deposits and mortgage advice to conveyancing, the affordable Government schemes, buying on the open market and much more. There are seminars to watch on key topics and a podcast to listen to, plus you can watch TV celebrity Jonnie Irwin, who has done a masterclass on how to view a property together with our Headline sponsor, Catalyst. You can also see influencer Jade Vanriel walking you around a SO Resi show home.

The big news, of course, is that in the latest Budget, it was announced there is going to be the introduction of a new scheme to make it easier to obtain a 95% mortgage, (see pages 80-81 for more details.) Also, the Stamp Duty holiday has been extended to the end of June – so great news for first time buyers.

This issue is full of fascinating features and information on buying your first home and I hope you enjoy it!

Until next time, happy house hunting

Special Events EILIDH MACLEOD – First Time Buyer Home Show – First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards boom@squarepegmedia.com

22-27 March

@firsttimebuyer

Accounts accounts@ultimateguidecompany.com Managing Director SARAH GARRETT sarahg@spmgroup.co.uk Public Relations RACHEL COLGAN

firsttimebuyeronline

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rachel@building-relations.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS 020 3488 7754

EDITOR’S PICKS…

I think shared ownership is a fantastic product to assist young people on to the ladder

SWITCHBOARD 020 3488 7754 All advertising copy for April/May 2021 must be received before 5 March 2021.

Send all copy to: lynda@ firsttimebuyermag.co.uk The content of this publication, either in whole or in part, may not be reproduced, stored in a data retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission from the publishers. Opinions expressed in First Time Buyer magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. © The Ultimate Guide Company Ltd 2008-2021. The Ultimate Guide Company Ltd t/a First Time Buyer magazine will take no responsibility for any loss/ claim resulting from a transaction with one of our advertisers/media partners.

We are now all too aware that ideally there needs to be more flexible space to allow us to work more comfortably from home Jonnie Irwin, Jonnie’s World, page 9

I was earning good money and realised that I had to start putting some away

Carrie Herrington, Living life in the fast lane! page 30

Sue Dance, 20 Questions, page 102

Go on as many viewings as you can and don’t be rigid about location

We’ve been fortunate to stay with Ricardo’s family, which has allowed us to save some money for a deposit Carla Monteil, House Hunter, page 16

Jade Vanriel, At home with, page 14

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CONTENTS

APRIL/MAY 2021 / ISSUE 88 / FIRSTTIMEBUYERMAG.CO.UK

What’s in…

70

For sale

66

Lauren Lewis and Sam Worrell discovered that using Help to Buy would enable them to get on the housing ladder. The young couple left the rental market after just one year and purchased their dream home at Chestnut Homes’ Manor Farm development in Bardney, Lincolnshire.

HOMEPAGE

9 Words from Jonnie TV presenter and property expert Jonnie Irwin gives his views on the housing market.

11 FTB loves…

A round up of our favourite hot buys.

12 Living Our selection of Netflix-inspired interiors will help you feel like you’re sat next to Dr Jean Milburn in her hillside chalet on Sex Education or transport you to a tea party at the Bridgerton’s. With our top tips that would make even RuPaul jealous, your room will always look snatched. The possibilities are endless – watch this space!

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14 At home with…

Jade Vanriel Jade Vanriel is passionate about property and is a very talented YouTuber. She has more than 23,000 followers on Instagram and 54,000 YouTube subscribers.

The popular influencer bought her first home when she was just 23 and has always been driven to work hard and save hard. She is an Ambassador for the National Home Buying Week and talks to Lynda Clark about her first home, her career and plans for the future and gives some sound advice to first time buyers.

16 House Hunter We try to find Carla and Ricardo Monteil a new home in west London.

FEATURED

20 The View: The Property Twins Twin sisters Tonya and Rea have a passion for property. They started as trainee negotiators and worked their way up to management positions before setting up their own property company. From lettings and sales to interior design projects, The Property Twins, as they are known, are experts in anything and everything to do with the world of property.

They talk to Lynda Clark about their fascinating careers and give some excellent advice for first timers.

24

24 Escape to the Country: Distant Dream or Realistic Reverie?

A year spent frequently working from home has given everyone time to reflect on exactly what they want from their first home. Debbie Clark looks at why first timers are considering looking further afield and at homes that offer more space and a better lifestyle.

32 Northern Spotlight With affordable housing, lower living costs and some beautiful countryside, many first time buyers are choosing to live in the North of England. We look at each region and highlight some of the homes that are available.

18 Developer’s doctor Rachael Baillie, Sales Director at Redrow’s South East division, answers this month’s pressing property question.

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CONTENTS THE PROPERTY TWINS, PAGE 20

WE ARE VERY FOCUSED AND ARE HAPPY TO GO WITH THE FLOW – WHEREVER THAT LEADS US

20

The Property Twins

REGULARS

68

For Sale

the shared ownership market and finds that there is now more choice than ever.

80 Finance

58 Hotspot

Kay Hill highlights the key points in the Budget that will particularly help first time buyers, including a new mortgage guarantee scheme and the Stamp Duty holiday extension.

We look at Staines-upon-Thames as a place to live.

82 Market

72 The conveyancing process Lesley Price FCILEx, of CGM Solicitors, breaks down the conveyancing process into simple steps.

What does the Government’s 10-point climate plan mean for the future of the UK’s homes? Ginetta Vedrickas examines the plan to see how it impacts our future homes.

84 Agony Agent All your property questions answered by our panel of experts.

87 Buyer’s Guide

75

Competition Win a Gtech System vacuum cleaner worth £299.99 plus a Gtech HeatWave outdoor heater worth £149.99.

Check out FTB’s Buyer’s Guide, which walks you through the property process.

76 First home, first meal Created by Olympic diver Tom Daley, this beetroot, kale and goat’s cheese quiche makes the ideal colourful lunch or is ideal to take on a picnic.

77 Fast food Easter eggs are always a great favourite with all the family but which ones taste the best? FTB has tried and tested some from the UK’s leading supermarkets to see which ones are the tastiest.

78 Financing the shared ownership market Censeo Financial looks at the availability of mortgage lenders in

92 Legal A new version of the Government’s Help to Buy: Equity Loan has recently been launched and Adam Crawford, Partner and Head of New Build Homes at Prince Evans Solicitors, looks at what has changed and the conveyancing process for buying with Help to Buy.

94 Directory Where and how to contact your Help to Buy Agents or providers.

102 20 Questions We ask 20 quick-fire questions to a property expert and in this issue Sue Dance, Sales & Commercial Manager for the wider Grand Union Housing Group is in the spotlight.

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LETTERS

Mailbox STIPEND INCOME My partner and I are now looking at buying our first house. We both have a good credit history, a sizeable deposit and he is in full-time employment.

I am just about to start a PhD and will receive a grant to live on and to cover my academic fees. Am I able to use this grant when applying for our mortgage?

WRITE TO US! Please send us your questions, comments and suggestions concerning property, or the articles in First Time Buyer magazine.

First Time Buyer Letters, 37 Ivor Place, London NW1 6EA lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk

Gay Broadberry FTB: Being on a grant could cause issues, but there are some avenues to investigate. You will receive what is known as a stipend income.

Unfortunately, most mortgage lenders will turn down applications with a stipend income as it is seen as unreliable. However, your good credit history and the fact your partner is in full-time employment can work in your favour, as is the fact you have a good deposit. You should seek out a specialist mortgage adviser who has experience of dealing with stipend incomes and they should be able to point you in the right direction to get your mortgage approved.

This issue’s star letter wins a Lakeland Sliding Bamboo Organiser worth £19.99. We could all do with a bit of extra storage around the home to organise our clutter, whether it’s for bits and bobs in the kitchen, stationery in your home office or make-up and jewellery on your dressing table. This organiser is designed to be as versatile as possible and the three boxes can be used together or apart to organise belonging all around your home. lakeland.co.uk

MORTGAGE IN PRINCIPLE I have been looking for my first home for a while now and I am considering the next stages. I have heard about a mortgage in principle; can you explain what this is and how long it lasts?

George Dodson FTB: A mortgage in principle will give you an official estimate from a lender showing how much you can afford to borrow and won’t cost you anything to get. It is useful to have when looking for

HOUSE VIEWING I am about to embark on the journey of buying my first home. When I go to visit potential homes, are there particular things I should be looking for while doing this?

Anthony Vincent A good tip is to write down what is important for you in your home before you make any visits. Be prepared, a home might not be able to tick every single box, but it should give you some indication on whether or not the property will suit your needs. Whether it is lots of storage space, a big kitchen or stylish bathroom, everyone has their own preferences. A show home is a great place to start as you can get a real flavour for the potential of a property rather than an empty shell of a newly built house without anything in it. Be sure to ask questions if you are being shown round, and again, perhaps have some of these prepared before your visit. Lastly, don’t jump at the first property you view no matter how nice it may seem. It is good to see a range of properties so you can make a better judgement on this big decision.

WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED?

your first home as it shows the estate agent or housing provider that you are serious. You may also see it referred to as an agreement in principle (AIP) or decision in principle (DIP). This is not a binding contract, but they are taken seriously. A credit check will need to be made and can either be a hard or soft check dependent upon the lender, so be aware of this. A mortgage in principle lasts 60-90 days, varying between lenders, although renewing it should be straightforward.

I have been searching for my first home and I think I have found a property I really like. I am now looking at getting a mortgage, but when applying, what sort of information will I need to provide to the lender?

Jenny Whitley FTB: Not all lenders will need exactly the same information from you. Generally, however, you will need to provide the lender with five things. A proof of identification will be required such as a passport, and some lenders may ask for more than one form of ID. Details of your

current employment will be needed. Be prepared to give details of your previous job if you have recently changed jobs.

Bank statements from the past three months will be needed, along with a P60 from your current employer. Finally, three months’ worth of payslips will need to be sent through to prove your earnings. You may need more than these things, but your potential lender will outline this when you initially make contact.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE For everything you need to know about buying for the first time, go to firsttimebuyermag.com

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OPINION

Photo © Mike Prior

WORLD

TV presenter and property expert Jonnie Irwin gives his thoughts and views on first time buyers and the housing market

I often get messages from friends taking the rise out of an outfit I was wearing in an old episode of something I filmed. After nearly 17 years of showing people around houses on the TV you can imagine that I’ve got a few wardrobe/hair styles that haven’t stood the test of time particularly well! Some of the messages might be a bit more specific about the people I’m with or something that was said – I must admit I try my best to get something a bit cheeky in now and again and hope it makes it through the edit.

One clearly did, as last week I received a message from someone who was watching me show a couple around a house where the gent complained that the bedroom was a little on the small side. Apparently, I suggested that size wasn’t everything – especially in the bedroom. Now while that sounds exactly like the type of puerile nonsense that occasionally passes my lips, it’s not a rule I necessarily subscribe to, well in property terms at least!

Sure, we’ve all heard the adage that’s regularly trotted out about Location, Location, Location – in fact I can still remember sitting in my first town planning lecture at university and hearing that location was the most important part of a property’s desire and value. While I wouldn’t disagree with this wholesale, it does, like many cliches, over-simplify things and take one’s attention away from other factors which should be given equal focus.

Take size, for example; now more than ever the size of your home has come into sharp focus.

It’s all well and good being close to facilities, commuter links, and trendy bars and cafes, but in a lockdown, these become less important. Indeed, it’s our four walls we seem to be staring at more and more. Of course, lockdowns don’t last forever but the way many of us work and ostensibly live has certainly changed.

Lots of us will be commuting to work less in the short term and we are now all too aware that ideally there needs to be more flexible space to allow us to work more comfortably from home. Maybe there is fear of further lockdowns in years to come, but I have certainly seen an attitude change from homebuyers of all prices of property, who simply want as much space as possible.

So how do you go about hunting for that property? As a surveyor I’m fortunately used to talking about living accommodation in square feet or metres – it gives me an instant snapshot of the kind of space on offer. A two bedroom apartment measuring 500 sq ft will be impossibly pokey whereas if it was just a one bedder it might feel quite spacious. But going back to my earlier statement – it’s not just purely about size, it is how you use it – or, perhaps more relevant, how you will want to use it.

The first things to look at with a set of property details is a location map and then the floorplan – don’t worry about the photos yet, they are there to give you a flavour.

At the viewing, if the property is furnished then look up at the ceiling – this gives you a visual of the empty space. It’s also worth noting what size the furniture is. A two-seater sofa could make a room feel spacious, but it might not be able to fit much more than that. Here, I do get a bit frustrated by people who go shopping for a property that accommodates their furniture, but there needs to be a balance of what you are likely to fit in to a potential new home such as where your desk will go. If they’re good quality, a furniture package is a great option as these are usually sourced to fit the space – just make sure the property you’re looking at is of similar shape and size to the show home you’re viewing.

Personally, I prefer a more tangible method. Get the measurements of any room you’re considering and then go to a big car park or field and mark it out. Make sure you mark out the exact sizes of the furniture you’ll be taking with you or requiring and get a real idea of the space you’re looking at. You might get a few funny looks if you take actual furniture with you for this exercise but if you do – please send me a picture!

Happy hunting…

First Time Buyer April/May 2021

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FTB LOVES

What’s hot in the shops? Always on the lookout for exciting and innovative new ideas and accessories that will help create the perfect space, here are our favourites this issue

Make an Impression

This stunning new dining range from Denby is sure to make you want to update your tableware at home. We love how the range incorporates colour and texture to create a fun and eyecatching centrepiece.

The range is modern and the neutral palette will fit into any home. All Denby ceramics are handcrafted in England, designed to last, and are covered by the company’s 10-year guarantee. The range is dishwasher, microwave, oven and freezer safe.

Impression, from £5, Denby Impression denbypottery.com

ational s t n e c S s might be off the Travelling to exotic location rged on a new splu just ’ve you n cards whe perfect for conjuring is t home, but the right scen transporting you and ory mem l utifu up a bea Aromas are an y Ma to faraway shores. Ava ts, reed diffusers, mel wax of on ecti coll affordable ys inspired by spra m roo aroma oils, candles and lles and Turkey. che Sey the as such s tion exotic loca popular perfumes and The scents are inspired by ed, vegan, cruelty bas soy are ts duc all the pro e in the UK. mad free, hand poured and May Aromas Ava 50, £2. t, mel Single wax avamayaromas.com

Booth in a Box

We might be heading out of lockdown; but things aren’t quite back to normal and birthdays are still meant to be celebrated. The Booth in a Box gives you everything you need to create fun and giggles with all the family. Each kit contains party decorations as well as virtual software that turns any device into a photobooth. So, whether you want boomerangs, filters or digital props you can follow the simple set-up and be ready to go. There are different themes, including the Silver Star. For the more extravagant you can even get a Kardashian-esque balloon arch for the extra wow factor.

Star party kit, £21.99, The Booth in a Box theboothinabox.com

Dry:Soon Drying Pod

Laundry can be such a time-consuming task, especially when you are waiting for your clothes to dry. That’s why we love this Drying Pod from Lakeland. It circulates hot air around your clothes, meaning they dry quicker, and you won’t have to drape towels across radiators leaving your home looking messy. The Drying Pod is cost efficient, costing just pennies to run unlike a standard tumble dryer, plus, unlike a tumble drier, the circulating heat helps to reduce creases, cutting down ironing time. The drying pod is small and light, making it easy to move, and it definitely won’t take over your sitting room. Yet despite its size, it can still dry up to 12 items on hangers. For peace of mind it comes with Lakeland’s three-year guarantee.

Dry:Soon Drying Pod, £59.99, Lakeland lakeland.co.uk

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Homepage LIVING

s i h T h c t a W SPACE

Binge-watching your favourite shows while replying to emails? We have all been guilty of that over the past months, but we can’t be the only ones finding ourselves pressing pause to drool over their decor! With spring here at last, now is the perfect time to give your house a refresh and let our round-up of Netflix-inspired interiors help you feel like you are part of the action, not just watching it

Juliette dressing table set , £99.99, studio.co.uk

The Chateau Nouveau Heron wallp aper, £27.99, Studio

Home blue velvet chair, £149.99, TK Maxx

Not only has the Bridgerton family captured our hearts, but the series' stunning Regency interiors have too. To bring Daphne’s style to life, use powder blues alongside creamy champagne tones.

Add a touch of floral, to complete the classic Georgian look.

Bird cup and saucer, £15, Homesense

Jaipur Mustard Rug, from £70, John Lewis & Partners

White floral sateen cushion cover, £5, Primark

Copper lined tangerine orange lampshade, £40, Mint & May

Vintage cake stand, £9.99, TK Maxx

Outdoor reversible cushion, £10, Matalan

In The Queen’s Gambit, using a key prominent colour in the room is an ongoing theme. Challenging your housemate to a game of chess in your monochromethemed living room with splashes of bright orange will be sure to make it the envy of your friends. Checkmate! as print, Monochrome Waves at Dusk canv d Mea Louise

Classic chess set, £37, Arket

Boho Monochrome Abstract Shapes art print, £45, Abstract House

£45,

Black horse head bookends, £28, Marquis & Dawe

Avalon chevron weave burnt orange rug, £99, Housecosy

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Blue and white chaise longue, £299, Homesense

Eggcentric timer, £24.99, TK Maxx

Monochrome Checkers table, £45, Homesense

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Homepage LIVING Gillian Anderson’s hillside chalet from Sex Education has given half the country location envy. The wicker furniture, cool pastel tones and funky patterns have our hearts in a flutter. Choosing 70s-inspired pieces is the closest we are going to get to having Dr Jean Milburn as our interior designer.

Sanctuary scatter cushion, £8, Matalan Wicker hanging chair, £249, Homesense

Pink Palm reversible double duvet set, £12; Just Wellness natural waffle throw, £15; pink ribbed glass table lamp, £15 ; face graphic cushion, £8, George Home

Retro Palm Leaf glass pendant light, £85, Cult Furniture

Face mug, £2, B&M

Glazed green12-piece dining boxset, £44, Habitat

Leopard print Home doormat, £29.50, Oliver Bonas

Llama painting, £29.99; Guinea pig Queen framed print, £24.99; pink pear ornament, £2.99; brass coffee table, £79.99, Homesense

Bold, bright and beautiful are definitely some of the words that come to mind when you think of RuPaul’s Drag Race interiors. Adding daring accents to a room would make any queen jealous.

Be confident with neon lights and we can assure you, your room will always look snatched!

Cabana Margarita glasses 4pk, £5, B&M Pink velvet office chair, £99.99, Homesense

» Abstract House abstracthouse.com » Arket arket.com » B&M bmstores.co.uk » Cult Furniture cultfurniture.com » George Home asda.com » Habitat habitat.co.uk » Homesense homesense.com » Housecosy housecosy.com » John Lewis johnlewis.com » Lights4fun lights4fun.co.uk » Louise Mead louisemead.co.uk » Marquis & Dawe marquisanddawe.co.uk » Matalan matalan.co.uk » Mint & May mintandmay.co.uk » Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com » Poundland poundland.co.uk » Primark primark.com » Sophie Allport sophieallport.com » Studio studio.co.uk » TK Maxx tkmaxx.com

Rainbow light, £20, John Lewis & Partners

Copenhagen YAS word planter, £10, Matalan

Multicoloured Hearts embroidered cushion, £35, Sophie Allport

Be Kind rainbow neon box light, £59.99, Lights4fun

Scatter cushion, £1, Poundland

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Homepage LIVING

At home with:

Jade Vanriel

Jade Vanriel is passionate about property and is a very talented YouTuber. She has over 23,000 followers on Instagram and 54,000 YouTube subscribers. She bought her first home when she was just 23 and has always been driven to work hard and save. She talks to Lynda Clark about her first home, her career and plans for the future, and gives some excellent advice to first time buyers FTB: Tell us about your first step on to the property ladder?

JV: I have always worked very hard and at one point I had several jobs, but it enabled me to save which was very important. I did have to make sacrifices but I always knew I wanted my own space and my own home. Eventually I spoke to my dad and he thought that with the amount of money I had saved I could definitely buy somewhere of my own. He set up an appointment with a mortgage broker and even though I had around £24,000 saved up I didn’t think it would be enough. So, I was really surprised when he told me that I could start looking at properties as I certainly had enough in my savings pot. I stumbled across an area in Essex, which I didn’t really know at all, and started house hunting. I knew I wanted to buy a home with a project and when I saw this house I knew straight away it was the place of my dreams. It wasn’t great from the outside, and the interior needed a lot of work, but it had so much potential and space and I knew if I gutted it then it would be a fantastic home.

FTB: Did you do all the work yourself?

JV: I painted all the walls white, changed the cabinet doors in the kitchen and painted the old wooden worktops. I couldn’t afford a sofa so I lived without one until I had saved up, and I taught myself so many skills along the way. During all the work, I documented it and put it on YouTube where I began to get a big following.

FTB: How did you begin to start blogging full time?

JV: After I started putting my house renovations on YouTube, it became so popular it was practically a full-time job.

Then in 2019 I was made redundant and I decided to take a gamble and start blogging

“GO ON AS MANY VIEWINGS AS YOU CAN AND DON’T BE RIGID ABOUT LOCATION AS OPENING UP YOUR SEARCH WILL LEAD YOU TO POSSIBLY BEING ABLE TO AFFORD A BIGGER PLACE” full time. It has been such a success story and I have created my own mini-series, Move with Jade, showcasing prospective homes, especially to first time buyers.

FTB: Are you still making changes to your home?

JV: I am constantly changing things and I have recently updated my bedroom. I have changed the accessories and some furniture and it’s now monochromatic with accents of black, white and gold. It is a much bolder look and I also added some lovely artwork on the walls. My spare room was always a walk-in wardrobe with a small area where I worked, but because we are now all working from home I decided to make the work area more comfortable. I bought a pretty new desk in a lovely light wood and I have made it more functional and easy to work

in. I am going to start on the kitchen as well, because being at home so much I do get bored with the decor.

FTB: It sounds like you are very busy – can you tell us what you have been doing?

JV: I am always productive and creative and I have been working on my Move with Jade property tours. I do a lot of filming at home and hope to give inspiration to everyone, especially if you are stuck at home all day.

I also give a lot of advice on how to save and how to manage your money, which is so important, and I have been doing some exciting work with Experian all around credit. I have also been working with Starling Bank, Dunelm and Desenio – I thoroughly enjoy working across a whole range of different projects.

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Homepage LIVING

FTB: What are your plans for the future?

JV: I want to carry on with the work I am already doing – checking out architects, filming my property journeys and experiences and showcasing them to everyone across the UK. I am also going to buy a new home with my partner and we have been looking around the Hornchurch area as we like it a lot. It is on the cusp of Essex and on the edge of some beautiful countryside. It’s a great location for commuting into central London as it has the tube on the doorstep, so I think we will get the best of both worlds. We are looking for a home that won’t need too much in the way of structural changes and just some cosmetic work, although you never know what we might end up with, as I’m always up for a challenge!

FTB: What advice do you have for first time buyers?

JV: When you are looking for a home do lots

“WITH EVERYONE HAVING MORE TIME AT HOME TO GO ONLINE, YOU CAN REALLY DIG ABOUT AND GET LOTS OF INFORMATION WHICH WILL BE VERY USEFUL” of research. You can go online and check out the property’s history to check what prices it has sold at before and you can also look at what other homes in the same road were sold at to ensure you are paying the correct amount. With everyone having more time at home to go online, you can really dig about and get lots of information which will be very useful. Also, think of the future and how you will benefit from the property. In the four and half years I have been in Essex so much has changed and property values have really gone up. I would also write down a list of your outgoings and what you

can afford. If you then compare that with what you will have to pay out in the future, like service charges or paying extra for a parking space (especially if you are looking at apartments), plus bills and council tax, it will give you a rough estimate of what you can afford. Go on as many viewings as you can and don’t be rigid about location as opening up your search will lead you to possibly being able to afford a bigger place.

Instagram - @jadevanrielx Twitter - @Jadevanriel YouTube – Youtube.com/c/Jadevanrielx

First Time Buyer April/May 2021 15

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Homepage FIRST RUNG

The

HOUSE HUNTER

What we found…

THE GREEN SPACES Acton Gardens Acton, west London

THE CITY VIEWS FROM £98,750*

Western Circus Acton, west London

FROM £TBC*

This month FTB goes on the hunt with Carla and Ricardo who are after a two or more bedroom home in or close to Acton, west London

PROFILE

Names Carla Monteil, 29, and Ricardo Monteil, 37 Occupations Beauty therapist, Operations Manager Maximum budget £350,000 Requirements A home with at least two bedrooms in west London with private outdoor space. Good transport links out of London and lots of amenities close by would be ideal

What they wanted…

We are looking for our new family home in west London. We have a two-yearold daughter, Mia, and currently live with Ricardo’s parents in Acton. But we desperately want our own space and to find a perfect new apartment. We will need at least two bedrooms, and would love a small garden or a balcony. Ideally, we’ll be close to parks and things to do with Mia. I’d like to be able to take her swimming and to soft play without too much hassle. We have lots of friends and family in Acton and surrounding areas, so we’d like to stay in this area, ideally.

It’s also great for Ricardo as he works out of town in Slough, and needs to be able to drive there in good time. We’ve been fortunate to stay with Ricardo’s family, which has allowed us to save some money.

We have a deposit of £35,000 and a budget of £350,000.”

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With beautiful properties, landscaped gardens and on-site facilities, Acton Gardens has a village feel. The new one, two and three bedroom apartments sit within grounds that include communal gardens, green spaces, play areas, an outdoor gym, on-site shops, a dentist and a community centre. The homes, which form part of a major development, are bright and spacious with plenty of natural light, and feature kitchen/dining areas that open to a balcony or terrace. Acton Gardens is near five key rail and tube stations.

Reaching 16 stories high, Western Circus is making its mark on Acton. The one, two and three bedroom apartments – which boast great views – are thoughtfully designed, with bright, open-plan living areas and goodsized bedrooms. Apartments feature private balconies or terraces, while residents share communal landscaped gardens.

From East Acton tube station, five minutes’ walk away, new Elizabeth Line trains will provide speedy services to central London.

The local area has many eateries and supermarkets.

lqhomes.com

lqhomes.com

*Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £395,000

*Shared ownership available

What they thought…

This looks like a very comprehensive development – with lots of green space right on the doorstep. We really like that there are gardens and playgrounds for residents to use – it means that we’ll always have a space to relax and play with Mia without having to travel too far. The properties are great, too. They are really spacious and include a utility room.

The location is perfect – you can get to the shops pretty easily, and you also get a choice of parks. We love Gunnersbury Park and that’s only a 10-minute walk from here.”

This really does look like a grand development – and the properties look lovely. Although the development sits on quite a major crossroad, it’s been so well designed: the apartments overlook the central gardens, giving a community feel and a nice, green outlook. It looks like a great place for getting to know your neighbours, which would be really great for Mia – she’ll be able to meet other children. The views from the apartments must be fab, too! In terms of getting around, the transport links couldn’t be much better!”

First Time Buyer April/May 2021

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Homepage FIRST RUNG

THE LEAFY RETREAT Central Square at Copley W7 Hanwell, west London

THE UP AND COMING FROM £335,000

Helix Stonebridge, north west London

FROM £85,500

First choice!

THE NEXT BIG THING

FROM £80,625*

Acton Works Park Royal, west London

These new homes in leafy Hanwell are moments from Castle Bar Park railway station and a few minutes from lovely Pitshanger Park.

Supermarkets, cafes, a children’s centre and the high street lie within easy reach. Properties range from one bedroom apartments to four bedroom houses, sitting around a central shared garden and playground. On-site facilities will include a cafe. The two bedroom apartments feature open-plan living areas, contemporary kitchens with integrated appliances and an en suite from the master bedroom.

This collection of spacious one, two and three bedroom apartments and two and four bedroom duplexes by Hyde New Homes is located in vibrant Harlesden. The homes are all generously sized, with open-plan living/dining areas, balconies or gardens, and en suites in the larger properties. Residents share communal grounds and have access to allocated underground parking. From Harlesden tube station in Zone 3, trains reach Paddington in 16 minutes and the Overground reaches Euston in 22 minutes. Buses run to Wembley.

copleyhanwellw7.co.uk

hydenewhomes.co.uk *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £340,000

What a lovely location this is – we have friends in Hanwell and really like how green and laid back it is.

The properties at Central Square look seriously stylish – we really like the look of the two bedroom apartments.

The kitchens are very modern, and there’s so much storage space, which is very handy when you have a little one. The balconies are a good size, but it’s also impressive that there’s a central playground – perfect for taking Mia out quickly. It’s in a good spot for Ricardo getting to work, as train and road links are close by.”

My cousins are in this area, and they really enjoy living here – Roundwood Park is nearby and is great for kids and there are some good schools nearby which would be perfect when Mia is a bit older. There are also some popular restaurants in the area, which is good for us! The apartments themselves are very stylish and seem to be exactly what we are looking for.

The open-plan living arrangement is ideal too, as we like to have family over and it’s fun making the cooking part of the evening rather than being hidden away in another room.”

ate and rooftop gardens, priv With communal central es at hom new the , ties eni am parking and great local urban ing you could need in an Acton Works have everyth one to from ge ran al Roy k Par s in location. The apartment g areas ture bright, open-plan livin three bedrooms and fea arket, erm sup a re’s The s. ace terr and private balconies or while r, doo the l all moments from restaurants and hospita nal, Ca on Uni nd Gra the to a short walk will take you s. This is or Park Royal tube station Harlesden, North Acton regeneration k Oa Old the gs: thin at an area destined for gre ng with a new alside transformed, alo project will see the can rth.

No the to the area HS2 station connecting networkhomessales.co.uk *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £322,500

THE NEXT STEP

“We are very excited about taking a look around this development and exploring the area to just make sure it’s the one for us! We’re really keen and hope that we can get the ball rolling on securing a plot soon!”

This is an impressive development. We love the rooftop gardens, and the location is really good – there are lots of nice independent restaurants in the area, and the canal will be excellent for taking Mia out for walks and bike rides. We’re particularly interested in the fact that we could potentially buy a three bedroom apartment.

Having an extra room would give us a few options: it could be used as a therapy room for my beauty clients in the future – or, of course, as a bedroom if we decide to have another baby. There are several choices of tube and railway stations, which is excellent – there are also a few well-regarded nurseries close by, along with some good schools just up the road. We’d also be interested in living close to the Old Oak regeneration scheme, as we think this will really benefit the area.”

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ADVICE

Rachael Baillie is a Sales Director at Redrow’s South East division. Redrow South East has 16 active developments across Kent, offering a wide selection of homes from Redrow’s award-winning Heritage Collection, Regent Collection and bespoke apartments available to purchase. Rachael has extensive experience of working in the new homes market and has been the Sales Director at Redrow South East since the division was formed in 2015

Q

I am looking to buy my first home and I would like a new build property, but I am unsure whether to instruct my own conveyancer to handle the legalities of the sale or to whether to choose a recommended independent panel solicitor?

A

There are lots of things to consider when purchasing your first home and it can be quite intimidating to know where to start. One thing that can make the process simpler when buying a new build home is choosing to use one of the recommended independent panel solicitors.

Panel solicitors refers to a list of independent solicitors who we will recommend after a customer reserves a home with Redrow.

There are several benefits to selecting a solicitor from the panel. Firstly, they will have experience with the development where you have chosen to purchase. They will have acted on several new home purchases at the site and be familiar with the layout, planning requirements and have all the relevant documents to hand.

Having familiarity with the site and the associated documents early on is beneficial, as it means they will be able to answer any initial questions promptly.

Secondly, panel solicitors have experience handling new build purchases and will be familiar with the process, including the Help to Buy scheme. The reason the conveyancing on new builds is different to purchasing an existing property is due to planning regulations, a need to understand current and future layouts of the new community and being aware of the timeline for exchange – for Redrow this is 42 days and a panel solicitor can help ensure you hit this deadline. This familiarity with new builds helps to make the process smoother.

Thirdly, though the panel solicitors are not associated with Redrow and are wholly independent, they will have worked with

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the legal team on previous transactions.

This established relationship means there are existing channels of communication.

As is normal during the buying process there will be questions, but these can be answered and resolved efficiently.

Finally, the important thing to remember is that while we recommend selecting a

Rachael Baillie, Sales Director, Redrow South East

panel solicitor for the reasons outlined here, you are under no obligation to do so, they are just recommended to make your life and the buying process easier. Your solicitor will always act in your best interest and make sure you can focus on the other important parts of the homebuying journey, including the fun interior design choices to be made.

FROM

£299,9

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At Regent Quay in Sittingbourne, Redrow has a selection Regent Q of two, three and four bedroom houses available. From uay, Sittingb Redrow’s award-winning Heritage Collection, the homes ourne combine traditional exterior features, such as gable-ended roofs, porches and red and yellow brick detailing, with modern and spacious interiors.

Regent Quay is located on Crown Quay Lane in the centre of Sittingbourne in Kent, where you will find a great selection of local schools, shopping facilities and leisure activities. The new homes are a 10-minute walk from Sittingbourne railway station, which connects to London St Pancras in under an hour. The M2 and M20 motorways are close by, providing links to the historic city of Canterbury and the county towns of Maidstone and Rochester. Within an hour’s drive you will also reach the coastal towns of Whitstable and Margate which are popular for their picturesque beachfronts.

The two bedroom homes start at £299,995 and each bedroom comes with an en suite bathroom. Downstairs, a kitchen-dining area opens out on to the back garden, and a separate lounge is located at the front of the property. Available with Help to Buy, these stylish two bedroom homes are the ideal first time buyer home. The new homes are set within several areas of open space, including parks and exercise areas for the new community to meet and socialise.

For more information visit redrow.co.uk/developments/regent-quay-sittingbourne-212448 or call Redrow on 01795 334 765

First Time Buyer April/May June/July 2018 2021

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THE VIEW

! e k a T e l b u o D 20 First Time Buyer April/Mary 2021

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THE VIEW

"WE BOTH LOVED THE PROPERTY SHOWS ON THE TV WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP AND IT DEFINITELY INSPIRED US TO WANT TO ONE DAY WORK IN THE BUSINESS"

Twin sisters Tonya and Rea have a passion for property. They started at the bottom as trainee negotiators and worked their way up to management positions before setting up their own property companies. Now known as The Property Twins, the sisters are experts in anything and everything to do with the world of property, from lettings and sales to interior design projects. They tell their story to Lynda Clark and give some excellent advice for first time buyers

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THE VIEW

T

"WE WORKED TWO DOORS DOWN FROM EACH OTHER AND WE BOTH LITERALLY STARTED AT THE BOTTOM, BUT WE WERE EAGER TO LEARN AND WE BOTH EVENTUALLY ENDED UP IN MANAGEMENT"

onya and Rea were born and brought up in Chelmsford, Essex, and always loved property. Tonya said, “We both loved the property shows on the TV when we were growing up and it definitely inspired us to want to one day work in the business.” They both had a great work ethos and had Saturday jobs working in retail, customer services and as waitresses, as they both knew that by working hard and getting paid it would stand them in good stead for later life.

Then, 13 years ago, they both decided to get jobs in estate agencies as trainee negotiators. “We worked two doors down from each other and we both literally started at the bottom, but we were eager to learn and we both eventually ended up in management.”

In 2012, Rea decided to take the plunge and set up her own estate agency, which she describes as "very scary", but she was very successful and eventually sold it in 2017 as she had her first child. “Running your own business is very full-on and juggling a sales team as well as being a first time mum was hard, but on reflection it was a good move.”

Around the same time, Tonya launched her own lettings and property management company, which she later merged with another well-known estate agent in Chelmsford in 2017.

“When I sold my business, it was the first time ever that I had nothing to do except look after the family. It was an odd feeling, but not long afterwards my husband set up a garden design company. I head the design team, creating luxury gardens which I really enjoy. It works well, as I can fit this in and around what we do as The Property Twins and it gave another dimension to the areas of property Tonya and I cover.”

Tonya has a small portfolio of buy-to-let properties which she continues to manage alongside running the lettings team at Adrians estate agent. She bought her first investment for her now husband who she was dating at the time. “He had some savings and asked me to help him invest, so I found a three bedroom house which I bought for only £153,000, I did a small renovation on it costing £5,000 and sold it for £225,000 which was really the start of my investment bug.”

Rea also has a small portfolio of buy-tolets which she hopes to grow, and has flipped (renovated and sold) several properties over the past few years. She is happily married with two children; Hudson, three, and Jaxon, nine months.

Tonya is married to an ex-professional football player and had to move home every time he changed clubs. “For about three or four years he played for Southampton and during that time we purchased a three bedroom semi-detached house just outside Winchester. It was brand new so it was

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THE VIEW easy to look after, but I spent a lot of time travelling back and forth to Essex. Luckily my husband got transferred to an Essex club when our first child was two weeks old.

It was a quick move so we started by just renting a house there. We eventually decided to buy a cottage in a local village to live in and do up. It was very hard to move with a tiny baby but somehow we managed. We loved the cottage but it was never going to be our forever home and we sold this before buying our forever home in 2018.”

Eventually they decided to join forces and, as they say, “move mountains together”.

They source properties for buyers and investors, take on renovations and interior design and have buy-to-let clients they find properties for. “We are making our own journey which is very hard work but we love every second of it. We are very focused and are happy to go with the flow – wherever that leads us.” Tonya and Rea are also very active on social media platforms and have thousands of followers. “It’s so fun to do and there is always something to talk about or pictures to put on Insta. The content is easy; sometimes it does take a while to do, but we know it’s vital to our business.”

They have some great advice for first time buyers to help them get a foot on the ladder. “First dibs – register directly with your local agents as well as On the Market, as they will at times have properties to show you that haven’t been marketed with the likes of Rightmove, giving you the opportunity to secure an early viewing.

Next, preparation is key – get yourself in a good position and make sure you have your mortgage in principle ready before you start viewing properties. If you’re a first time buyer, with your mortgage in principle you are in the eyes of a seller ready to go and chain free, giving you a great lead over someone in a chain.

"Also, do some serious homework on what you need from a property before you start viewings. It’s very easy to get carried away in the heat of the moment so ensure you take a checklist of things your property must have.

Be flexible with viewing times and remember timing is key when it comes to securing your dream property. Get to the property as soon as possible, even if it's during your lunch break, and don’t expect the property to wait for you! Consider Help to Buy and shared ownership, as these are affordable Government schemes which only require a 5% deposit – so it is a great way to get a foot on the ladder.”

Tonya and Rea’s passion for anything property related is vast and they are overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement.

As we finish our chat I know for sure that The Property Twins are certainly on the map!

"CONSIDER HELP TO BUY AND SHARED OWNERSHIP AS THESE ARE AFFORDABLE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES WHICH ONLY REQUIRE A 5% DEPOSIT – SO IT IS A GREAT WAY TO GET A FOOT ON THE LADDER"

officialpropertytwins.com

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LOCATION

ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY: DISTANT DREAM OR REALISTIC REVERIE? The last year has been an interesting and, dare I say it, unprecedented one. It has turned our lives upside down and forced us to experience a challenging new reality – but, in doing so, has also allowed us to step back and imagine a different future for ourselves. Debbie Clark looks at why first time buyers are considering looking at homes that offer more space and a better lifestyle Lockdown was a sobering experience for everyone, but no more so than for those who were self-isolating and unable to escape to the green spaces we have come to rely on more than ever. The benefits of green spaces are widely recognised and, as such, are increasingly being prioritised in the design of new developments.

However, the reality is that one in five Londoners has no access to a garden, so it is little wonder that so many are looking to leave.

A big shift in work patterns has also driven the demand for more space, which you pay a huge premium for in London. Many of those who have worked remotely through the pandemic are finding there is some flexibility to continue to work from home in the future. This being the case, space to do so comfortably is high on the priority list when looking for a new home.

With our priorities as a nation shifting, it has never been more important to determine yours. A YouGov poll commissioned by estate agent Keller Williams UK, found that over 40% of couples identified coastal communities as their dream home

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location, despite 84% of us living in urban areas. Coastal locations tend to come at a premium, but there are certainly some hidden gems to be found if this is your dream.

Research by Hamptons International found that last year, more Londoners bought property outside of the capital than in any of the previous three years; just under a quarter of these were first time buyers and, on average, these buyers were spending £100,000 less on their homes than they might have been paying in London. Nearly 70% of these buyers purchased homes in southern England, with the Home Counties, Essex, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire particularly popular given their proximity to the capital and potential for commuting.

The average age of Londoners buying homes outside of the capital has also dropped significantly in the last decade, from 47 to just 39, proving that you really don’t need to wait to make that escape to the country. Many of us dream of retiring to the coast or country, but what is it we’re waiting for? What if we could have the lifestyle we yearn for now?

HOMES AROUND THE COUNTRY MALDON, ESSEX

FROM £60,000*

Limebrook Walk The newest phase of homes at Limebrook Walk includes a delightful collection of one and two bedroom apartments and two and three bedroom houses. Situated on the outskirts of the historic maritime town of Maldon, nestled near the banks of the River Blackwater, the development benefits from the tranquil surroundings of the Essex countryside, while still offering easy access to London. The homes have been built to a very high standard and boast thoughtful layouts providing flexible accommodation which can be easily zoned. Kitchen/living/ dining areas are open plan and feature access to a Juliet balcony or terrace in the apartments, or a garden in the houses. In addition to landscaped gardens, there are outdoor children’s play areas as well as car parking and secure bike storage for all residents. peabodysales.co.uk/developments/limebrook-walkshared-ownership 020 7021 4842 *Based on a 30% share of the full market value of £200,000

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LOCATION

NORTHOLT, WEST LONDON

FROM £150,000*

Rectory Park

FROM £425,000

HAWKHURST, KENT

Heartenoak Meadows

Comprising a stylish collection of beautifully finished one and two bedroom apartments, Rectory Park forms part of Northolt’s remarkable regeneration project. Built alongside a new community centre, the final phase of this development provides a calming haven for London buyers who are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, with balconies, terraces or lawn space to all apartments. There is also a serene on-site orchard for residents to explore at their leisure, and acres of glorious green space adjacent to the development, including numerous playgrounds, a golf course and football pitches. For commuters or regular travellers, the development benefits from effortless connections into central London and beyond, with bus stops right on the doorstep, as well as Northolt underground station, Northolt Park railway station and the A40 close by. networkhomessales.co.uk/rectoryparkfinalphase 020 7412 8871

Heartenoak Meadows comprises a hamlet of 28 luxury properties, ranging in size from three to five bedrooms. Many homes have been positioned to look out on to the surrounding countryside and there is a communal meadow and pond, with access into the fields and beyond. The development is conveniently placed within walking distance of Hawkhurst High Street. This picturesque village also offers a variety of shops, cafes, country pubs and, notably, a luxury digital cinema, Kino, perfect for relaxed film viewings. Heartenoak Meadows is within walking distance of three local schools making it perfect for families, while for commuters, nearby Etchingham station offers direct services into London Charing Cross, as well as regular services into Maidstone and out towards the South Coast. Prices at Heartenoak Meadows are to be confirmed, with Help to Buy available. millwooddesignerhomes.co.uk 01732 770 991

*Based on a 40% share of the full market value of £375,000

WALKERN, HERTFORDSHIRE

FROM £360,000

Midsummer Vale

Midsummer Vale delivers an exceptional collection of two to five bedroom homes, with a mix of house styles to suit a range of buyers. Help to Buy is available, and Catalyst is also offering a £10,000 deposit contribution, in addition to flooring and garden turfing included in the price. These homes have been designed with modern family living in mind; premium touches include designer kitchen units and underfloor heating. Outside, landscaped front gardens and a dedicated patio area to the rear garden are included as standard. The village of Walkern dates back to the Saxon period and is characterised by its rich history. Combined with modern amenities, it offers the desirable lifestyle often associated with village living. The local area offers school options for both primary and secondary and, for those needing to commute, Stevenage railway station is a short 10-minute drive away, with train journeys to London King's Cross in 24 minutes and London Bridge in 42 minutes. catalyst.homes/development/midsummer-vale 01438 518 218

FROM £110,000*

LITTLEMORE, OXFORD Newman Place

Newman Place is a collection of one to four bedroom homes featuring open-plan living areas, private balconies and highspecification finishes as standard. Designed in harmony with the local area, this impressive development reflects the character of its natural landscape with gently curving roads and rich landscaping. A raised walkway stretches the perimeter of the site, weaving through trees and bringing residents closer to nature. There are fantastic facilities on the doorstep, with Littlemore’s range of amenities including a nursery, supermarkets and a parade of shops. Oxford city centre is just a 10-minute drive away.

Newman Place is located a six-minute walk from Littlemore Mental Health Centre and a 15-minute drive from John Radcliffe Hospital, so is ideally located for local NHS workers, who have been offered first refusal on these homes. The development is also convenient for commuters; Oxford station can be reached in 13 minutes by car, with journeys to London Paddington taking under an hour. catalyst.homes/development/newman-place 01865 564 066 *Based on a 40% share of the full market value of £275,000

FROM £89,250*

SILVERSTONE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Towcester Road

New two and three bedroom homes are anticipated to be available in May/June at this popular Silverstone development. The properties are constructed to include a range of fitted kitchen wall units, with integrated oven, hob and extractor hood, and flooring throughout. Home of the British Grand Prix Circuit, Silverstone is ideally placed for convenient access to both the M1 and M40 motorways, and the A5 with easy access to Milton Keynes. The village has a range of shops, social and leisure clubs with further amenities just four miles away in the town of Towcester. grandunionliving.co.uk/properties/towcester-rd-silverstone0333 015 2414

*Based on a 35% share of the full market value of £255,000

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LOCATION

CASE STUDY

CHELMSFORD, ESSEX Chelmer Waterside

FROM £78,750*

This landmark development is conveniently situated in the heart of Chelmsford. The new riverside quarter offers an exclusive collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments. Built on a peninsula, on the banks of the River Chelmer, the site has been thoughtfully designed. Features include a new public square and lots of green spaces to create a flourishing new riverside community. The buildings have been carefully oriented to maximise views to the water, for both residents and visitors.

Despite the challenges of lockdown, first time buyers Elinor and Rory, both 25, have made the most of the freedom that working remotely brings. Rory, a software engineer, works from home full time, freeing the couple from life in town. The couple lived with their respective parents rent-free to build up their deposit, allowing them to get a foot on to the property ladder much faster than if they had rented together, and after a year and a half of saving hard to build up a 5% deposit of £13,750, the couple have purchased their first home together – a three bedroom semi-detached house at Barratt Homes’ Martello Lakes in Hythe, Kent.

The couple were in the fortunate position of being able to move absolutely anywhere!

Elinor says, “We ended up looking at every single development within two hours of Gravesend, as we still wanted to stay close to our families. The only real requirement was a spare bedroom to turn into an office – and since we bought a three bedroom house, Rory has all the space he needs!”

The couple fell in love with the area. Elinor explains, “The town is quiet and relaxed but has everything we need, plus there’s the coast, which just sealed the deal for us. We’ve been able to explore the fields and lake behind the development since moving in, and we love being able to go to the beach whenever we want.” The £273,996 price tag of their home in Hythe was around £100,000 less than the equivalent in Gravesend. Elinor says, “We just can’t get over the fact that it’s more affordable for us to buy in our dream location by the sea than in the city.”

Natalie Perry, Sales and Marketing Director for Barratt Kent, comments, “Hythe remains a hidden gem. It’s on the other side of the headland to tourist hotspots like Camber and Hastings, but much quieter and the beach is just as beautiful.” Upon completion, the south coastal walk, part of the England Coast Path, will run through the Martello Lakes development, offering residents even more opportunity to enjoy the natural environment.

Barratt Homes is launching its next phase of homes at Martello Lakes, which comprises a collection of apartments and houses. Buyers interested in finding out more should contact 0333 355 8502 or visit barratthomes.co.uk.

chp.org.uk 0300 555 0500 *Based on a 35% share of the full market value of £225,000

BEDFORD, BEDFORDSHIRE Gatehouse Mews

FROM £65,800*

Sixteen exclusive two bedroom apartments are available for shared ownership close to Bedford town centre. The apartments include flooring throughout, fitted kitchen units complete with integrated appliances and an allocated parking space. The development is minutes from the town centre and embankment, with plenty of places to eat, drink and play. Gatehouse Mews is well connected; Bedford station is on the Midland mainline to London St Pancras, there are links to the A421 and M1, and regular local bus services. There is a £500 incentive available towards legal fees when instructing preferred solicitors. grandunionliving.co.uk/properties/gatehouse-mews-bedford 0333 015 2414 *Based on a 35% share of the full market value of £188,000

FROM £TBC

BRAINTREE, ESSEX Blackwater Place

FROM £98,000*

BATTLE, EAST SUSSEX Tollgate Green Blackwater Place offers 30 beautiful two and three bedroom houses in a desirable area of Braintree. Designed with aspirational young professionals and families in mind, each new home provides plenty of light-filled living space, the latest fixtures and fittings, a private garden and dedicated parking. The development is located just a 10-minute walk from Braintree station and a short stroll from Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens. chp.org.uk 0300 555 0500

Due to complete this summer, there are 17 two and three bedroom homes available through shared ownership in the new neighbourhood of Tollgate Green, and a further 31 two, three and four bedroom houses for sale on the open market. On the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Battle, East Sussex, the homes are enviably located with both the countryside and beach nearby. optivosales.co.uk/eastsussex 0800 0121 442

*Based on a 35% share of the full market value of £280,000

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LOCATION FROM £321,000

WATFORD, HERTFORDSHIRE

CASE STUDY

The Arches

This gated St William development comprises 92 suites and one and two bedroom apartments, with Help to Buy available. Each property offers private outdoor space in the form of a balcony or terrace, and residents benefit from the area’s extensive green spaces. The homes are convenient for Bushey and Watford’s social scenes, and an eight-minute walk from Bushey station with connections to London in under 19 minutes. The M1 and M25 provide road access to surrounding towns, including St Albans, Hatfield and Milton Keynes.

St William is making public realm improvements, providing quick connections to Watford town centre. thearcheswatford.co.uk 020 3930 1475

FROM £91,000*

RINGMER, EAST SUSSEX Levett Fields

In the historic village of Ringmer in East Sussex, Optivo is offering two bedroom apartments and two, three and four bedroom houses and a bungalow through shared ownership.

This stunning development combines perfectly connected country living with contemporary design and is on the edge of rolling hills and woodland trails. Ringmer has all the amenities you could want, including shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants. The homes are built to a high specification with fully integrated kitchens which include an oven, hob, extractor hood, fridgefreezer, dishwasher and washing machine. optivosales.co.uk/levett-fields 0800 0121 442

FROM £258,000

CROWBOROUGH, EAST SUSSEX Warmington Mews

Warmington Mews offers an exciting collection of three bedroom houses and two bedroom apartments in Crowborough, the highest inland town in East Sussex, in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It's ideally situated in the town centre, close to the library, community centre and supermarkets. The homes include practical yet stylish interiors, ideal for first time buyers. The station is about two miles away, with journeys to London Bridge in just over an hour. A Moving Made Easy scheme is available. abbeynewhomes.co.uk/developments/ warmington-mews 01892 269 083

*Based on a 35% share of the full market value of £260,000

FROM £335,000

TRUMPINGTON, CAMBRIDGE Aura: The Final Chapter

Aura: The Final Chapter marks the last opportunity to purchase a Countryside home at its multi-award-winning new neighbourhood, Great Kneighton. The development includes a range of one, two and three bedroom apartments and three bedroom duplexes with high-specification open-plan kitchen, living and dining spaces. All apartments feature balconies or terraces. Just three miles from Cambridge city centre, set among charming landscaping, the apartments also border the new 120-acre Hobson’s Country Park – home to woodland, allotments, ponds, adventure play areas and a bird reserve – as well as the new Hobson’s Square and community buildings. auracambridge.co.uk 01223 850 915

Srikanth, 39, and Mamatha, 31, an IT consultant and a company director, originally from India, recently moved into their new home, a three bedroom detached Morpethstyle property at Barratt Homes’ Highfields community in Littleover. After cutting out holidays to save up for their family home, the couple were delighted to secure a house with more space and a garden for them and their eightmonth-old son, Saisamik.

Buying a low maintenance new build home was appealing to Srikanth and Mamatha.

Srikanth says, “I don’t know too much about DIY as I’ve never lived in a house of my own, so a new build home was the perfect option and the NHBC 10-year warranty made us feel much more secure.” The couple also had the future in mind when selecting Highfields, due to the plans in place for a new purpose-built school on-site.

The couple felt confident that the development was right for them. “We’ve got a number of close friends who also live at Highfields so we’d already heard great things.” However, the couple did feel slightly apprehensive about moving in such challenging times. Srikanth recalls, “At one point I was a bit nervous about the housing market during the pandemic, but we’ve been reassured by Barratt Homes throughout the process and the communication has been fantastic.”

The move, upsizing from an apartment, has been a blessing for the family, particularly with Srikanth working from home. “We didn’t have a garden in our previous home so we’re really making the most of our own outdoor space. I’ve been able to work from home in the garden while enjoying the sunshine and it’s provided much-needed downtime for us as a family,” explains Srikanth. “It’s also been nice to have my own room inside the house to work without disturbance.”

All of the properties at this development have now sold, but Barratt Homes would encourage anyone interested in relocating to a semi-rural location to book an appointment with the sales advisers at its nearby development in Mickleover or visit barratthomes.co.uk.

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REAL LIFE

LIVING LIFE IN THE FAST LANE! The sheer determination of TV presenter Carrie Herrington to get on the property ladder is quite incredible! She worked two jobs for several years, which was very tough, and then when she and her husband Carl managed to buy their first home, while Carrie was pregnant, they transformed it from a dark and dingy house to the delightful property it is today. Her story is inspirational...

Carrie has always been a grafter – when she met her husband-to-be in 2016 she had a very demanding day job organising big events, creating budgets for clients and making sure every tiny detail ran like clockwork. Then, in the evening, she presented Jackpot 247 for ITV – how she managed to survive this incredible timetable is staggering.

She said, “My day job was based in Oxford Street in central London and I worked from 9am till around 5.30pm when I would jump on the tube and go home. I sometimes had to do a little extra work on my laptop, then have dinner and at 10pm I drove from where I lived in north London back to Battersea where the studios were based and arrived there at 11pm. The show was from midnight till three in the morning and I had to organise myself to the last minute in order to get back for about three hours’ sleep and then start all over again.

It was like a military operation and I came off the set, threw my heels into my bag and changed into trainers and ran to the car, and would aim to get home at 4am.

“I was earning good money and realised that I had to start putting some away so I opened a savings account and regularly put money into it. At the end of the month if there was any left over I would transfer it and the balance kept growing. I set myself targets and once I reached £10,000 I aimed for £15,000 until eventually I had £40,000 saved. Carl and I never went without though, and we still had holidays. When we decided to get married we had to budget for that as well, so it was tough, but I never dipped below the £40,000 that I had saved up.”

Carl and Carrie got married in April 2019 and by the November she realised she was pregnant so they decided they needed a home of their own and started house hunting. “We were renting in Epping and because it’s a great location with excellent transport links, the property prices were way out of our reach. We are both originally from Suffolk and comparing what you could get there for the same money was ridiculous. So, we upped our game and started looking around at other areas.

“Eventually we found a house which Carl really thought had potential, but I thought it was dark and dingy and I really didn’t

like it. It did have lovely, uninterrupted views though and I began to see that it might work. It was in Ongar, Essex, and the compromise was that there was no tube but for what you were paying you got a great deal more space.” Eventually the sale went through and they got the keys on 1 April 2020, which was during the first lockdown.

Carrie was six and a half months pregnant but that didn’t deter them. “We had only

just moved in and five hours later Carl was knocking down a brick archway. I suppose we both have high energy levels and nothing was going to stop us from making the house a proper home.”

Carl is an electrical engineer at a pharmaceutical company and during lockdown he was still going to work every day. Luckily it was summer time and when he came home from work they both

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REAL LIFE

continued the house renovations, working until the light went. “Carl had to re-wire the whole house so we didn’t have any lights for a while, but it was summer and the weather was good and we had long evenings. We lived in the kitchen/dining room which we called our ‘clean zone’. When we finished working for the night we would shower and put on clean clothes and spend some quality time there. Carl and I were looking at YouTube to learn different skills along the way and as he had originally been an electrician he had some experience.

We had to replace the radiators as there were exposed pipes and I remember I was upstairs pulling them through – I suppose I was the perfect workmate!

“Two days before Carter was born I was scraping down the skirting boards and hoping that he didn’t arrive early! I never had a baby shower because of Covid so I

decided to put on a pretty dress and take some photos like you would at a party so I could remember that very special time. I have some pictures where I am holding a paintbrush and there is chaos all around but they are a great reminder of those happy days. Carter was born the day after the photos were taken and luckily it was a really super-fast birth!”

Fortunately, they ensured that the kitchen, sitting room and nursery were ready for when he was born. Carrie said, “When you have a baby you spend a lot of time in the sitting room so we made sure we had the carpet down, the TV on the wall and a very relaxing sofa to chill out on. It has been quite a year and we now love this house. I don’t think it will be our forever home, but in say five years’ time I am quite open to look around again and move.

“One of the projects I did was to upcycle

the kitchen. It would have cost thousands if I had got a company to do it. So I took off the 35 cupboard doors and drawers, sanded, primed and painted them and turned what was a horrendous space into a contemporary kitchen. It originally had bright pink walls and dark wood and it is now white with copper accessories – the transformation is amazing and it saved us so much money.”

Carrie and Carl have achieved their dream but the journey to buy and renovate their first home was to most people very intense. “I have loved every minute – I got so used to little sleep and I could function as normal so it was never a problem. If I hadn’t done that then I could never have saved up so much and the house has been a project that we have both loved doing – we would never have had it any other way!”

Instagram @the_herringtons_home

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THE NORTH

NORTHERN SPOTLIGHT

Many are choosing the North of England to purchase their first home, and for good reason. With affordable housing, lower living costs and an abundance to see and do, there is something on offer for everyone.

Property developer StripeHomes has looked at the region and come up with some fascinating facts and figures It's home to some of the best that the UK has to offer. From coast to countryside, from bustling cities to picturesque villages, it’s no wonder that more people are flocking northwards. With the average first time buyer in the UK spending £222,334 on their first home, choosing the North for your first property could save you, on average, around £50,000. Plus, numerous investment and regeneration projects and much improved job opportunities add to the region’s pulling power. We explore the North’s leading regions and look at some of the properties available in these areas.

Having undergone wide-scale regeneration projects, the North West is proving itself to be one of most up-andcoming areas for first time buyers. The area is still in its relative infancy, with major development plans in place well into the next decade.

NORTH EAST

It isn’t just Newcastle where the North East’s true beauty shines. From historic York and Durham to the surfer-friendly beach towns of Scarborough and Tynemouth, the region is a must when considering where to buy your first property.

YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER

NORTH WEST

First time buyers in the North West are able to purchase a home for as little as two and a half times their annual income.

With booming cultural cities such as Liverpool and Manchester, spectacular countryside and the prospect of high speed railway HS2, the North West is an excellent option for those looking to get on to the property ladder. Average first time buyer property prices in the region are £151,357, significantly lower than the national average.

Liverpool offers fantastic transport links, a thriving social scene, world famous football clubs and a low cost of living. The city is home to incredible history, plenty of green spaces and, of course, The Beatles!

Salford is a lively and eclectic area. From the bustle of Manchester city centre to the peacefulness of the local countryside, everything you could ever need is less than a stone’s throw away. There really is a good mix between the hustle bustle of city life and the tranquillity of the countryside in the North West.

The North East consistently comes out on top when ranking the UK’s most affordable regions to live in. In fact, the most recent figures show that first time buyers can save in excess of £100,000 on their first property here compared to the UK's first time buyer average. With no compromise on the quality of property, culture, food and entertainment available, you’ll be amazed at how much further your money goes.

However, it’s not just the cheap prices that make the region attractive.

From the Northumberland coast to the North Pennines, taking in Keilder Forest and Park, Durham’s Heritage Coast, Hadrian’s Wall and Whitley Bay, there are some truly stunning places to spend your leisure time.

The buoyant city of Newcastle-uponTyne is at the very heart of the North East.

Set on the banks of the river Tyne, onetime warehouses and factories have been transformed into galleries, museums, bars and entertainment venues. Newcastle’s nightlife is, quite rightly, legendary. People from the North East are also incredibly friendly and helpful. Locals are very proud of their heritage and culture and will welcome you with open arms, much like the well-known Angel of the North.

Yorkshire and the Humber is a diverse and exciting region offering something for everyone, with vibrant cities, beautiful coastline and amazing countryside all on its doorstep. There is easy access to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks, with amazing cycling, hill walking, climbing and tea rooms.

Leeds is a bustling city with beautiful architecture, great shopping, museums, galleries, restaurants, music venues and theatres, while Sheffield has a friendly, independent and alternative spirit that you won’t find in other cities; all set against the stunning backdrop of the Peak District National Park. Hull was named the “City of Culture” in 2018 and offers easy access to wonderful coastline and surrounding countryside. York is a stunningly beautiful city steeped in history, with some amazing architecture and many modern attractions.

First time buyer properties in the region are, on average, nearly £70,000 cheaper than the national UK first time buyer average, at just £154,246. Whether its culture, coastlines, cities, family activities, sport, history or, quite simply, the country’s best tea, Yorkshire and the Humber will surely be high on the list of any potential first time buyer. stripehomes.co.uk

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THE NORTH

FROM £314,950

HULL

Swanland Heights

CREWE

Alexandra Gardens

FROM £ 194,995

Alexandra Gardens is a superb residential development located in the Cheshire town of Crewe. With its range of well-appointed three and four bedroom homes, the development is ideal for first time buyers. Crewe is renowned for its superb transport links, offering frequent direct rail services to London in just over an hour and a half, Manchester in around 35 minutes and Liverpool in around 40 minutes. The town will be a major hub for the new HS2 network, cutting journey times to London down to just 55 minutes and making new high-speed connections across the country. Two-storey three bedroom properties have an open-plan kitchen/dining space with double doors leading out to the rear garden, a separate living room and a handy cloakroom off the entrance hallway. Upstairs, there's an en suite to the master bedroom. Three-storey homes feature an open-plan ground floor. Local facilities include schools, nurseries, shops, sports clubs and healthcare. anwylhomes.co.uk/Alexandra

Just seven miles west of Kingston upon Hull, with stunning views across the Humber Estuary and its famous bridge, Swanland Heights has something for everyone to enjoy and offers a collection of three and four bedroom houses.

The larger-than-average three bedroom homes includes three double bedrooms, each with their own en suite, including a magnificent master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe. Downstairs boasts an open-plan kitchen, dining and family room, which includes patio doors leading on to the garden and a utility room. There is also a separate lounge, with a traditional bay window for some quiet time to yourself. Beyond the development, you’ll find well-regarded schools for all age groups, along with excellent commuter connections by both road and rail.

Add in the beautiful Yorkshire coastline, just a short drive away, and you have everything you need for a superb quality of life. redrow.co.uk/swanlandheights

PRESTON The Ridings

FROM £208,000

The Ridings is a stunning range of three and four bedroom high-quality new houses for sale in Longridge, a charming market town near Preston regarded as the gateway to the Ribble Valley and the Forest of Bowland. Each home is built to a high specification, with attention to detail. Longridge town centre features an attractive mix of boutique stores, homeware and interior design outlets and galleries to provide an unforgettable shopping experience. The M6 is 20 minutes from Longridge by car, putting any part of the region within easy reach as well as linking the Midlands and the North.

New homes in Longridge come with eco features including solar panels, saving buyers hundreds of pounds a year in heating costs. prospecthomes.co.uk/new-homes/the-ridings

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CASE STUDY

ALTRINCHAM Allingham Place

After spending years cooped up in a one bedroom flat, a family of four from Whitefield have finally found the space they need thanks to shared ownership. Kristian, 30, and his fiancé Gillian, 39, were already struggling to manage in the small apartment they regularly shared with three-year-old Amelia, Kristian’s daughter from a previous relationship. Then, with the arrival of their own daughter, Myla-Rae, in 2019, they knew it was definitely time to find somewhere bigger.

Quality Control Manager Kristian said, “It was extremely challenging being in such close proximity to each other. We were all sleeping in the one bedroom. We had our double bed, with the cot on one side and Amelia sleeping on a blow-up bed on the floor. We always had plans to find a house to rent after we had Amelia, but then when Myla-Rae arrived that’s when we really started to step up our search.”

However, when Kristian and Gillian, a legal PA, began looking for a three or four bedroom home to rent, they struggled to find anything that was affordable in Whitefield, where they had lived for over 10 years. Kristian said, “We found we were getting priced out of the area. The more affordable houses were around Radcliffe and further into Bury, but we didn’t want to live there.”

Fortunately, Kristian stumbled upon Elizabethan Terrace, a new development of two and three bedroom houses for shared ownership, just down the road from where they were living. The homes were being built by Onward Living, which by coincidence was the sales arm of Onward Homes, the housing association they were already renting with. “I noticed that they were knocking down the Elizabethan pub near us to make way for houses,” said Kristian. “As soon as the plans came through, I rang up that day and got the ball rolling.”

Kristian and Gillian were surprised to discover that they could afford to buy a home of their own instead of renting.

Kristian said, “We honestly never thought that we would be able to buy. We didn’t know anything about shared ownership and didn’t really understand how it worked until we read into it. As soon as we saw that we could do it, we said ‘let’s go for it’.” They were the first to reserve a plot at Elizabethan Terrace, putting down a deposit of just over £5,000 for a 55% share in their three bedroom family home.

“It feels absolutely massive,” said Kristian. “We’ve got a nice big lounge and a big kitchen. Everyone now has their own bedroom, and we can all enjoy our privacy. But the best bit is the garden. I can’t believe just how big it actually is!

"We’ve been able to stay in the area and stay close to all our friends and family. We thought we’d be renting for the rest of our lives until we found out about shared ownership.

Renting privately in the area we are in now, you’re talking around £700 to £750 a month, which is dead money. But we’ve got our own house and our own space for much less.”

FROM £100,000*

Voted The Sunday Times’ Best Place to Live in the UK 2020, Altrincham is now described as the "ultimate turnaround town". Situated in a perfect location, Allingham Place boasts an affordable option to purchase in one of South Manchester’s trendiest neighbourhoods. Allingham Place offers a selection of two bedroom apartments available to purchase through shared ownership. Each apartment has been designed to offer luxury living at an affordable price. Set in a prime location, Allingham Place is surrounded by local amenities, including plenty of shops, bars and restaurants. geckohomes.co.uk *Guide price. Based on a 40% share with a full market value of £250,000

EXPERT COMMENT Despite the challenges of the past year, the North West has come out on top. Its housing market performed the best of any UK region, achieving 5.4% pricing growth according to Zoopla, while Manchester and Liverpool were the fastest growing cities in the UK. In Manchester, for the third year in a row, over 12,000 homes are being built to meet

CONGLETON

FROM £347,995

Giantswood Grove

growing demand.

Laurus Homes has seen the market’s strength at our new build sites across the region, from our shared ownership homes at Novus in Trafford selling out in a single weekend, to heightened interest in edge-of-town locations at Weaver Meadows in Cheshire and Vision in West Lancashire.

Zac Worthington Laurus Homes

Located close to the banks of the River Dane, Giantswood Grove provides an opportunity to purchase a stunning new home on the edge of Congleton, a thriving town with the Cheshire countryside on its doorstep. Designed to blend in with the local surroundings, Giantswood Grove features an outstanding collection of two, three, four and five bedroom homes, perfect for first time buyers. The development is situated just off the A34, providing links to Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester, while mainline train stations in Crewe and Macclesfield are just a short drive away. Properties include a fully integrated kitchen and open-plan dining area, modern bathroom and a turfed rear garden. laurushomes.co.uk/new-homes/cheshire/ giantswood-grove

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THE NORTH

CASE STUDY

GREAT SUTTON Sycamore Gardens

FROM £86,000*

PRESTON

FROM £50,000*

Sycamore Gardens is a contemporary new development of 27 homes in the soughtafter village of Great Sutton, close to Ellesmere Port. Comprising a stylish collection of three and four bedroom homes, Sycamore Gardens is sure to appeal to anyone who is looking for their dream new build home in Cheshire. Two and three-storey properties are finished to a high specification throughout and include fully fitted contemporary kitchens, modern family bathrooms, off-road parking and French doors which open out on to fully turfed gardens.

With excellent transport links via road and rail, a great choice of schools and fantastic local amenities, including easy access to nearby Cheshire Oaks, Sycamore Gardens is the perfect place to call home.

Hollins Green

onward-living.co.uk/development/sycamoregardens

laurushomes.co.uk/new-homes/ lancashire/hollins-green

*Based on a 40% share with a full market value of £215,000

Set in a semi-rural location on the edge of Lancashire’s Forest of Bowland, Hollins Green offers a selection of stylish two, three and four bedroom homes. The quaint village of Forton is the perfect rural retreat.

Built in local style, these stunning homes have been designed for a traditional yet contemporary lifestyle. Hollins Green has good transport links, with the M6 motorway a five-minute drive away and Lancaster station providing services to London, Liverpool and Manchester. The nearby town of Garstang offers a wider choice of shops while Marketgate Shopping Centre is a vibrant retail hub.

*Based on a 25% share with a full market value of £200,000

SHARED OWNERSHIP – IT JUST DON’T WORK UP NORTH! OR DOES IT?

Shared ownership works brilliantly in the South; it helps homebuyers gain access to the housing ladder without massive deposits and without massive incomes. It makes possible what would be impossible without shared ownership But there’s one crucial difference between the North and South – we eat pastie barms in the North... (I can say that, as I was born in Bolton).

Here at Metro Finance we work alongside around 80 housing associations and speak to around 2,400 shared ownership buyers each month. Those buyers are looking for their new homes in Warrington, Walthamstow, Widnes, Wellingborough – there are shared ownership sites literally everywhere!

There is no North-South divide; shared ownership breaks those barriers. Of course, there are differences, but for the Northern buyer the difference becomes a benefit.

The beauty of shared ownership is the deposit. It’s based against the share size, not the full value.

If you take, say, a £200,000 home in Cheshire, purchasing a 25% share would require a deposit from £2,500.

Then, the income required for affordability is far lower than that of an open market purchase, and also lower than the Help to Buy: Equity Loan would require. Hence, it’s the ease of access to shared ownership that makes it so popular. Which sometimes is also a downside... it can often lead to multiple buyers wanting the same property. But don’t worry, that doesn’t lead to a situation of buyers trying to outbid each other. Shared ownership properties are sold at true market value, they have to be, by way of regulation.

So... when I say, "It don’t work up North" I quote that phrase because it was one coined from down South – it simply does work up North, because the only difference between North and South is property price, and shared ownership wasn’t designed for high property prices, it was designed to help people on to the property ladder by way of easier access – lower deposit and lower income requirements that serve the whole country.

It just works... North and South – Metro Finance and the buyers we help are living proof!

Jon Lord, Managing Director, Metro Finance

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Riley and Carlene, a recently engaged couple, recently bought their first home with Laurus Homes through shared ownership in Partington and couldn’t be happier. Finding a deposit, trying to secure a mortgage, finding the right area to suit your needs; there’s lots to consider, and these can be even worse when you’re buying your first home Riley and Carlene had all these concerns, but said dealing with Laurus made the process a whole lot easier for them. “We’ve settled in fast and it was a very good experience. Esther, the sales adviser, was really helpful. If we couldn’t get through to Esther, there was always someone else there, and we could always get what we needed. Everyone we spoke to was supportive and it made everything a lot easier for us throughout the whole process.”

Riley and Carlene decided to explore the route of shared ownership, a method that is becoming more and more popular with first time buyers.

“Branching out to shared ownership has helped a lot, and we’ve managed to be in the house within six months so it’s been a really fast turnaround.

Without shared ownership, it would have definitely taken us a lot longer, and it would have taken us a long time to find somewhere like this, too.

“I would definitely recommend shared ownership to people; we’ve rented places, but a landlord could sell the property, whereas this can’t happen when you own a percentage of the home, and it gives you more security. There are people who are a lot older than us who’ve never owned a home, but with shared ownership, it offers people of all ages a chance to own their own place.

“It feels like the whole experience has given us a new start to life. We always said we wanted to get a house first before we got married and we’ve always wanted to own our own home. I’d definitely recommend shared ownership.”

Riley and Carlene found a home they’re proud of in an area they love. “It has quite a village feel, and it seems like a very tight-knit community.

Everyone here seems like they want to make Partington a really good place to live. It’s a nice feeling knowing you’ll look out for each other and knowing that you can build a community within the street you live. The development of Partington is really appealing; there’s a lot of potential here.”

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THE NORTH

CASE STUDY

FROM £66,000*

FROM £86,000*

WITHINGTON Minehead

Rosie purchased a two bedroom apartment in Lucy Street, Old Trafford, near Manchester city centre. “I’ve been wanting to buy my own home for a long time now, but until I heard about the shared ownership scheme I thought I’d never be able to do it on my own.”

Rosie had been looking for around three months before hearing about Laurus Homes and the shared ownership scheme it offered.

“I’d looked at around 10 apartments, but each one was missing that special something. Then I found the Laurus Homes website and was impressed – the apartments looked great. I was booked in for a viewing within the week, and the rest is history!”

A big consideration for Rosie was location.

“For me, the number one consideration was proximity to either the city centre or to transport links. Luckily, Lucy Street has both! It’s about a 20-minute walk into Manchester city centre, it’s close to the Metrolink tram network, it has car parking, and it looked really modern, so it immediately had everything I wanted.”

Another factor which appealed to Rosie was its price. “I loved the fact that this property has everything I was looking for and was affordable. I’d looked at another shared ownership property that only had one bedroom and was more expensive, so I couldn’t wait to have a look around this apartment. I wasn’t disappointed. It had a great layout, had two big bedrooms, sleek integrated appliances, amazing storage spaces, and the gorgeous Juliet balcony was an unexpected bonus too!

I fell in love with the apartment straightaway, and I had reserved it within a week.”

The fact that Rosie viewed the exact apartment she now lives in was a testament to how much Laurus Homes understood what she was looking for. “I knew after just one viewing that I could see myself living here, so everything after that was just a formality. Being a first time buyer, both myself and my family had lots of questions, but these were answered quickly and thoroughly and I was kept fully updated.”

Before she knew it, Rosie’s Dad was picking up the keys after she’d legally completed, which took around eight weeks. “I would recommend Laurus Homes to anyone looking to purchase through shared ownership. Because of them I was able to afford my dream home."

The three bedroom homes at Central View are located in central Partington, south west of Manchester. Each home is built to a fantastic specification, including built-in oven and hob, integrated fridge-freezer and stylish modern bathroom. All properties benefit from a turfed back garden and allocated parking. The development is near to the local shopping centre and five local parks. Irlam railway station is just five miles away, offering easy access to both Liverpool and Manchester.

Minehead is a collection of 21 two bedroom apartments available for OPSO (Older Persons Shared Ownership). The development is served by a brand new community cafe and treatment room with health services and treatments on the doorstep. Each newly built home has modern eco features and full double-glazing, making them more affordable to heat and maintain. The properties suit a range of buyers, from single occupants to couples, with enough space for the family to visit. Minehead is situated in the Old Moat area of Withington and offers peaceful, comfortable residential living. The development is just half a mile from the bustling Burton Road area where you are spoilt for choice for excellent restaurants, pubs and bars.

geckohomes.co.uk

geckohomes.co.uk

PARTINGTON Central View

*Based on a 40% share with a full market value of £215,000

*Based on a 40% share with a full market value of £165,000

FROM £83,000*

DELAMERE Earlsbrook

Earlsbrook is a new development in FROM Delamere, Cheshire, £ 2 64,995 offering a rare opportunity to own a stunning new home overlooking the tranquil beauty of Delamere Forest. With a mix of two, three, four and five bedroom homes, Earlsbrook provides a sense of space with the freedom to grow.

Properties are designed with fully fitted kitchens, spacious dining areas and stylish lounge spaces. Each home comes with integrated appliances including a fridge-freezer and a dishwasher as standard. Regular direct trains from local Delamere station give access to all the local hotspots including Manchester, Chester and Liverpool, while the M6, M56 and the A56 are all a short distance away. Whether you’re seeking a better work-life balance or looking to escape the stresses of everyday life, Earlsbrook offers tranquil living in a stunning setting. laurushomes.co.uk/new-homes/cheshire/ earlsbrook

UPTON DENE, CHESTER Upton Dene

Prospa Homes offers a range of shared ownership homes at Upton Dene, Chester. Part of the Morris Homes Group site, 11 shared ownership homes are available in this popular area, with Ofsted-rated Good schools, shops, restaurants and supermarkets. There are three different home styles; The Calverton (pictured), The Chatburn and The Didsbury, both terraced and semi-detached. Built to a high specification, all homes have vinyl flooring and kitchen appliances. Living here provides everything you need, with all the fantastic benefits of both city and country living right on your doorstep. The glorious city of Chester is just a 15-minute drive or seven-minute train journey; or take a walk or trip out into the beautiful Cheshire countryside. prospahomes.co.uk *(For the Chatburn) Based on a 40% share with a full market value of £207,500

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

LAZENBY SQUARE: CRAFTED IN BERMONDSEY, DESIGNED FOR LIVING

Located in a prime SE1 location, within easy walking distance of Bermondsey underground station and London’s most iconic historical and cultural attractions, is Lazenby Square where award-winning housing provider Peabody is set to launch a luxury collection of one, two and three bedroom shared ownership apartments designed for modern living

Lazenby Square is the epitome of modern convenience. The scheme, comprising just 42 high-quality homes, enjoys a central location in Zone 2 and comes complete with private outdoor space, as well as a dedicated concierge service, communal gardens and on-site gym.

The wider Southwark borough boasts an eclectic mix of art galleries, cafes, restaurants and bars, offering a unique opportunity to own a home on the doorstep of London’s hotspots. For those in search of a casual dining experience, Borough Market remains one of the most exciting places in the city to buy fine food from all over the world. For some retail therapy, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, and the exclusive brands of Sloane Street are just 17 minutes away by tube.

Notable cultural focal points such as Tannery Arts, White Cube and the British Museum can likewise be easily reached.

Alternatively, Bermondsey Antiques Market, established in the 1950s, trades an astonishing mix of genuine antiques, providing the perfect day out.

For outdoor pursuits, the area has a number of green spaces that are within a one-mile radius of the development. Newly regenerated Bermondsey Spa Gardens is right on the doorstep, as well as Southwark Park, offering a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. A beautiful expanse of green open space, Southwark Park boasts 61 acres including a rose garden, boating lake and sports facilities for tennis and football. Hyde Park is also nearby, providing yet another verdant oasis in the heart of the city, and drawing attention from locals and tourists alike.

Whether it’s for business or pleasure, travelling from Lazenby Square couldn’t be easier. The location benefits from excellent transport connections, with Borough, London Bridge, and Elephant & Castle stations under 20 minutes away on foot; whisking travellers to a variety of destinations, including City airport in under

half an hour. A number of bus routes are situated nearby, and for those who like to get around on two wheels, the borough has a variety of cycle routes to encourage healthier lifestyles.

As is synonymous with Peabody’s reputation for providing high-quality homes, the apartments are perfect for first time buyers; boasting high-specification and generously sized living areas where the functions of kitchen, lounge and dining room merge seamlessly. The contemporary kitchens feature stylish lotus white handleless units with underside strip lighting, soft silver Silestone worktops with

matching upstands and glass splashbacks, and integrated Siemens appliances.

Bathrooms are equally well appointed to provide residents with a relaxing haven; featuring carbon grey bathroom units with wash basins and full-size mirrors, and chrome heated towel rails.

Additional interior features include recessed downlights and audio sound system to the living and main bedroom, video entry systems and underfloor heating.

To find out more and register your interest visit peabodysales.co.uk/lazenbysquare or call 020 3369 1226

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ON THE MARKET

WE’RE READY TO WELCOME YOU TO YOUR DREAM HOME

With spectacular homes available across the South and South East from just £180,000, Inland Homes’ luxury one, two and three bedroom homes are perfect for first time buyers looking to take their first step on the property ladder You can have confidence that now is the right time to buy when buying with Inland.

LOW OR NO STAMP DUTY AT ALL TIMES

WE’RE AWARD WINNING

While the Stamp Duty holiday on properties up to £500,000 comes to an end on 30 June 2021 (reduced to £250,000 until 30 September, then £125,000), first time buyers* will continue to pay no Stamp Duty on homes up to £300,000.

With Inland homes available from just £180,000, eligible buyers can continue to save – making our homes even better value for money.

Our homes are award winning.

Independently judged, in 2020 we were awarded Private Developer of the Year for the high-quality, affordably priced homes we deliver.

We’ve taken home the award for Best Development in the South at the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards and been presented with Gold for Best Regeneration Scheme at the WhatHouse? Awards for our Chapel Riverside development.

Centre Square has received an award in the category of Mixed Use Development for United Kingdom at the 2020 International Property Awards, and Meridian Waterside received a high commendation at the Evening Standard Awards.

We don’t just build homes. We build thriving, sustainable communities. Each home is finished to an exceptional standard and comes with a 10-year LABC warranty for complete peace of mind.

PREMIUM SPECIFICATIONS We offer premium specifications across our developments as standard. With thoughtfully planned layouts and stylish open-plan kitchen/ living areas, every Inland home is designed to maximise light, space and versatility. Stylish bathrooms, kitchens with integrated appliances, and underfloor heating and premium flooring to most homes, all add to the quality feel.

Randalls in Uxbridge

Chapel Riverside

HOMES READY TO MOVE INTO NOW Buying with Inland means you could be in your new Inland home in time to enjoy the summer. Buying new means there’s no chain above you, so no stalling and no delays. With our expert team to keep the process moving, you could have the keys to your new home in as little as four weeks from reservation.

And when you move in, you can relax.

There’s no need to think about renovations or repairs. Our homes are “move-in ready”.

With everything new and carefully selected by our experienced team, our homes deliver the highest performance and efficiency, keeping monthly bills manageable.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Whether you’re looking for a family home, an inner-city apartment or a seaside getaway, there’s an Inland home to suit your lifestyle.

Meridian Waterside

We’re here to support you getting on the property ladder

HELP TO BUY Help to Buy is available across our developments, meaning just a 5% deposit* is needed to buy your dream home.

SHARED OWNERSHIP Through our Rosewood Housing brand, we’re making homeownership even more achievable, with shared ownership homes now available. These homes are designed and built to the same premium quality as all Inland’s homes and offered as part-own/ part-rent. For more information on these new homes, visit: rosewoodhousing.co.uk Ready to find your perfect home? Enquire with Inland Homes today to discover more and book a viewing. Visit inlandhomes.co.uk, call 01494 546 772 or email sales@inlandhomes.co.uk.

You can follow Inland Homes on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to keep up to date with the latest news and offers.

Meridian Waterside

*Subject to eligibility criteria being met

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

Songhurst Meadow, Wisborough Green

ST. ARTHUR HOMES OFFERS ASPIRATIONAL LIVING FOR FTBS The number of homebuyers who have departed London for new homes in commuter belt locations has hit a four-year high, with more than 73,000 property buyers heading out of the capital in 2020¹. For buyers who are on the hunt for an affordable route on to the property ladder, that also provides easy access to fast transport links into London, St. Arthur Homes is offering a variety of shared ownership options to choose from WILLOW PLACE

Welwyn Garden City Taking reservations now Occupying a well-connected setting north of the River Lea, close to the metropolitan town of Welwyn Garden City, Willow Place offers the best of urban and rural living, with central London 30 minutes away by rail.

The development offers an elegant, high-quality selection of 15 one and two bedroom shared ownership apartments in one of Hertfordshire’s most sought-after commuter hubs.

Residents can enjoy a beautiful new home surrounded by idyllic countryside, parks, a thriving town centre and Welwyn Garden City railway station within easy walking distance.

Willow Place, Welwyn Garden City

Prices for shared ownership homes at Willow Place start from £122,500 for a 50% share of a one bedroom apartment valued at £245,000

Heathbourne Village, Bushey Heath

SONGHURST MEADOW Wisborough Green Taking reservations now

Set on the edge of the charming West Sussex village of Wisborough Green near Billinghurst, Songhurst Meadow offers first time buyers a stylish range of one and two bedroom apartments and two elegant two bedroom houses available to buy with shared ownership.

While enjoying an attractive rural location on the edge of the South Downs National Park, buyers here will be well placed

to reach nearby Billinghurst, Petworth and Chichester by car or bus and also travel into London in under 90 minutes by rail. For home hunters seeking an affordable opportunity to enjoy all the benefits that living a village lifestyle brings, Songhurst Meadow really is a must see!

Prices for shared ownership homes at Songhurst Meadow start from £135,000 for a 50% share of a two bedroom apartment valued at £270,000

BUSHEY HEATH

Heathbourne Village Coming soon Coming soon to the beautiful Hertfordshire town of Bushey Heath is St. Arthur Homes’ luxurious new collection of apartments available to buy

with shared ownership. In partnership with Consero London, Bushey Heath delivers a beautiful contemporary collection of homes within a private gated community that seamlessly merges with the traditional village architecture.

Surrounded by stunning landscaped grounds and close to Bushey town, each of the four stylishly spacious one and two bedroom homes have been carefully crafted to offer a highquality interior specification, along with an unrivalled setting – this is a truly unmissable opportunity for first time buyers.

For more information about Bushey Heath, please visit starthurhomes.com to register your details 1 propertyinvestortoday.co.uk/breakingnews/2021/1/record-number-of-citydwellers-locating--but-where-to

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

SHARED OWNERSHIP SOARS IN CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE Demand for shared ownership across central Bedfordshire skyrocketed in 2020 according to new research from leading shared ownership property portal Share to Buy, with year-onyear enquiries for new build shared ownership homes rising by 248%

The famously green stretch of the Home Counties, well known for its quaint countryside and idyllic villages, has become a magnet for first time buyers looking to use the part-buy, part-rent scheme to get on to the property ladder.

Meeting the significant demand for shared ownership in the area, Catalyst currently has a range of properties available at two Bedfordshire developments; The Lanes at Thorn Fields in Houghton Regis, and The Printworks in Dunstable.

Both developments offer families a variety of opportunities to get on to the property ladder with shared ownership, with two and three bedroom houses at The Printworks and two to four bedroom houses at The Lanes at Thorn Fields.

Markus Kendall-Young, Director of Sales & Marketing for Catalyst, comments, “Clearly demand for shared ownership in central Bedfordshire grew significantly in 2020, with a huge rise in first time buyers deciding that now is the time to get on to the property ladder. We witnessed this when we first launched The Lanes at Thorn Fields and The Printworks in October 2020 – within four days of launching The Printworks, 40% of homes were reserved.

We are pleased to have recently launched new show homes at both developments, offering the chance for buyers to see firsthand the spacious living spaces and highquality finishes.”

Forming part of the Bidwell West development scheme – an ambitious project delivering new homes, commercial space, a school, and recreational spaces – The Lanes at Thorn Fields is a collection of two, three, and four bedroom shared ownership homes located just outside Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire. High ceilings and large windows flood the spacious family homes with natural light, while high-specification

The Lanes at Thorn Fields, Houghton Regis

The Printworks, Dunstable

finishes include integrated Zanussi kitchen appliances and Symphony cabinet units.

Residents at The Lanes will have access to an idyllic countryside lifestyle, with the Bidwell West masterplan retaining much of the area’s original greenery, while adding community orchards, formal parkland and open spaces.

Just two miles south from Houghton Regis in the market town of Dunstable, The Printworks is a collection of two and three bedroom shared ownership houses, conveniently located just a 15-minute walk from the town centre and close to the lush green spaces of Dunstable Downs. At The Printworks, each home includes top-ofthe-range features as standard, such as integrated kitchen appliances, high-quality bathrooms, and turfing to both the front and rear gardens. Nature is at the heart of the development, with a richly planted

community garden and dedicated green spaces to promote wildlife and biodiversity.

At The Lanes at Thorn Fields, prices start from £106,000 for a 40% share of a two bedroom home with a full market value of £265,000. Meanwhile, at The Printworks, prices start from £138,000 for a 40% share of a three bedroom home with a full market value of £345,000.

To explore Catalyst’s developments in Bedfordshire and beyond, visit catalyst.homes

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SHARED OWNERSHIP

HOT PROPERTY

Kush Rawal, Director of Residential Investment at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, takes a look at the state of the property market and in particular shared ownership – the affordable way to get on the ladder Demand for shared ownership has never been higher, but don’t just take my word for it! Research conducted by Cambridge University, in conjunction with our shared ownership brand SO Resi, has revealed that demand for shared ownership has quadrupled since 2015/16.

What’s more, our research has shown that the most popular areas for shared ownership are London and the South East, with nearly 50% of completions in the past five years in these areas.

So, what do these findings tell us about the future of shared ownership?

Well, we know that house prices are rising faster than ever, particularly in London and the South East, and with a lack of accessible mortgages available to first time buyers and a challenging economic backdrop, many of those hoping to get on to the property ladder are being locked out of the open market.

Shared ownership increases the accessibility of homeownership for a wider group of people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to make that step, such as single adults without children, who make up 50% of shared ownership transactions, according to our research. Not only does the scheme allow those on a single income a fair chance at homeownership, the deposit requirement is far lower than the national average. According to Halifax, in 2020 the average first time buyer paid £57,278 for a house deposit – in comparison, our research has shown that

50

the average deposit paid for a shared ownership property in 2018/19 was £24,600.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that we continue to see record levels of demand for shared ownership at SO Resi, particularly for our developments in London and the South East. We are working on a number of schemes across the regions, and will be launching SO Resi Greenford in Ealing this spring followed by SO Resi Farnham in Surrey later in the summer.

In addition to our own schemes, at the start of the year we launched our dedicated shared ownership sales brand SO Resi Agency. Through this, we are partnering with a number of external parties, including local authorities and housing providers, to support the delivery of affordable homes across England, offering buyers more

choice in a wider range of locations.

The continued delivery and supply of affordable homes is crucial for first time buyers, but this needs to be coupled with a drive from the industry to raise awareness of shared ownership and ensure buyers are fully educated on what the scheme entails.

Shared ownership has always had its place in society, but despite being around for decades, it is still relatively unknown – or misunderstood. This was acknowledged in our research by the Law Commission, which noted, “Members of the public do not always understand exactly how shared ownership schemes operate, or the precise nature of the legal arrangement which the purchaser of a shared ownership property is entering into.”

This is something we are acutely aware of at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, and is the reason we have our dedicated shared ownership brand SO Resi, which focuses solely on providing homebuyers with the knowledge they need to buy a home through shared ownership. This is our own personal challenge to the marketplace, where we represent the voice of the shared owner. We take the view that we want to change perceptions, and educate buyers about the benefits of shared ownership.

Shared ownership isn’t going anywhere, so it is crucial that we work together with other industry leaders to ensure the correct information is easily accessible for buyers while continuing a strong delivery of quality homes. sharedownership.co.uk

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HELP TO BUY

HELP IS AT HAND

The West Works

Pontoon Reach

Setting out on the homebuying journey can be intimidating, especially when you have never done it before. Working out the home and locations that fit your budget is one of the first challenges; fortunately first time buyers in London can continue to benefit from the Help to Buy scheme on any new build purchase up to £600,000 The Help to Buy scheme, which is backed by the Government, has recently changed so that it is only available to first time buyers and is due to come to an end in March 2023. Help to Buy is a straightforward way of buying your first property. You will need to put down a 5% deposit and secure a mortgage on 55% of the purchase price, you can then access, subject to qualification, a 40% five-year, interest-free equity loan from the Government.

Finding new homes where Help to Buy is available is where the fun house hunting can start. To use the scheme, the home you reserve needs to be ready to move into in the next six months. The good news? Redrow has homes with Help to Buy available across London.

There are pockets of London that have great connections and currently offer new homes at competitive price points. Purchasing a home in an area of regeneration can provide an opportunity.

A prime example is the Royal Docks in east London where Redrow has recently launched Pontoon Reach. A fantastic location with a captivating history on the

banks of the river Thames, the Royal Docks boasts excellent connections to the rest of London by tube, DLR, rail and even boat.

Crossrail will arrive here in the coming years, providing connections to Canary Wharf in 12 minutes.

At Pontoon Reach, the stylish apartments are available with Help to Buy, with completion expected this summer. A key factor within the overall masterplan of Pontoon Reach is outside space. Each apartment has a balcony or private terrace from the kitchen and living area, in addition to landscaped courtyards and a stunning residents’ roof terrace. With their lush planting, walkways, and comfortable seating, these refreshing outdoor spaces offer the perfect place for residents to relax.

Prices at Pontoon Reach start at £370,000. pontoonreach.co.uk Another area of opportunity in London where Redrow has new Help to Buy homes available is The West Works in Southall.

A vibrant and well-connected location, Southall is undergoing considerable

regeneration with millions of pounds worth of inward investment and the upcoming arrival of Crossrail.

At The West Works, Redrow has highquality one, two and three bedroom apartments. The homes all feature contemporary fully fitted kitchens and bathrooms, combined with the latest fixtures and fittings. The exteriors of the apartments are just as striking, with brick buildings and large floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the homes with light.

Homeowners at The West Works have access to a landscaped courtyard, perfect as we head into the summer months, as well as a private balcony or terrace.

The West Works is perfectly located in sought-after west London, with excellent links to central London and Heathrow airport. The West Works is set to become one of London’s best-connected developments, with Crossrail connecting homeowners to Bond Street in just 17 minutes and Liverpool Street in the heart of the city in 24 minutes.

The apartments at The West Works offer great value for money, while being uncompromising on quality and offering a spacious place to call home. One, two and three bedroom homes are available, starting from £311,000. the-westworks.co.uk

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

SUPPORTING FIRST TIME BUYERS

SiteSales has helped thousands of first time buyers like you get on to the property ladder.

We specialise in selling new homes of all ownership options, including outright sale, shared ownership, shared equity and Help to Buy, as we work with developers, housing associations, local authorities and registered charities to provide the affordable homes that first time buyers are looking for. We currently have over 500 properties to sell, offering an amazing choice to potential homebuyers DECADES OF EXPERIENCE Founded 30 years ago by our Managing Director Murray Smith, SiteSales Property Group has expanded considerably over the years, but without losing the personal touch that has carefully guided thousands of purchasers to homeownership.

WE HAVE THE INNOVATION TO HELP PEOPLE ON TO THE HOMEOWNERSHIP LADDER We set out to support first time buyers every step of the way, with great customer service from the beginning of your purchase all the way through to after you move in with our

aftercare service. From the outset, we provide a knowledgeable point of contact, offering continuity and a friendly face throughout the buying process.

We are currently working on a fantastic new online portal where first time buyers will be able to log in and see the whole process of their buying journey of purchasing a new home, explaining the processes and requirements at the various stages.

For many first timers, securing the right mortgage can be a huge stumbling block. You need not worry; our dedicated brokers offer prospective purchasers a one-stop shop that not only takes away the stress surrounding purchasing a new property, but also ensures that first time buyers make wise choices when

considering buying their first home. We work collectively at every stage of the sale and always have you, the buyer, at the forefront of our thinking.

Our team will guide you to the right scheme of your choice and ensure that the whole package of the location, property size and outgoings are all carefully considered, so that when moved in, our buyers are completely comfortable with all the aspects of their home purchase, which can, after all, be quite a daunting process.

We don’t sell units or properties or targets, we sell homes – and we treat every potential buyer as someone who warrants respect, genuine advice and the very best experience in buying a home.

FROM £86,000*

FROM £102,500*

NEW SOUTHGATE

CANARY WHARF

Montmorency Park is a stunning new collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments in the heart of north London. The development is superbly located for all the everyday amenities that make for easy living, from good schools and shopping areas to parks and health centres, while some of the UK’s greatest cultural attractions are just a short train or tube ride away. Properties include a fully fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, contemporary bathrooms and a balcony or terrace, and car parking is available with some homes. The M25 is just 25 minutes away by car while New Southgate and Arnos Grove stations, both a short five-minute walk away, give easy access across London. The proposed Crossrail 2 will further enhance travel connections in the near future.

Set in 2.6 acres of extensive landscaped gardens, Hampton Tower offers a collection of studio, one and two bedroom apartments in a highly sought-after London location, with the River Thames just moments away.

Designed to exceptionally high standards, these homes benefit from large rooms plus floor-to-ceiling windows which slide back to let the outside in, giving stunning views over the gardens and cityscape. Apartments benefit from underfloor heating and comfort cooling, integrated Bosch appliances, as well as a boutique-style bathroom. It’s a simple commute to anywhere in London, whether by tube, DLR, road or the river bus. There’s world-class shopping at big-name boutiques, dozens of upmarket bars and restaurants and so much more, all only a short walk away.

sharedownership.montmorencypark.co.uk Montmorency Park, Station Road, New Southgate, N11 1QJ 0344 892 0213

hamptontower.site-sales.co.uk 75 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9WS 0344 892 0121

Montmorency Park

*Based on a 25% share of a full market value of £344,000

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Hampton Tower

*Based on a 25% share of a full market value of £410,000

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LOCATION

HOTspot

Staines-upon-Thames

5 REASONS WE LOVE… S TA I N E S - U P O N - T H A M E S

1. Kingfisher spotting at Penton Hook Island 2. The Thames Path leading to Windsor 3. Award-winning ales at Thames Side Brewery 4. Boat trips to stunning Hampton Court 5. Thorpe Park’s Colossus 10-loop rollercoaster

Surrounded by green spaces and with plenty of opportunities to enjoy an attractive riverside location, Staines-upon-Thames is a popular and thriving town UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Staines-upon-Thames is a Surrey riverside town in the borough of Spelthorne, set on the left bank of the Thames. It’s inside the M25 motorway and around 17 miles from Charing Cross, making it a popular choice for commuters looking to move out of London.

Archaeological finds show that people have lived in the area since Neolithic times, and there was a large Roman settlement, called Pontibus, in the area. From the 16th century it became an important staging post for horse-drawn coaches, with some of these beautiful old buildings, like the Swan Hotel on the banks of the river, still remaining today. Interestingly, the hotel was named after the Royal Family’s annual census of swans, known as Swan Upping, which has taken place since the 12th century and is still carried out by uniformed staff every July.

Known as just plain Staines until 2012, the town’s up-market-sounding name change, introduced by Spelthorne Borough Council, was partly to highlight the town’s attractive riverside location and partly to distance it from Sacha Baron Cohen’s comic character Ali Gi who claimed to be brought up “in da heart of da Staines ghetto”. Staines, of course, never actually had any ghettos, which was the joke, but local businesses still felt insulted, so Stainesupon-Thames it became.

Part of the appeal of Staines is its transport connections. Staines railway station is a main stop on the London Waterloo to Reading line, with services into the capital taking from just 35 minutes, with five trains or more an hour. There are also local train services to Windsor (14 minutes) and Eton Riverside. Heathrow airport is only three miles away (although flightpaths largely avoid the skies above the town so

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you are unlikely to be bothered by noise, apart from certain northern parts of Stanwell).

With such easy access to the city, many Staines residents choose to commute, but there is plenty of local employment as well, with large numbers employed at Heathrow, as well as with the major companies in the town, including BUPA, Siemens, British Gas and Samsung.

The population of Spelthorne Borough as a whole is just under 100,000, with a greater number of smaller households, low levels of unemployment and a demographic that is slightly older than surrounding areas.

For those looking for a Surrey location, Staines is one of the more modestly priced areas. The most expensive locations for housing in the area are the village enclave of Wraysbury with its multi-million pound executive mansions, as well as the streets around the historic St Mary’s parish church and the old Staines bridge where you can find some elaborate Georgian townhouses. There are also some beautiful modern riverside apartments to be found, some with private moorings.

Thinking more realistically, terraced Victorian cottages and 1930s three bedroom semis come at a more sensible price. For those looking for a bargain, the cheapest properties can be found in the north Stanwell area, where you can still find a secondhand flat or maisonette with change from £200,000.

New build studio flats in Staines start from around £220,000.

Sold prices in Staines have risen by 4% in the past year and continue to rise steadily.

OUT AND ABOUT As the name suggests, Staines-uponThames is blessed with a beautiful river frontage, and there are many walks and parks that make the most of this. It’s possible to walk along the Thames Path from Staines all the way to Windsor – an eight-mile trail that takes in the meadows of Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed, the riverside mansions of Wraysbury and finally Windsor itself with its magnificent castle and the famous Eton college.

It total, Staines has 16 main parks, some with woodland and flowering meadows, while Staines Moor, a 510-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest, is part of the larger riverside conservation area of The Colne Valley Regional Park. You can even pay a visit to what is possibly the country’s oldest tree, the 2,500-year-old Ankerwycke Yew near Runnymede, now in the care of the National Trust.

Other quiet walks include a stroll to Penton Hook Island, a peaceful, secluded wooded area between Staines and Laleham, that is a haven for wildlife as well as being a great place for a picnic or a paddle in the summer. You can spot herons, water vole and ducks and take a look at the clever fish ladder that allows migrating fish to bypass the lock and the weirs.

You cross the lock to reach the island, which has waymarked trails around it.

Those who prefer their

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LOCATION

FA C T F I L E

Average property price in Spelthorn (December 2020) – £375,819 Property breakdown Detached – £649,160 Semi-detached – £450,694 Terraced – £361,703 Flats – £239,242

HOMES ON THE MARKET...

FROM £76,250*

*According to the Land Registry House Price Index

FA M O U S R E S I D E N T S • Comedian Bobby Davro • Actress Christine Keeler • Astrologer Russell Grant • Victorian poet Matthew Arnold • Ali G (in fiction)

entertainment to be slightly faster paced will be pleased to know that Thorpe Park, with more than 30 rides including the terrifying 10-loop Colossus rollercoaster, is only two miles out of the centre of town, while Legoland Windsor with 55 family rides is less than eight miles away. History lovers will enjoy the proximity to both Windsor Castle – one of Her Majesty the Queen’s current residences – and Hampton Court, the Royal Palace that was once home to King Henry VIII. When it comes to facilities, Staines has a wide pedestrianised high street which holds a general market three days a week selling fresh produce, clothes and consumer goods, plus a farmers’ market once a month. There are two main shopping centres, Elmsleigh and Two Rivers Retail Park, with the usual household names.

Staines has a good selection of places to eat and drink – with three Asian restaurants ranking as the most popular venues: Sushi Nara, Wagamama and Momo Cafe. For a traditional Sunday roast, head for Three Horseshoes in Laleham, while Leftbank Restaurant in nearby Egham is popular for fine dining. Real ale lovers should try the Thames Side Brewery & Tap Room – the brewery uses traditional methods to create drinks inspired by local birdlife, from the dark Cormorant Stout to the White Swan Pale Ale. With London so close, it’s easy to hop on the train for a night out, especially as the last return train is after midnight.

If you want to stay in Staines, there are fancy cocktails to be had at the Slug & Lettuce, you could laugh the night away at the Two Rivers Comedy Club or catch a live band at The London Stone craft ale bar.

STAINES-UPON-THAMES Ascot House

Enjoying a glorious Surrey location and stunning outside space in the form of podium gardens and a magnificent roof terrace, homes at Ascot House comprise studio, one and two bedroom apartments available through shared ownership. An impressive new piazza fronts the striking main building and internally the homes have been designed to maximise the space with thoughtful layouts designed for today’s very different lifestyle needs. Each apartment features Amtico flooring, underfloor heating throughout, luxurious bathrooms and high-end integrated appliances in the kitchen. Interiors feature flexible internal space which can be easily adapted, whether that is a functional home-working area or space to exercise comfortably at home. Impressive floor-to-ceiling windows let natural light into each room and sliding doors open out from kitchen/living areas on to balconies and terraces in all properties.

The local area offers a plethora of amenities including a bustling high street with a mix of shops, restaurants, cafes and a cinema, all complemented with quieter pockets of green and an excellent range of outdoor pursuit options. The river provides a great focus for leisure and sports, with Thameside paths for walking and cycling, as well as boating and rowing. Waterside footpaths take you on a nine-mile scenic trail all the way to Windsor. Ascot House is a four-minute walk to the station, with a 35-minute commute to Waterloo.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Clarion Housing Group is welcoming viewings by appointment only and adhering to Government guidelines to ensure the safety of both potential buyers and staff. For more information or to arrange a viewing please visit our website or call 0333 363 8269. ascothousestaines.co.uk

*Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £305,000

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

BE PART OF A CHANGE AT HALE WORKS Tottenham Hale is being transformed. Over a thousand new homes, plus retail units and public spaces, will create a brand new community – the culmination of one of the largest regeneration projects in London

Newlon Living is part of this change. Partnering with Anthology, it is offering 44 high-specification shared ownership homes in a brand new development – Hale Works. With a selection of contemporary one and two bedroom apartments on offer, it will put you right at the heart of this sought-after location.

A charcoal steel entrance leads to a spacious and stylish lobby, manned by a 24-hour concierge. From there you can take lifts to the apartments as well as to the sky garden, offering spectacular views across one of the largest urban nature reserves in London – Walthamstow Wetlands.

The new homes are light, with spacious open-plan living areas. Modern kitchens contain composite stone worktops and high-specification appliances, with a focus on contemporary living. In the bathrooms, the modern look is maintained, with elegant chrome fittings

accompanying high-quality white steel baths.

Hale Works sits within the architecturally unique and thriving Hale Village, the design of which was inspired by the world-acclaimed regeneration of Hammarby, a waterside district in Stockholm, Sweden.

Within Hale Village you will find a range of useful facilities including a supermarket, gym, cafe and green space.

On the streets around Hale Village you can enjoy coffee shops, craft ale bars, cafes, restaurants and a major retail park providing well-known chains, all within walking distance of your new home.

Tottenham Green Market offers fresh and locally produced food or you can pick up a freshly baked loaf at Loven Bakery.

For relaxation, you can easily explore the nearby Walthamstow Wetlands, which offers everything from fishing to bird watching, with a well-established cafe in a

19th century listed building – all in easy walking distance.

Alternatively, at nearby Tottenham Lock you can watch the many canal boats passing by and take your time walking along the river towards the stunning marshes. For the more adventurous, the wellestablished local climbing

centre can offer a unique way to keep fit.

Hale Works is also blessed with excellent transport links.

You are only a couple of minutes from the transport hub at Tottenham Hale, from which you can get a train into Liverpool Street in just 15 minutes, or connect with the express train to Stansted airport.

Alternatively, you can get on the Victoria Line tube, running 24 hours at weekends, which will get you to King’s Cross in 10 minutes or Oxford Street in just 15. There is also a major bus station just moments away, with a variety of routes to surrounding areas.

Prices start from £92,500 for a 25% equity share of a one bedroom apartment, based on a full market value of £370,000.

For more information and to register your interest in Hale Works, or to find out about the other shared ownership properties Newlon has available, go to the Newlon Living website at newlonliving.org.uk

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

A PERFECT TREASURE IN THE HEART OF EAST LONDON If you are looking for your dream first home then look no further than Goodluck Hope, offering a superb selection of one and two bedoom apartments available through shared ownership from Notting Hill Genesis, in a sought-after riverside location. Lynda Clark discovers why this development ticks every box I have always had a real soft spot for east London. There is a certain vibe about it that is exciting and vibrant and where you always turn a corner and discover something new. Goodluck Hope is really very special as it sits on the riverside just south of London City Island. There you will find a wealth of superb places to eat and things to do, and it is truly one of the hidden gems this pocket of London has to offer.

What makes it even more special is that residents will enjoy access to a range of wonderful amenities including a gym, pool, private cinema, residents’ lounge and a 24hour concierge service. Imagine that after a long day working you could simply go for a swim or a workout right on your doorstep – nothing better to get rid of the stresses of the day! There is also useful cycle storage, and as many people have recently bought bikes and are enjoying the freedom of cycling, it will come in very handy.

Goodluck Hope has Canary Wharf and Docklands right on the doorstep with everything they have to offer. East India DLR is only a 12-minute walk away and Canning Town DLR and the Jubilee Line are a 15-minute walk away. From all these stations you can access central London in under 20 minutes.

I was so impressed by the design and layout of these contemporary apartments.

They are spacious and airy, with fitted modular kitchen units and integrated appliances, including a built-in oven, extractor fan, dishwasher, fridge-freezer and a washer-dryer in the utility cupboard.

The bathrooms are sumptuous and reminded me of ones you would find in a five-star hotel and the bedrooms create a serene atmosphere with bespoke grey carpet which would blend in perfectly with any colour scheme. Storage is in abundance, which is excellent – you can never have enough storage from my experience!

Outside, the pretty communal gardens with seating areas and views across the river are idyllic and the perfect place to sit and relax or meet your neighbours. Or sit on your own private balcony or terrace and simply enjoy a morning coffee or a sundowner – you would hardly believe that

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you are in the heart of east London as it is so peaceful and tranquil, and is certainly the best of all worlds.

I really believe that Goodluck Hope, which is such a wonderful name for a development as it incorporates all the feelgood words you could ever want when you are buying your first home, has so much to offer. It’s not just a question of location, location, location but the promise of a happy ever after home.

Prices start from £113,750 for a 25% share with a full market value of £455,000

EDIT

TOP CH R ’ S O ★ ★ ★ ICE O

ELIGIBILITY

Initially, priority will only be given to applicants who live in, work in or have strong connections to the Borough of Tower Hamlets. Please ask the sales team for further details.

nhgsales.com or call 020 3815 2222

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

SHOWSTOPPER

The stunning show home at Waterside Heights provides a glimpse into the stylish new canalside homes in wellconnected West Drayton Situated on the western outskirts of London’s centre, the leafy locale of West Drayton offers a mix of urban and country lifestyles in perfect balance. At Waterside Heights, the local green spaces, convenient shopping, great transport links – as well as views over the canal – combine to make these new apartments an ideal place to call home.

ROOMS WITH A VIEW The 65 one and two bedroom apartments at Waterside Heights sit alongside the Grand Union Canal, where residents can access miles of walking and cycling routes.

On-site facilities will include a canalside cafe, providing the perfect opportunity to sit back, relax and take in the sights, or even work remotely.

Inside, the beautifully designed properties are bright and spacious, with plenty of natural light – demonstrated in the incredible show home, which is available to view online or by appointment.

The contemporary kitchens come complete with integrated appliances, hallways feature extra storage space, while in the two bedroom homes there’s an en

suite from the master bedroom. The openplan living areas lead to private balconies – many with direct views of the canal. There are big savings to be made, too; not only is there zero ground rent to pay, but residents also have access to secure underground car parking spaces included within the sale price of selected apartments.

Head 10 minutes on foot to reach Yiewsley for a well-equipped high street and a range of local amenities. Meanwhile, Crossrail will soon transform train journey times into central London from West Drayton railway station, which sits just over the road.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Both urban and outdoor pursuits can be found in equal measure at Waterside Heights. For shopping, the high street is home to supermarkets, shopping centre and cafes. There are also good schools, a GP surgery, leisure centres and parks all within easy reach.

A range of restaurants and pubs can also be found nearby – head to The George and Dragon for a laidback pub lunch, Positano

for traditional Italian food, or order in from a number of big-name eateries. Creatives will feel at home at Southlands Arts centre.

Set in a beautiful Grade II listed building, with lovely grounds, it runs exhibitions, classes, craft markets and music events.

Heading outdoors, you don’t need to travel far along the towpath to find impressive green areas perfect for strolls and dog walks – this development is pet friendly. The canal passes through and alongside acres of parkland – Colne Valley Regional Park covers a huge 27,500 acres and is made up of several parks and woods.

If you’re driving, try Black Country park, home to pine forest, a lake, a cafe and a GoApe assault course. Around a 20-minute journey from West Drayton, it feels like the depths of countryside.

Heading west out of London, there are a number of Berkshire villages and towns that are easily reached and well worth a visit: try Windsor, Eton and other Thameside locales for pretty and historic sights.

GREAT CONNECTIONS When complete, Crossrail trains will take train journey times into London Paddington down to just 20 minutes. Heading west, Reading is a 30-minute trip, while Oxford can be reached in around an hour by rail.

Road links are excellent, too, with speedy connections to Surrey and Berkshire, or to the West Country via the M4. Meanwhile, Heathrow airport is a short drive away, making international travel a cinch, and securing this location’s reputation as a truly well-connected part of town.

Prices at Waterside Heights start from £87,000 based on a 30% share of the full market value of £290,000. Call BeWest on 020 8996 8925 or visit bewest.co.uk

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REAL LIFE

Help to Buy: Bardney, Lincolnshire Choosing whether to rent or buy can be a tough decision for would-be homeowners. But for Lauren Lewis and Sam Worrell, the choice could not have been more simple. With Help to Buy enabling them to get on the housing ladder with just a 5% deposit and 75% mortgage, the young couple left the rental market after just one year and purchased their dream home at Chestnut Homes’ Manor Farm development in Bardney, Lincolnshire

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eterinary assistant Lauren, 26, and engineer Sam, 27, who are planning to start a family, have moved into a spacious four bedroom detached Bressingham house, which features an open-plan kitchen/dining room, separate lounge and a study.

The couple had previously been renting an older three bedroom terraced house seven miles away in Wragby. Lauren, said, “We were very keen to buy new because of the Help to Buy scheme. We would not have been able to purchase this home without it. The scheme has allowed us to buy a bigger house much sooner than we had planned. With Help to Buy we didn’t have to ask any questions – the solicitor did everything for us and explained it to us in a way that we would understand, breaking it down into easy terms.”

Help to Buy enables buyers to secure a new build home with just a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage. The remaining 20% is provided in the form of a Governmentbacked equity loan which is interest-free for the first five years.

“With the 75% mortgage, we pay around £750 a month, which is only £100 more than what we were paying to rent our old three bedroom mid-terrace property. We would much rather pay that extra £100 and have our own home instead of paying for someone else’s,” said Lauren.

Lauren and Sam also benefited from the Government’s Stamp Duty holiday, meaning

FA C T F I L E

Property: Four bedroom detached house Full market value: £324,950 Deposit: £16,250 Equity loan (20%): £64,990 Monthly mortgage repayments: £793

they saved just over £1,200 tax on their purchase. This saving allowed the couple to pay off all of their bills for their previous home so they could start anew at Manor Farm. “It feels really good to own our own home. When you rent, that home will never be yours, but this is all ours. We have really accomplished something for our age. I can’t help but smile every time I come home.

“When we first started looking to buy, we really liked the homes at Manor Farm, but then decided that we wanted to spend a bit more time saving up before committing to purchasing a house. We rented for about a year, allowing us to keep saving up towards our deposit.

“The design of the home means we can change the rooms around as our family grows. Right now, having the second bedroom that has an en suite is brilliant for when we have guests to allow them more privacy. The study is full of Sam’s guitars and musical equipment, but when I start my new course in January, I will be able to use it to study. Over time, we plan to turn the study into a playroom or den for our future children and could possibly turn one of the smaller bedrooms into an office.

“When we purchased the Bressingham,

“WE WERE VERY KEEN TO BUY NEW BECAUSE OF THE HELP TO BUY SCHEME. WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE THIS HOME WITHOUT IT. THE SCHEME HAS ALLOWED US TO BUY A BIGGER HOUSE MUCH SOONER THAN WE HAD PLANNED” 66

we were looking forward to our future. Our plan is to spend our lives in this home, pay the mortgage off and then when the children leave, and we are ready to retire, we can sell this place and downsize.”

Lauren, who works at veterinary practices across Lincolnshire, and Sam, whose job is based in Louth, were attracted to Bardney by its wide range of amenities and the open countryside that surrounds it – perfect for their six-month-old Jack Russell, Indie. “Moving to Bardney has been great for us both. The location is perfect, especially for the dog. There is lots of outside space around the development for long walks.

“There is a doctor’s surgery right at the top of the development, and a brilliant butcher, a Co-op and a post office in the village, which means I can pop in to pick up any parcels on my way home from work. It really suits our lifestyle.

“We love going out and doing things.

There are plenty of walking routes around the village, and there are great road links to the likes of Woodhall Spa, Lincoln and Boston. It is a really good location.

Manor Farm is a really lovely and peaceful development. When we take the dog for a walk or when we are driving through the development, it is all very quiet.”

On their experience of purchasing during the pandemic, Lauren said, “It was a very different process to what it would have been not in lockdown, but Chestnut Homes has been really good. As first time buyers, the help we received from the Chestnut team meant so much – they really helped us a lot.”

A variety of two, three and four bedroom homes are currently available to purchase at Chestnut Homes’ Manor Farm development. To book an appointment to visit the development in person or to find out more about the homes available there, call 01522 296 716 or visit chestnuthomes.co.uk

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FOR SALE

FOR SALE THE CREAM OF THE CROP Each month, First Time Buyer scours the market for the best starter homes for first time buyers.

So, whether you’re after a lovely new pad on a budget, or a home with gardens and grounds to relax in, we hope you will enjoy our selection

REAL LIFE

Help to Buy p66 EAST CROYDON, SOUTH LONDON

HOIC FIRST C

E

TH BEST OF BOS WO★R★L★D

Affordable homes p68-69

COLINDALE, NORTH WEST LONDON

HOIC FIRST C

E

ES GREE★N★A★CR

Outside space p70-71

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FOR SALE

AFFORDABLE HOMES FROM £99,750*

EAST CROYDON, SOUTH LONDON

HOIC FIRST C

E

TH BEST OF LBDOS WO★R★ ★

The Grove This new collection of two and three bedroom apartments is in a great position for enjoying the best that Croydon has on offer. The properties have been created with a modern lifestyle in mind, with open-plan living areas, light-filled spaces and contemporary kitchens with integrated appliances. The homes are close to transport links to central London and to Croydon’s thriving town centre with great shopping, a restaurant quarter and pretty parks.

Residents will also have access to three rooftop gardens, as well as a communal work space.

Optivo 0800 012 1442 optivo.org.uk *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £399,000

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FOR SALE H A R R O W, N O R T H W E S T L O N D O N

FROM £310,000

FROM £107,000*

FELTHAM, WEST LONDON

Harrow One Located in the heart of Harrow, with shops, restaurants, transport and a park within a few minutes’ walk, these new homes are all about convenience. The one and two bedroom apartments have smart, fitted kitchens with integrated appliances and floorto-ceiling windows in the lounge for optimum natural light. The two

bedroom homes include an en suite from the master bedroom.

While you have everything you need nearby, more shopping can be found in Wembley, while lovely open countryside can be reached quickly by car.

Hill 020 3906 1951 harrowone.co.uk

R O YA L D O C K S , E A S T L O N D O N

FROM £370,000

Centrum With views over Longford River, this new development has tranquil surroundings. Just a few moments from Feltham station, it’s a well-connected place to be – residents can commute quickly to London and retreat peacefully at home. The one and two bedroom apartments are close to the town centre, where you’ll find

supermarkets and eateries, while schools, a medical centre and other amenities are a short walk away. Feltham is undergoing a great deal of regeneration and has exciting new developments drawing homebuyers to the area.

Network Homes 02380 820 121 networkhomessales.co.uk

*Based on a 40% share of the full market value of £267,500

NEW CROSS, SOUTH EAST LONDON

FROM £300,000

Pontoon Reach Forming part of the vibrant new community at Royal Docks, a collaboration between Peabody and Redrow has created almost 300 new apartments, set within a landmark 13-storey building, and surrounded by landscaped gardens and cycle paths. These homes range from studios to three bedroom apartments, all

with balconies and finished to a high spec. Thames Barrier Park is a short stroll away, along with local shops and businesses. From nearby Pontoon Dock station, DLR services to central London take under 20 minutes.

Redrow 020 3131 6833 redrow.co.uk

Arklow Road Sitting on the borders of two of London’s most vibrant towns, this one bedroom apartment is superbly located for enjoying city life. New Cross and Deptford boast a host of bars, galleries, pubs, restaurants, independent shops and every amenity you could need. Lovely Greenwich, as well as Peckham and Brixton,

are easily reached. The lightfilled home is laid out for optimal space, with built-in storage, while the kitchen is sleek and contemporary. Residents have access to a shared garden, while there are lots of parks to enjoy.

Mundays 020 3318 8900 mundays.com

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FOR SALE

OUTSIDE SPACE COLINDALE, NORTH WEST LONDON

HOIC FIRST C

FROM £320,340

E

GREEN

AC★R★ E★S

Beaufort Park Set within 25 acres of green, open space, residents at Beaufort Park can breathe a breath of fresh air. The homes here range from Studio to three bedroom, all designed with open-plan living spaces, private balconies and energy-efficient appliances.

In addition, there are exclusive health and fitness facilities including a spa, pool and gym. The sprawling grounds include landscaped gardens, courtyards and a park, perfect for picnics. The homes are close to supermarkets, the high street and Colindale tube station, from where trains to London King’s Cross take 21 minutes. As well as good local amenities, residents can reach the Hertfordshire countryside and country parks quickly by car or bicycle.

St George 020 8108 5475 berkeleygroup.co.uk

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FOR SALE FROM £227,500

HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS

READING, BERKSHIRE

FROM £265,000

Centre Square Named as one of the happiest towns in the South East, High Wycombe is an ideal place to put down roots. There’s a bustling town centre and great links into London, while the Chiltern Hills are a few minutes away for country pursuits. This development is home to a range of one and two bedroom homes,

all with outdoor space and shared use of the impressive communal gardens. The properties are bright and contemporary and finished to a high spec, with stylish kitchens and tiled bathrooms, and en suites in the larger homes.

Inland Homes 01494 211 049 inlandhomes.co.uk

WALTHAMSTOW, EAST LONDON

FROM £400,000

Bankside Gardens Residents can get a taste for the outdoors at this new lakeside development. Not only are there waterside views, but four of the buildings are linked by podium gardens. There will be over 400 one and two bedroom apartments available here, and a new community created – with on-site facilities including a

OXTED, SURREY

co-working studio, gym, cinema and concierge. The homes are part of the Green Park Village development, two miles south of Reading. A new station will link the development to Reading and Crossrail in around six minutes.

St Edward 01183 241 791 banksidegardens.co.uk

FROM £437,000

Feature 17 Walthamstow is one of London’s most popular areas for first time buyers, with a great selection of cafes, bars and galleries as well as good parks and tube links.

This new collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments offers the chance to put roots down in a thriving area. The beautifully designed properties

have private balconies, openplan living areas and a shared outdoor plaza with a playground and sports pitch. Wood Street tube station is moments away while Walthamstow Village is around half a mile.

Countryside 020 4502 3285 countrysideproperties.com

Courtyard Gardens The new homes at Courtyard Gardens sit in an idyllic spot in leafy Oxted, with the North Downs on the doorstep. There are one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses here, all a short walk from the high street, which is home to restaurants, boutiques and cafes. The properties sit within

communal gardens, while inside, layouts are thoughtful, with plenty of space, hallway storage and a separate utility room. Ideal for commuters, London can be reached in just over 30 minutes from the nearby railway station.

St William 020 3994 2480 courtyardgardensoxted.co.uk

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LEGAL

The conveyancing process Lesley Price FCILEx of CGM Hampshire Limited breaks down the homebuying process into simple steps so you know what to expect from the process CHOOSE YOUR SOLICITOR Once you have submitted your offer or reserved your plot then you will be asked to choose a solicitor. Prices and service styles can vary. Some will offer a more traditional face-to-face service and some will be online-based so make sure you shop around and find the right fit and price for you.

INSTRUCTIONS AND IDENTITY VERIFICATION Your chosen solicitor will send you an initial pack which you will need to fill out and return and you will be asked to make a payment on account for searches. You will need to provide them with identity documentation and information as to where the money you are using to buy the property is coming from.

Make sure all buyers and anyone gifting you money has current photographic ID such as an in-date passport or photocard driving licence and that you have original paper copies of bank statements or utility bills that are under three months old.

MEMORANDUM OF SALE/ RESERVATION AGREEMENT The estate agent, developer or housing association will send a Memorandum of Sale with details of the property, any terms or deadlines that have been agreed and their solicitor’s contact details. This should be sent to both you and your solicitor so they can contact the seller’s solicitor and confirm they are acting for you.

CONTRACTS AND PROPERTY INFORMATION The seller’s solicitor will send your solicitor a Contract Pack which will include a draft version of the contract and seller’s information forms. In the legal pack there will be a plan of the property so your solicitor can order your searches.

ENQUIRIES These are legal questions your solicitor will raise about the property. You can also then let them know if you have any specific questions to raise. Remember, your solicitor

will not have visited the property so don’t assume they may spot things you noticed during your viewing. Make a list on any questions you have and pass these to your solicitor as they can check these against the information the seller has provided

MORTGAGE OFFER Your lender will send you a copy of your offer and a separate copy to your solicitor which will set out your mortgage terms and any matters they want your solicitor to confirm. The offer will usually have conditions in it which your legal adviser will need to check against the legal paperwork and source of funds information you have supplied to make sure these can be complied with.

Bear in mind that if anyone is giving you a gift then they will have to provide identity documents and proof of where those funds came from to. So, make sure when you look to start your purchase they are available to sign any forms they need to and happy to provide their statements and ID.

TITLE REPORT When all the above has been done, your

solicitor then sends you an overall report on your property. This will include anything they feel you will need to know about the property before proceeding.

If you are happy with the report, all your questions have been answered, all signed documents are in and your deposit has been received, your solicitor will do a final file review to make sure they are ready to exchange contracts.

EXCHANGE When all the above steps are satisfied your solicitor can formally exchange contracts.

If you are currently in rented accommodation be mindful of your notice period. You should never give notice until contracts are exchanged and your moving date is fixed.

COMPLETION This is the final stage and the day that you will receive the keys and move into your new home.

For specialist new build and shared ownership purchase advice email us at enquiries@c-g-m.co.uk or visit our website c-g-m.co.uk

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COMPETITION

Enjoy the heat!

WIN! CH SYSTEM WIN A GTE D LEANER AN VACUUM C E TWAV GTECH HEA 49.98 4 £ H WORT

C leaning complete...

HOW TO ENTER Answer the following question:

How much does the Gtech HeatWave weigh?

Send your answer with your full name, address and telephone number to: lynda@firsttimebuyermag co.uk Closing date: 10 May 2021

THE PRIZE… ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN ONE GTECH SYSTEM VACUUM CLEANER WORTH £299.99 AND A GTECH HEATWAVE WORTH £149.99 TO KEEP THE HOUSE CLEAN AND TO BE ABLE TO RELAX OUTSIDE IN THE GARDEN ALL YEAR ROUND

Everyone enjoys a clean house. Everyone enjoys spending time in their garden. Now you can enjoy both with these fantastic prizes from Gtech The Gtech System vacuum cleaner combines two lightweight cordless vacuums in one; a dynamic duo for a complete cleaning solution. The award-winning, upright AirRam glides across carpets and hard floors seamlessly, without the need to change settings, sucking up dust and hair to leave your home spotless, while the handheld Gtech Multi is perfect for the car, sofa or other hard to reach areas and comes with attachments that help you tackle other areas of your home, from stairs to upholstery, to keep your home clean and dust free.

The Gtech HeatWave is an energy-efficient, wall-mounted heater that makes outdoor living all year round possible. The weather-proof heater emits up to six metres of heat in seconds, providing light and warmth for outdoor spaces. Lightweight at just 1.5kg and with a contemporary matt black finish, the HeatWave is a stylish addition to any al fresco area. The infrared technology creates a warm, subtle glow with a balanced heat emission to heat your outdoor space quickly and evenly.

Best of all, there is no need to store bulky gas bottles or worry about them running out, so you can enjoy your outdoor space hassle free.

So, after you’ve effortlessly cleaned, you can reward yourself by indulging in some lovely food or a drink in the fresh air, even in the winter time. What a luxury! gtech.co.uk

T&Cs • The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative will be given. Competition is open to UK residents only.

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FIRST HOME, FIRST MEAL Created by Olympic diver Tom Daley, this quiche is perfect if you’re having friends or family round – its bright colours and indulgent flavours are sure to impress! The leftovers also make the perfect lunch dish for the next day

TOM DALEY’S BEETROOT, KALE AND GOAT’S CHEESE QUICHE

Tom Daley is an English diver, television personality and YouTube vlogger. Tom is an Olympic diver and double world champion who won his first diving Gold at the age of 13. He enjoys a very healthy lifestyle and has written a healthy eating cookbook and fitness guide called Tom’s Daily Plan. He loves cooking and was inspired by his Nan and Mum who he helped in the kitchen when he was growing up.

INGREDIENTS (serves 6) Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 55 minutes  3 large British Lion eggs  1 x ready-made pastry

     

 

tart case (around 23cm in diameter) 1 tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 150g curly kale, tough stems removed 150ml milk 150ml double cream 275g cooked beetroot, larger ones sliced in half 75g goat’s cheese, cut into rounds Small handful of dill, roughly chopped

METHOD 1 2 3

4

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Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas Mark 6.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 10 minutes, until softened.

Bring a medium saucepan of slightly salted water to the boil, add the kale and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain well, rinse under cold water to cool, then squeeze out any excess moisture. Set aside.

In a large jug, whisk together the eggs, milk and double cream, along with some seasoning.

5

Place the tart on to a baking tray. Spoon the onions and kale into the base of the pastry case and carefully pour the cream mixture into the case. Add the beetroot, goat cheese and dill. Place the tart into the oven and cook for 45-50 minutes, until set and golden. Leave to cool for 30 minutes before slicing. Enjoy warm or cold.

British Lion Eggs | eggrecipes.co.uk

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FTB’S FAST FOOD Easter is a wonderful time of year, especially for chocolate lovers, but it can also be a little confusing.

Should I go for the classic Easter egg or are the new ones all they are cracked up to be? Here at FTB we have tried and tested some of the best eggs the UK’s supermarkets have to offer this Easter so that you can shell out on the egg-stremely good ones!

EASTER EGGS

TEST WINNER

MARKS & SPENCER

ALDI

CO-OP

WAITROSE

TESCO

Giant Percy Pig With Jazzy Trousers, £10; Walter the Sausage Dog, £5; Egg Plant Kitchen vegan Aubergine egg, £6; the Mini Ombles, £5; Single Origin milk chocolate egg with truffles, £15

Specially Selected Exquisite beehive egg; £14.99; giant Dragon egg, £9.99; Moser Roth chocolate lovers duo egg, £7.99; Dairyfine milkshake eggs, £6.99; orange choco egg with buttons, £3.49; Moo Free Easter egg, £3.49

Spring lemon, £3; white chocolate squiggle Easter egg, £7; milk chocolate hen with speckled eggs, £5; milk chocolate bunnies, £3; chocolate pomegranate, £3

Free From Cluckie the Chick, £3.50; Cadbury mini eggs Easter egg, £12; Lindt Lindor silver assorted milk chocolate egg, £15; Maltesers white chocolate egg with white truffles, £10; Terry’s chocolate orange Easter egg, £3

Marks & Spencer offers a

Aldi has a cracking range of

wonderful range of eggs that

eggs this year. The beehive egg

Salted caramel & pretzel Belgian milk chocolate loaded egg, £5; Irresistible extra thick Valencia orange crunch egg, £6; Irresistible hand-finished golden praline egg, £8; golden honeycomb Belgian milk chocolate loaded egg, £5; Free From chocolate Easter egg & caramel flavour truffles, £3.50

think outside the box. Giant

is an unusual blonde chocolate

Percy continues the nation’s

egg with honeycomb pieces

Percy Pig craze with delicious

Waitrose has a nice selection with some surprises. The hen is fairly basic but the speckled eggs make a nice touch. The

All of these Tesco eggs are

chocolate bunnies with cute

exclusive to them. Cluckie

Co-Op has produced some

faces and tasty chocolate

the Chick is a nice vegan

and bee pollen with a hidden

good eggs. The salted caramel

ganache inside are sure to

alternative with a sweet

strawberry and raspberry

drawer of chocolate and salted

and pretzel egg has a lovely

be a favourite with children.

design if rather simple.

flavour white chocolate

caramel truffles which taste

balance of sweet and salty.

The chocolate squiggle egg is

Cadbury’s mini eggs are the

and cute trousers. Walter

incredible. The dragon egg

The orange crunch egg packs

covered in a crazy, random

pick of the bunch and may

the Dog looks life-like and

looks the part with the gold,

a real punch of orange flavour

design and is a good, yet fairly

look plain, but with mini

tastes wonderful, with very

orange and copper effect

and the crunchy cocoa nibs

plain, white chocolate egg.

eggs actually embedded in

creamy chocolate. Egg Plant

working well. The duo egg is

have a nice texture. The golden

Then come the surprises! The

the egg’s shell there is a nice

Kitchen plays on the popular

the pick of the bunch in terms

praline egg stands out in terms

spring lemon and pomegranate

surprise. The silver assorted

aubergine emoji and is sure to

of taste – classic but with a

of design with its gold lustre

look exactly like the real thing

egg includes everyone’s

make you laugh! The Ombles

premium touch. The milkshake

and nutty taste. The golden

yet are both made of chocolate.

favourite Lindt truffles selection

represent the company’s first

eggs deliver a bit of fun and

honeycomb egg is a lovely

The lemon has a zesty lemon

but there isn’t much new here

new face in over 30 years

look and taste great. The

mixture of textures. The Free

flavour running through it

to make it stand out from the

and will be great for the

orange choco egg provides

From egg is a great alternative

while the pomegranate has an

crowd. The white egg with

kids with their googly eyes

decadence without the dairy

for vegans with the caramel

intriguing sweet, sharp and

truffles is a little too sweet,

and flaky chocolate. If you

with its silky smooth chocolate.

truffles being a real stand out.

fruity flavour.

although the truffles are a

want to splash out, the luxury

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★★

lovely treat just by themselves.

The chocolate orange egg

Single Origin egg is a great choice with 42%

MELT IN THE MOUTH!

has that nostalgic chocolate

Vanuatu cocoa giving it

If you are a real chocoholic you will love this Easter hot chocolate melt egg bombe from

orange taste but isn’t as

exotic citrus and fruity

Lakeland with a surprise inside! Simply drop it into a mug, add hot milk and watch the

exciting as some of the other

tones. You won't be

magical transformation as it melts to make a rich, creamy indulgent hot chocolate... and

orange flavoured eggs that

disappointed.

the mini marshmallows hidden inside pop to the top! A real treat for all the family!

are on offer.

★★★★★

Easter hot chocolate melt egg bombe, £3.49, Lakeland

★★★★★ ★

lakeland.co.uk

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Financing the shared ownership market A few years ago, most lenders were incredibly cautious about entering the shared ownership market and most of those active on the high street had very few staff who really understood how this sector operated. As a result, buyers had very little choice about who would provide them with a mortgage

At the same time, housing associations who were (and indeed still are) under pressure to provide more homes, were finding that their prospective customers were not getting the most cost-effective rates or couldn’t get the finance necessary to make a purchase.

However, this section of the mortgage market is now seen as an attractive proposition for most banks and building societies. Indeed, as this sector is no longer seen as “risky”, the mortgage rates are the same as other forms of tenure.

It is not surprising then that we have seen the availability of mortgage lenders within the shared ownership market steadily increase. This was reversed as a result of Coronavirus, but we are now seeing many lenders come back into the shared ownership market.

And with the Government’s recent announcement that it will offer incentives to lenders, bringing back 95% mortgages, it means that even more will lend to this sector, making shared ownership more accessible to a higher proportion of first time buyers.

Censeo Financial has spent the past

14 years building relationships with these lenders, advising them on the shared ownership market and helping them put together products fit for today’s prospective homeowners. As a result, there is now a wide range of products available to those looking to get on the housing ladder.

So, whether you are self-employed, buying a new build house or flat, buying alone or with a partner, or are looking to staircase, there will be financial institutions out there willing to lend.

As with many areas of financial services, it is worth pointing out that the lower the deposit, the higher the perceived risk. Put simply, the larger your deposit, the cheaper your interest rate. Thus, if you can put down a 40% deposit on a property, you’ll be able to take advantage of an interest rate of around 1.22%. This is compared with a rate of around 1.99% with a 20% deposit and a rate of around 3.79% with just a 5% deposit (based on interest rates at time of writing).

Most of these rates are for two-year fixed rate deals but there are also some five-year deals available, albeit at a slightly higher interest rate.

In order to have true financial inclusion

For over 14 years, Censeo Financial has been providing an exemplary service to both our housing association and developer clients and our customers. We were set up purely as a mortgage provider specialising in providing homes to first time buyers and since then we have become a recognisable, trusted and award-winning brand.

Since 2007 we have helped over 25,000 people with affordability assessments and around 6,000 people to purchase a property through shared ownership.

for homeownership here in the UK, Censeo Financial also believes that everyone should have the option not only to get a toehold on the housing ladder but also ultimately to own their own home outright.

One increasingly popular way to do this is through staircasing. Here, people who have bought a share in a property through shared ownership, can purchase further shares so they “staircase” up to owning their homes outright. This is not only good for homeowners but also for housing associations who can then plough back the extra income from staircasing into the building of new properties.

Interest rates for staircasing are similar to those for people purchasing a property for the first time.

Many people with shared ownership properties don’t realise that even after staircasing up to a greater share in their home, they could still be saving on their monthly outgoings. That’s why it is always a good idea to talk to a specialist adviser who really understands the shared ownership market. censeo-financial.com

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EXPERT COMMENT Headlines of a mortgage guarantee scheme are likely to entice potential buyers to the market, but it is important to stress that the guarantee here is for lenders – to encourage greater availability of loans for

A shot in the arm for buyers

Despite the general doom and gloom about the effects of Covid on the economy, Rishi Sunak’s spring Budget brought with it some nuggets of good news for first time buyers. Kay Hill looks at the details and the industry reaction

buyers with small deposits – and offers no protection to consumers. It will, however, give more confidence to lenders that the Government is supporting the market and unlikely to let house prices fall. This could encourage even greater availability of mortgages outside of this particular scheme, for customers with a diverse range of circumstances.

We always advocate the importance of professional advice for consumers who are looking for a mortgage to help them understand the risks, considerations and most suitable options, and this is even more important for those consumers with

The best bit of news for first time buyers in the Budget was undoubtedly the introduction of a new scheme to make it easier to obtain a 95% mortgage. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had announced the plans at last year’s Conservative Party Conference, but the Chancellor took the opportunity to announce the details as part of the Budget.

The scheme is a reboot of the Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee that ran from 2013-2016 when high loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages were in similar short supply.

During that period, it increased the number of mortgage products available from 43 to 2,611 and helped more than 100,000 households to buy a home.

Unlike Help to Buy: Equity Loan, where

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the Government lends money, the mortgage guarantee scheme works by providing lenders with the option to purchase a Government guarantee that compensates them for a portion of their losses if a home is repossessed. Lenders will have to pay a fee for the guarantee, so it should increase the appetite for high loan-to-value lending to creditworthy customers at no extra cost to the taxpayer.

The Government’s technical report stated, “Accumulating a sufficient deposit remains the largest hurdle for most prospective homebuyers. According to the Bank of England’s Financial Stability Report, around 75% of renters are likely to be constrained by a lack of sufficient savings to meet deposit requirements,

smaller deposits as they naturally have less of a financial buffer. So, the best next step will be to speak to a professional mortgage adviser.

There are plenty of options available with or without this scheme and professional advice will help to set homebuyers off in the right direction.

Alex Hammond Director, Mortgage Market Alliance

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rather than by the affordability of repayments determined by the size of their household income.”

The details of the new scheme are as follows:  It must be used to buy a home in the UK (not a second home or buy-to-let), worth up to £600,000  It is open to first time buyers and homemovers who pass normal affordability and credit score checks  The mortgage must be repayment, with a LTV of 91-95%, taken out between April 2021 and December 2022.

All lenders who sign up for the scheme must offer the security of a five-year fixed rate deal, although borrows can choose other options. Santander, NatWest, Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC had already signed up at the time of writing.

The proposal was criticised by Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, who said, “If the Government was serious about fixing the broken housing market, it would have announced plans for a new generation of genuinely affordable council houses.” He added that the original scheme from 2013 “fuelled a housing bubble, pushed up prices, and made owning a home more difficult”.

Industry response was mixed.

Simon Nosworthy, Head of Residential Conveyancing at Osbornes Law commented, “The Government’s introduction of the mortgage guarantee scheme will answer the prayers of many wannabe homebuyers who have struggled to save enough for a 10% deposit, while house prices increased dramatically beyond their budgets. This announcement gives thousands a glimmer of hope that they can realise their dream of owning a property. However, the downside of this is that the scheme could further fuel the constant increase in house prices, while if there is a crash in the housing market it could leave many people in negative equity.”

Islay Robinson, CEO of Enness Global Mortgages added, “95% mortgage products in any shape or form take the market into pretty overheated, dangerous territory and we’ve previously seen the results of this kind of precarious lending to those who aren’t really in the financial position to commit to it.

“Although big lenders have committed to the Government’s announcement, it will be interesting to see just how many buyers are able to secure such a product when it comes to actually applying. Converting Generation Rent to Generation Buy is a noble initiative, but not if it comes at the expense of wider market health.”

The second major help to first time buyers was the extension of the Stamp Duty holiday which was to have finished at the end of March. The temporary increase in the Nil Rate Band to £500,000 will now continue until 30 June 2021, and it will then tail off gradually, being reduced to £250,000 from 1 July until the end of September, reverting to £125,000 on 1 October.

The short extension and staggered finish were broadly welcomed by the property industry, although many would prefer permanent changes. Nitesh Patel, Strategic Economist at Yorkshire Building Society, noted, “The lowest threshold for Stamp Duty has not increased since 2006 while house prices have increased, on average, by 55% during that time. If the lowest Stamp Duty price threshold had been raised in line with house price inflation, no Stamp Duty would be paid on properties up to £195,000.”

David Hannah, Principal Consultant of Cornerstone Tax, added, “Now more than ever, it is perhaps time that the Chancellor really grasped the nettle of SDLT reform with a permanent higher threshold for it to start, fewer complexities in the application and fewer random additions to the duty which serve only to muddle the market still further.”

Other points of interest in the Budget:  No increases in personal taxation, although a freeze in personal allowances from the start of the 2021-22 financial year until 2026 will gradually draw people into higher tax bands  A new Green Savings Bond will be launched by NS&I, although interest rate and details have not been released  To keep the cost of living down, planned increases to the duty on petrol and alcohol were scrapped and the 5% reduced rate of VAT for the hospitality industry was extended until October.  A Modern Methods of Construction Taskforce will be given £10m funding to accelerate the building of homes using off-site (prefabricated) and new on-site methods to produce more, better quality homes in less time.

EXPERT COMMENT We saw the proportion of first time buyers in the market drop by 12% in the second half of last year, as they benefited less than existing homeowners from the Stamp Duty holiday – so we’re pleased to see the Government is focusing on making it easier for them to buy a home. High loan-to-value mortgages do come with risks but there is a place for them in today’s market as long as first time buyers are educated and informed about what could happen if prices fall. Not everyone has access to the Bank of Mum and Dad, so the launch of a mortgage guarantee scheme will help democratise homeownership and bring it back within reach of those buying without financial support. There are vast numbers of people who could easily afford monthly mortgage repayments but are stuck paying a higher amount in rent each month, meaning they’re unable to save a deposit.

The Government needs to work with lenders to ensure these loans are available at low interest rates, reflecting the fact that the lender’s risk

Rishi Sunak was keen to point out the NHS had already vaccinated more than 20 million people against Covid, helping life to return to normal. Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild of Property Professionals, was similarly optimistic, “The Chancellor gave the property market a double shot in the arm today, with a boost from the Stamp Duty holiday extension and 95% mortgages.

The Government is really looking to turn Generation Rent into Generation Buy.

is reduced.

Rob Houghton CEO, Reallymoving

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What does the Government’s 10-point climate plan mean for the future of the UK’s housing stock?

Ginetta Vedrickas examines the plan and looks at it in more detail to see how it impacts our future homes THE 10-POINT CLIMATE PLAN At the end of last year, Boris Johnson unveiled his long-awaited, 10-point climate plan for the UK. The blueprint’s intention will, announced the prime minister, help the UK “forge ahead with eradicating its contribution to climate change by 2050”. This, Johnson warns, is particularly crucial in the run-up to the COP26 climate summit, the UN’s conference on sustainability that takes place in Glasgow in November 2021. The plan – part of the PM’s mission to level up across the country – will mobilise £12bn of Government investment to create and support what it describes as “up to 250,000 highly skilled green jobs in the UK”, and spur over three times as much private sector investment by 2030.

Covering clean energy, transport, nature and innovative technologies, the plan is especially relevant for the future of the UK’s housing stock.

Johnson promised an investment of £1bn into making new and existing homes more efficient, extending the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme by a year, as well as making public sector buildings greener and cutting energy bills for hospitals and schools as part of its Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

PLANS FOR A “GREENER” HOUSING STOCK The plan contained numerous details on how we can make our homes more energy efficient.

It promised to create 50,000 jobs by 2030, with a target to install 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028 with gas boilers set to be phased out in new homes by 2023. Up to £500m will be set aside to trial the use of hydrogen, perceived as a cleaner, greener option than gas, within homes both for heating and cooking. There are plans for an entire “hydrogen neighbourhood” to be built by 2023, moving to a “hydrogen village” by 2025, with an

aim for a “hydrogen town”, the equivalent to tens of thousands of homes, before the end of the decade. Of this funding, £240m will go into new hydrogen production facilities.

This year, £1bn will be earmarked for making new and existing homes more efficient. The Green Homes Grant voucher scheme, initially set to end in March 2021, has been extended by a year so that homeowners have more chance to apply for Government cash to help make their homes more energy efficient. A £1bn energy innovation fund is planned, which hopes to stay ahead of the latest technologies needed to reach energy targets. In addition, in his recent Spending Review in November, Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged £650m earmarked to make homes “netzero”, a definition which refers to achieving an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere.

EXPERT COMMENT The Ministry of Housing has shown real foresight and leadership in backing modular housing, but energy policy and building regulations need to be more joined up. We can already deliver zero carbon homes

BACKGROUND TO THE PLAN

and we should not delay rule changes

While the plan has been generally warmly welcomed, there is, however, some cynicism over whether it will succeed, as successive governments have long pledged to make new homes more energy efficient.

In 2007, the “zero carbon homes policy” was introduced to make sure that all newly built homes would not release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during their day-to-day running.

The intention was to achieve this through a combination of reducing energy demand and by generating heat and power from on-site lowcarbon energy sources, with extra measures such as planting trees to offset emissions that couldn’t be avoided. This was supposed to come into force by 2016 but, although the construction industry had almost 10 years to implement it, the Chancellor at the time, George Osborne, cancelled it just before its implementation.

A report from the Energy & Climate

these repeated delays and what

any longer. There is a real cost to ministers have now is a large pool of private investors willing and able to help it deliver on its policy promises.

If ministers were able to speed up planning for eco-friendly, modular homes – which offer better thermal insulation and create less waste than regular construction – more would get done.

Dave Sheridan Executive Chairman, ilke Homes

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EXPERT COMMENT We welcome the Government’s announcement that it will invest £1bn into making new and existing homes and public buildings more efficient, including the bid to bring forward the date by which new homes will need to be warmed without gas heating to 2023. We

Intelligence Unit found that, had the zero carbon homes policy not been cancelled, occupants of new homes built since 2016 would have been able to save over £200 per year on their energy bills. The report also estimated that, by the end of 2020, the cost of scrapping zero carbon homes – the cumulative cost of “wasted” energy used to heat “inefficient” new homes – would be over £2bn, leading the Unit to conclude that the scrapping of the policy “sent the wrong message to business and consumers about its commitment to reduce carbon emissions from buildings”.

RESPONSE FROM THE HOUSE BUILDING INDUSTRY Last year ilke Homes received £30m in investment from Homes England. The modular housing company says that, while it welcomes the Government’s intention to “double down” on its pledges to make Britain a carbon neutral economy, it also wants to see an end to what it calls “rhetoric”, so that costly retrofitting programmes, making existing buildings more environmentally friendly, are avoided.

Executive Chairman Dave Sheridan explains, “The Government’s Green Homes Grant, which is set to be extended, is already investing £2bn of taxpayers’ money this year, yet the dithering and delay over new build standards is going to cost the taxpayer 30 times more.”

An analysis by ilke Homes found that, by 2025, over 1.8 million new build homes will have been built since 2016 – the year in which the Government’s original zero carbon policy was meant to be introduced.

And, as the economy gears up to meet its legally binding net-zero pledges, nearly all these homes will have to be retrofitted to meet zero carbon standards.

The housebuilder predicted that, using costs from the Government’s own climate

advisers, the bill to homeowners and landlords will be over £62bn, and it also warned that local councils and housing associations will face a bill of an extra £11.8bn to refurbish new homes that are currently under construction. ilke Homes also warns that the Government will soon have to decide on the Future Homes Standard consultation; the standards that new homes must be built to. It calls for policymakers to “stick to their guns” and introduce the tightest possible energy standards: at least a 31% reduction in carbon emissions from new build housing next year and a net-zero Future Homes Standard as soon as possible.

“Without this we will simply not see change occur quickly enough. And picking the higher, 31% reduction target, will show the world the UK means business ahead of the UN Sustainability Conference, COP26, in Glasgow, and will put the property industry on a trajectory to deliver truly energyefficient homes,” adds Sheridan.

believe that the built environment has an essential role to play in achieving carbon neutrality, and this must be recognised and supported in any new Government policies.

Kate Neale Sustainability Director, Cadogan

EXPERT COMMENT In 2020, we should be embedding sustainability at the heart of any development policy. Climate change is here and now, which means the days of greenwashing within our industry must end. We need to see beyond the net-zero barrier and thread it through everything we

EXISTING TECHNOLOGY

design, deliver and operate, which

Some housebuilders would like to see the Government scale-up low carbon technologies, such as air source heat pumps and solar panels, and give its full backing to off-site manufacturing such as modular companies like ilke Homes, which already uses digital technology to help measure and shape its homes’ energy performance. The housebuilder points out that air source heat pumps and solar panels can be standardly fitted, allowing homes to be powered with low-carbon energy. Technologies like these can mean that homes can be heated on just £1 a day, saving consumers hundreds of pounds on energy bills each year. Over the last three years, ilke Homes has delivered zero carbon homes for clients across the public and private sectors, proving, it believes, “that low-carbon technology can already be rolled out to the mass market”.

system. To do this, we need to

needs to be reflected in the planning garner a greater understanding of the operational and lifecycle emissions of buildings. We need to work together as an industry to create buildings that are fit for purpose over their whole lifespan, to incentivise long-term investments, and to design adaptable buildings to face the challenges that the climate crisis poses.

Steven Charlton Principal at global architects Perkins & Will

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EXPERTS

Agony agent Readers put their property questions to our guest panel of experts: solicitors, mortgage advisers, property gurus and Help to Buy providers

THIS MONTH’S PA N E L O F E X P E R T S

Andrew Theoff Managing Partner, Direction Law

Matt Coulson Director & Principal, Heron Financial

Luke Smith Director, Avory Smith Group

Hopkin Man Head of Sales and Marketing, Octavia

T E S T T H E PA N E L

We need your questions...

If you have any queries, or difficulties in understanding the property buying process, our panel of experts is waiting to help. Send our team your questions on buying property, Help to Buy, legal issues, or your financial problems and we’ll find the best person from the panel to give the advice you need.

Email your questions to: lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk

84

What Mortgage?

Q

My partner and I are looking to get on the ladder in the next 12 months. We’ve been doing our research into the various affordable housing schemes such as Help to Buy and shared ownership, but we’re really confused about the type of mortgage we’ll need to arrange to use one of these. Is there a specific product we should ask our lender for?

Rose Vale, Hertford

A

The Government has made some big changes to its affordable housing schemes lately, all designed to help first time buyers like yourself get into homeownership, which is fantastic. However, with this comes a certain level of complexity, so I can appreciate that this might lead to a bit of confusion when it comes to actually using the schemes.

Manually combing through the myriad of mortgage options out there can seem like a daunting task. Many lenders have specific

mortgage products for those using Help to Buy, and even fewer again for those buying through shared ownership. Some have no differentiation compared to their open market products – there’s not a lot of uniformity Whatever scheme you choose to use to get on the ladder, give yourself the best chance at being approved by starting to save as much as you possibly can towards your deposit, as it gives you more options.

Begin taking note of your outgoings and pay off outstanding debts to help boost your credit score, and do your research on properties so you can work out your budget right at the start.

The best advice I can offer, however, is to speak to a professional adviser or broker, who can do a lot of the legwork for you.

We’re constantly in touch with lenders to know who is offering what, at what rates, and with what terms.

Having our ear to the ground means we know when lenders launch new products or make changes to existing ones far more quickly than if you were to research this on your own, and which ones fit your needs best as a result.

Matt Coulson

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Where can I park?

Q

I’m really excited to buy my first home in London through shared ownership. We are a young family and I rely heavily on my car to get to work, so ideally, I would like an allocated parking space. However, since starting my search one thing I’ve noticed is the lack of parking; it’s either not available or I’m told I won’t be given a parking permit in the local area. Can you help please?

George Miston, Hammersmith

The great thing about buying in London is its excellent public transport infrastructure. London is blessed with quicker, cheaper public transport alternatives.

However, one of the drawbacks of buying in the capital is the lack of space, especially when it comes to parking. When a new development goes up, it is increasingly a requirement of the planning permission that the local authority will not be able to provide parking permits to all the residents who move in. There simply isn’t enough space in the street for everyone to park their cars. This is especially difficult where households have two cars.

The convenience of being able to drive and park where you live no longer exists in many areas. Parking is a premium which adds to overall household bills.

A

Identity fraud

Q

I read an article recently about someone who lost their home due to identity fraud, as the criminal managed to steal their identity and not only access their bank account but also sell their property without their knowledge. I’m due to exchange soon on my first home and I’m scared that something like this could happen to me – is there any way I can ensure it doesn’t?

Adam Ambrose, Winchester

A

Cybercrime is on the increase, with fraudsters increasingly targeting property buyers, sellers and their solicitors, often by way of interception of emails to steal your

Hopkin Man

identity and then sell, mortgage or take out loans against your property without your knowledge. The good news is that there are ways to prevent it from happening.

By registering a Proof of Identity Restriction on your property at the Land Registry this will prevent fraudulent activity, because a solicitor must certify that the person selling or mortgaging the property is you. We recommend this to our clients and is something we can register on their behalf.

The Land Registry also provides a property alert service which enables homeowners to monitor activity concerning their property. Alerts will be sent to you via email when any official searches and applications are received against the property.

Another common type of fraud is where fraudsters intercept emails between the

Starting our search

Q

We are just starting our search for our first home and we are considering looking in south London, although we are open to other ideas. Do you have any advice before we start as it’s a bit daunting not quite knowing where to start?

Jonnie Allderton, Guildford

A

However, there are a number of options available. There are developments available with allocated parking spaces but you have to be quick. Not only will you have to pay for the parking, you’ll have to pay an additional service charge to cover the maintenance and upkeep of the space.

Parking spaces can also be rented privately if local residents do not use their own space. These can be found online at various parking space rental websites and a quick internet search will get you to them. Some developers are also providing membership to a car club, providing access to a car but without the ongoing costs of car ownership.

Octavia is about to release an exciting new development in west London. Vista Apartments in Alperton is just moments away from Alperton tube station and also has a limited number of allocated parking spaces available to purchase. The development features a collection of 19 homes, including one and two bedroom apartments.

The homes have been designed to maximise interior space with open-plan layouts, large windows and outside space in the form of terraces or balconies.

Prices at Vista Apartments start at £78,125 for a 25% share of a one bedroom home with a full market value of £312,500. Two bedroom prices start from £91,250 for a 25% share of a full market value of £365,000. Find our more on our website at octavia.org.uk

We’re noticing apartment sales slow down a bit, for two reasons – the number of new builds available, and the number of conversions with no outside space, which in the current climate is sitting at the top of the list for most buyers.

Family homes are selling, but like everything it’s price sensitive.

As a first time buyer do your research, but beyond that I’d advise

solicitor and a client and change the content in an attempt to either persuade the client to send deposit monies to a bank account other than the solicitor’s account, or dupe the solicitor into sending monies to a fraudulent account.

To protect against this, solicitors are careful not to provide their bank account details by email and to verify the details of accounts that they send money to.

At Direction Law, as further protection, every client is allocated a password by SMS and is asked for two random characters from this password whenever we call them, or they call us.

Hopefully, this will reassure you that as long as you are vigilant and that you and your solicitor take all appropriate steps, this should not happen to you.

Andrew Theoff

buying something you can see yourself in for the next five years as a minimum. New builds are hugely popular with first timers, however come with a slight premium attached. So, moving a couple of years later is going to make it hard to recoup your initial costs.

As far as location is concerned; for me, the biggest appeal in today’s market is “destinations”. These are areas with huge development and regeneration programmes. The likes of Tottenham Hale, Brent Cross and Nine Elms are hugely exciting, with the benefit of short-term enjoyment and long-term growth.

I take great pride in helping those on the search for a new property; over the years I’ve helped lots of first time buyers take their first steps on to the property ladder. Feel free to visit our website avorysmith.com or give our office a call on 020 4517 8771.

We’ll certainly be keen to help.

Luke Smith

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Buyers’ guide FTB EXPLAINS ALL THE OPTIONS TO HELP FIRST TIME BUYERS

Your options What are your funding options if you want to get on the housing ladder?

FIRST STEPS

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR A GOVERNMENTBACKED SCHEME? The Government backs several schemes to help people get on to the property ladder. The best known is the Help to Buy: Equity Loan, which is open to all buyers purchasing a new home costing up to £600,000 from an approved provider. There are no income restrictions and you can use it to upsize, but not to buy an additional property. For more details, contact a Help to Buy Agent. There is also shared ownership, which is open to families with a household income of up to £80,000 (£90,000 in London).

BUYING ON THE OPEN MARKET Many people buy property on the open market. Homes are offered for sale by estate/sales agents or from private developers or house builders.

On new build developments there is usually a show home you can look around and a sales adviser, based on site, to answer your questions.

To buy on the open market, you will need a mortgage deposit of at least 5% to 10% of the full property value.

BUYING A NEW HOME OFF-PLAN

FUNDING OPTIONS

JARGON EXPLAINED

G O V E R N M E N T- B A C K E D SCHEMES

EQUITY LOAN

Help to Buy: Equity Loans The Government provides equity loans of 20% of the full property value (40% in London boroughs). The loan is interest free for the first five years with interest at 1.75% in year six, rising by RPI (retail price index) inflation plus 1% after that. The loan must be repaid when the property is sold or within 25 years. You will need to raise a deposit of 5% and a 75% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage. New build homes priced up to £600,000 can be bought. The current Help to Buy: Equity Loan Scheme runs until the end of March 2021 and will be restricted to first time buyers after that.

This is a Government loan for a percentage of a property’s value (20% outside London, 40% in London). If you remain living in the property, you repay the equity loan within 25 years. If you sell the property, you repay the percentage of the property price the loan was for. For example, if the equity loan was originally £30,000 on a £100,000 property (30%) and you sell the property for £200,000, you’ll have to repay £60,000 (30% of £200,000).

Shared Ownership or Part-Buy, Part-Rent The Government shared ownership scheme is available for households with an income of up to £80,000 (or £90,000 if buying in London.)

The scheme allows you the chance to buy as little as a 25% share in a property and pay a subsidised rent on the rest. Rent is calculated at 2.75% (sometimes less), with annual increases of RPI + 0.5%. In most cases, you can buy more shares after you move in with the opportunity to own the property outright.

This is called staircasing. The mortgage deposit you’ll need to buy with shared ownership is calculated on the share value; this works out at a lot less than if you were buying outright.

There are a few less well known Governmentbacked schemes; more details of these can be found on ownyourhome.gov.uk:

Rent to Buy or Intermediate Rent With this scheme you rent a newly built property for up to five years and pay a reduced rent. This gives you time to save up for a deposit so you can apply to buy a share of the home later. Homes available with Rent to Buy are few and far between.

Demand for new homes often outstrips supply; this means that new homes are often reserved before their construction is complete, sometimes several months before they are built and finished. This is called “buying off-plan”. Most providers market and sell their homes in this way. Do some careful research to make sure the home you reserve is the right one for you, especially as you may not have an opportunity to physically view inside it before your commitment to buy it becomes a legal obligation.

Older People’s Shared Ownership (OPSO)

PRIVATE INITIATIVES

*NEW!* First Homes

Some builders offer incentives on new build homes such as cashback, free legal fees, help with moving costs or money towards Stamp Duty. Some developers may offer shared equity, a private version of shared ownership.

This is a new option announced by the Government in late 2019. With First Homes, first time buyers and key workers will be offered discounts of 30% on new build homes. Further details are awaited.

This is designed for people aged 55 and over.

Scheme specific details vary, so check with the housing association provider.

Home Ownership for People with Long Term Disabilities (HOLD) HOLD is a specialist option designed to help people with long term disabilities to live independently in a shared ownership property where, in some cases, repairs and maintenance services are offered by the housing association provider.

HOMES ENGLAND This is a Government organisation tasked with increasing housing supply. They also fund affordable homes including Help to Buy.

STAIRCASING If you buy a home with shared ownership, you will be given the right to buy more shares at any time in the future. This is called staircasing. In most cases, you can buy shares up to 100% of the property and own it outright.

When you buy more shares, these are valued at the market value at the time. Because house prices tend to rise over periods of time, it is a good idea to think about staircasing right from the moment you move into your new shared ownership home.

FUNDING OPTIONS BUYING ON THE OPEN MARKET & P R I VA T E I N I T I A T I V E S

To buy on the open market or from a house builder you’ll need to get a mortgage from a bank or other mortgage lender. To do so you’ll need to save a deposit and meet the provider’s lending criteria.

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BUYERS’ GUIDE

The ftb process TIPS

Buying your first property can be a daunting experience. It’s a big decision, so it’s important to get it right. We take you through all the steps involved

F

Unless you have enough money to buy a property outright you’ll need a mortgage. A mortgage is a loan used to buy a property and is repayable over a number of years (usually 25-35 years). The loan is “secured” on the property, which means the mortgage lender could repossess your home if you fail to make repayments on time. For this reason, it’s vital only to buy a property you can realistically afford.

Before you start, find out how much money you can borrow. A mortgage adviser will need details of your income, outgoings, savings and credit history – they will then be able to give you an “agreement in principle”, which will state, in theory, how much they will be able to lend you. An agreement in principle, however, doesn’t tie you, or the lender, to anything. Instead, it will just give you a rough idea of how much money you’ll be able to borrow.

You’ll also need a deposit, normally around 10% of the property price. The bigger the deposit, the better the mortgage rate you’ll be offered. Each mortgage product will have a maximum loan-to-value or LTV.

inance

APPLICATION You will need at least three months of bank statements, payslips or tax returns, photo ID such as a passport or driving licence and details of any loans. Lenders will look at your outgoings to assess how much you can afford to pay on your mortgage each month. The bigger deposit you have and the better your credit score, the better mortgage rate you’ll be offered.

BUDGET Work out how much you can afford to repay each month, taking into account your normal living expenses and the bills, insurance and council tax on your new home. Don’t forget there is likely to be a service/ estate management charge on a new home, plus ground rent for a leasehold property, so find out how much they will be.

CREDIT SCORE Get a credit report from Experian or Equifax, and make sure there are no default accounts, CCJs (county court judgements) or missed payments. If you are making lots of enquiries to find the best deal, make sure the lenders log your enquiry as a soft search rather than a hard search as too many applications leave “footprints” on your credit score and can affect your rating.

To improve your score, make sure you’re on the electoral roll, and pay your bills and any loan repayments on time.

MORTGAGE BROKERS VS LENDERS You can apply for a mortgage via a mortgage broker (or financial adviser) or direct from a lender. A broker can look at the deals available and advise you which one would be best for your circumstances.

Some mortgage products are only sold through brokers, not directly to customers.

A broker will help you with the paperwork and deal with the lender on your behalf up until completion. You may have to pay them a fee or they may earn commission from the lender – find out how they are paid before committing to anything.

Mortgage advisers in banks or building societies can only sell you products offered by that company, so it’s unlikely they will be able to offer you the very best deal for your circumstances. It’s important to shop around. You can compare mortgages online at sites such as moneysupermarket.com or SET A BUDGET

FINANCE

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Work out how much money you have for fees, deposit and the monthly mortgage you can afford.

CREDIT SCORE

Make sure your credit rating is sound and there are no mistakes on your file, and pay off any debts you can.

moneysavingexpert.com, then apply directly to your chosen lender.

FIXED-RATE MORTGAGES Some mortgages are fixed rate. This means you’ll pay the same rate of interest for a defined period of time, and your payments won’t change. If interest rates go up, you’ll be protected from the increase, but you won’t benefit from any fall in interest rates.

Normally, at the end of the fixed period your mortgage rate will revert to the lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) for the rest of the term. You can either pay this rate (which is often quite expensive) or remortgage to another lender. Remortgaging to another lender can sometimes mean you have to pay a fee or early redemption charge (ERC).

VARIABLE-RATE MORTGAGES Variable-rate mortgages are either linked to the lender’s SVR or the Bank of England base rate, and the rate you pay can change.

Lenders can change their SVR whenever they want, but they normally only change it when the Bank of England base rate changes. Tracker mortgages are also variable, but they have repayment rates that are directly linked to the base rate so will go up and down with it. With variable-rate mortgages you need to be sure you could afford higher repayments if rates rise.

REPAYMENT OR INTEREST-ONLY Most mortgages available to first time buyers are on a repayment basis. With this type of mortgage, every monthly payment will pay off some interest and some capital (mainly interest in the early years). At the end of the term, you’ll own your home outright.

If you have a larger (25% or more) deposit you may be offered an interest-only mortgage, where you only pay interest on the loan. The monthly repayments are lower but at the end of the term you’ll still owe the original mortgage sum. You’ll need to prove you have a plan in place (such as an investment) to pay off the capital.

SHOP AROUND

Speak to a mortgage broker, but also look at lenders’ direct products and search the internet.

RESEARCH

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BUYERS’ GUIDE

TIPS

RESEARCH AN AREA

T

Buying a property is a big investment. horough You need to make research sure you buy a home that you can afford and one you will be happy living in.

LOCATION IS KEY The first step is to shortlist the locations you feel you’d like to live in, then check if you can afford the house prices in those areas.

It’s also worthwhile visiting places you like: it may be that there’s an up-and-coming hot spot just down the road you didn’t know about that’s much more affordable.

Ideally, you will have rented in the area before buying, but if this isn’t the case, at least spend some time there, check out the commuting time to work, and look at local pubs, shops and leisure facilities. Visit the area at night, too.

PROPERTY SEARCH Once you have found the right location, go online and check out what’s on offer.

Most homes are listed on property portals such as rightmove.co.uk, onthemarket. co.uk, or zoopla.co.uk, plus estate agents’ websites. Properties featured have pictures, descriptions and a floor plan, and DECIDE ON A LOCATION

Be practical.

Think about the commuting time and whether you can afford to buy in the area.

RESEARCH THE AREA

Check out crime statistics, transport links, regeneration and, if relevant, schools.

sometimes a video. Also, sign up with as many local estate agents as you can. They should send you new properties that match your description, but it’s worth phoning them regularly. If you’re looking for a shared ownership property, search online at sharetobuy.com and propertybooking.co.uk.

Aerial shots of an area can be viewed at google.co.uk/maps; switch to “satellite view”.

VIEWING Once you see a property you like, arrange a viewing. Most people see at least 10 properties before putting in an offer. It’s worth bringing a friend or relative and also arranging a second viewing to check out any bits you may have missed. Don’t get taken in by the furnishings and decor too much.

Remember that a property that is slightly run down can still be a great investment and may only need a touch of paint and a change of furniture.

ESTATE AGENTS It’s a buyers’ market, so make use of agents’ legwork in finding properties that fit your requirements. Be aware that estate agents are paid commission by the seller on the sale, so try to inspect the property yourself rather than just the parts the agent shows you. Don’t get sucked in by the hard sell.

SEARCH

Register with local estate agents, and use the internet to search for properties. Set up alerts.

Check online for prices of sold properties in the area, and make sure properties you like fit your budget. You can search for recent sold prices of property in any area at nethouseprices.com, and also on property portals like rightmove.co.uk/zoopla.co.uk.

VIEWINGS

Look at several properties, and visit ones you like more than once and with someone else.

Take a checklist.

Before you put in an offer, visit the street at different times of the day and night. You could also ask neighbours and local shop owners about the area.

BEFORE YOU BUY When looking at buying apartments, check exactly what is included in the service charge and how much it is. Also, ask about the terms of the lease and its length. If the lease has less than 80 years left, use this as a negotiating tool and make an offer below the asking price.

OFFER

If the market is slow, when making an offer, don’t be afraid to offer less than the asking price.

If the property needs work done, you can use this as a negotiating tool.

SURVEY

BUYING

Make sure you have a survey – it could save you money in the long run by spotting any problems.

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BUYERS’ GUIDE

BUYERS’ COSTS

B

uying process

SURVEYS AND VALUATIONS

Once your offer is accepted, tell your mortgage lender. They will do a valuation to ensure the property is worth the money being advanced. At the same time, instruct a surveyor to carry out a survey. If this shows problems, find out how much they would cost to rectify and use this information to renegotiate the sale price. Or, tell the seller certain repairs need to be carried out before contracts are exchanged.

SOLICITOR’S/CONVEYANCING COSTS (ESTIMATED)

£700-£1,500

LOCAL AUTHORITY SEARCH FEES (ESTIMATED)

£200-300

LAND REGISTRY FEES: For an existing property: For a purchase of £80-£100k £40.00

For a purchase of £100-£200k £95.00 For a purchase of £200-£500k For a new build property: For a purchase of £80-£100k £80.00

For a purchase of £100-£200k £190.00 For a purchase of £200-£500k £270.00

SOLICITORS

A QUICK SALE Push the seller to take the property off the market. This will limit the chances of being gazumped (another buyer making a larger offer). The seller can insist on continuing to show the property, especially if you haven’t offered the asking price.

Once the mortgage offer is in place, the contract is satisfactory and buildings insurance has been organised, both parties will agree an exchange date. You will sign the contract with your solicitor, and at the point of exchange of contracts, you pay a deposit and a completion date is set. At this point, there’s no going back – the seller could sue you if you pull out, and you could lose your deposit. The completion date is usually around a week to 10 days after exchange, but can be done on the same day.

On completion, the final paperwork is done, and the property is legally yours.

Never get pressured into an exchange and completion date without knowing all your finances and documents are in place. If you can’t complete, you may have to pay the seller’s costs.

English property law is different to Scottish law: in England, if you put in an offer and then have a change of heart, you can legally back out of the deal or negotiate up until the exchange date. But, in Scotland, an agreed price is binding.

Compare quotes from solicitors, and ask your friends who they recommend. A good solicitor can make a big difference to whether a purchase completes or falls through. Online companies can be cheaper but are less personal.

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STAMP DUTY LAND TAX (SDLT) (UNTIL 31/03/2020):

£0-£500,000 Zero

£500,000 to £925,000 5% £925,001 to £1.5m 10% Above £1.5m12%

Example: on a £600,000 purchase SDLT would be £5,000 – 0% on £0-£500,000 and 5% on £100,000 (being the £100,000 above £500,000)

OTHER FEES TO CONSIDER (ESTIMATED, DEPENDENT ON CIRCUMSTANCES): MORTGAGE ARRANGEMENT FEE

EXCHANGE AND COMPLETION

Use a recommended solicitor who you know to be reliable and who can move fast.

SOLICITORS

For a purchase of £500k-£1m £540.00

After the offer is accepted, you will also need to appoint a solicitor or conveyancer who will oversee the contract, deal with the finances and exchange the deeds. Your solicitor will carry out searches, check the terms of any lease and restrictive covenants and tell you how much Stamp Duty you have to pay. The seller will also appoint a solicitor, and the two legal teams will be in regular contact to make sure the purchase goes as smoothly as possible.

TIPS

INSURANCE

You must have buildings insurance in place for when you exchange contracts (not complete). This will be a condition of your mortgage offer.

MORTGAGE VALUATION £0-£300

SURVEY £300-£700

MORTGAGE BROKER’S FEE £0-£500

BUILDINGS INSURANCE £200-£300 annually

GROUND RENT (LEASEHOLD ONLY) & SERVICE CHARGES £100-£4,000 annually charges for maintenance of communal areas

From offer to completion usually takes about six weeks to three months, but don’t feel pressured or rush into anything you’re not sure of just because the seller or estate agent wants you to exchange.

Look at the results of searches your solicitor has done. They will tell you, for example, if a main road is about to be built at the end of your garden.

£0-£1,500

New freehold homes may also have service/estate

TIME SCALE

SEARCHES

£135.00

For a purchase of £500k-£1m £270.00

REMOVALS

Shop around for a removals firm, and find one that can move your possessions on completion day. You could also look at van hire to do it yourself.

REMOVALS (IF REQUIRED) £1,000-£2,500

COMPLETION

Your solicitor or estate agent will call you to tell you the property is yours. The solicitor will have some final paperwork to do, and you will then have to pay the solicitor’s bill and your Stamp Duty payment (if applicable).

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BUYERS’ GUIDE

Home buying glossary Confused by financial acronyms and industry terminology?

Buying your first house is daunting enough without having to decode property lingo. FTB’s homebuying glossary is here to make the process a whole lot easier to understand AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE

DISBURSEMENTS

The initial document that a lender will give you outlining the amount you are likely to be lent if you applied for a mortgage. An agreement in principle is not a guarantee of getting a mortgage.

These are additional charges incurred during the homebuying process such as Stamp Duty and Land Registry charges. You must give the money to your conveyancer or solicitor who will then pay the charges on your behalf.

APR APR stands for annual percentage rate.

It is the interest rate you’d pay over a year. It takes into account not just the interest on your loan but also any other additional charges.

EARLY REPAYMENT CHARGE

ARREARS

EQUITY

This is a term used to describe payments that haven’t been made on time.

The difference between the value of the property and the value of the mortgage you have secured.

BASE RATE The interest rate set by the Bank of England. Lenders usually use the Bank of England base rate to set their own interest rates.

BROKER

This is an amount of money you may have to pay a lender if you decide to move mortgage provider or if you pay off your mortgage quicker than expected.

EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS This is when you exchange contracts with the seller. When this has happened, both sides are legally bound to complete the transaction.

A broker is someone who gives you advice on your mortgage. Some are independent, while others work for particular lenders.

FREEHOLD

BUILDING SURVEY

When a seller accepts an offer and then later on rejects it in favour of a higher offer from another bidder.

A survey carried out by a qualified surveyor to spot any structural problems or faults in the home you are buying.

COLLATERAL Something of value that is offered as a guarantee against a loan. With mortgages, your home is collateral.

COMPLETION The finalisation of the sale. Completion day is when the paperwork is complete, all money is transferred and you become the legal owner of your new home.

CONVEYANCING The legal process of transferring ownership of a property.

A freehold is when you fully own a property and the land it stands on.

GAZUMPING

GUARANTOR A person, usually a parent, who guarantees that you can pay your mortgage repayments. You often need a guarantor if you are struggling to get a mortgage based on your own income. If for some reason you cannot pay your mortgage, your guarantor has to pay it for you.

HIGHER LENDING CHARGE If you take out a large mortgage on a property, some lenders may charge a one-off extra fee. This funds an insurance policy that protects the lender (not you) from the additional risk.

LAND REGISTRY FEES This is a fee you have to pay in order to register your ownership of the property with the Land Registry.

LEASEHOLD A type of tenure where you buy the right to occupy a property for a fixed period of time. You usually have to pay annual ground rent each year.

LTV This stands for loan to value – the ratio between the amount of money you have taken out as a loan and the valuation price of the property.

LUMP-SUM REDUCTION In order to reduce your mortgage, you can make a lump-sum reduction. This is where you pay more than you owe each month in mortgage repayments.

REDEMPTION Paying off your mortgage in full is known as redemption.

REPAYMENTS The amount you have to pay back each month to your mortgage provider

STAMP DUTY Stamp Duty is a shortened name for Stamp Duty Land Tax, also called SDLT. This is a Government tax you may have to pay when you purchase a new property. Your solicitor or conveyancer will organise the payment for you.

TITLE DEEDS The legal documents that outline your rights and liabilities in relation to your new property. The title deeds also act as proof of ownership.

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LEGAL

Help to Buy: Equity Loan 2021-2023 With the new version of the Government’s Help to Buy: Equity Loan having recently been launched, Adam Crawford, Partner and Head of New Build Homes at Prince Evans Solicitors, looks at what has changed and the conveyancing process for buying with Help to Buy BACKGROUND The Government’s existing Help to Buy product officially came to an end on 31 March 2021 (with a small extension for Covid-related delays) and has been closed to new applicants since mid-December 2020.

The new Help to Buy product is initially due to run from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2023 (we will call this “HTB2” in this article).

The previous version of Help to Buy allowed buyers to purchase a new build property with a maximum value of £600,000 with up to a 20% equity loan outside of London or up to a 40% equity loan inside London. The loan, which was available to first time buyers as well as home movers, was interest free for the first five years after which an interest rate of 1.75% was charged, increasing by the Retail Price Index (“RPI”) plus 1% annually. The loan was repaid on the sale of the property at the same percentage as the buyer borrowed.

HELP TO BUY 2 – WHAT HAS CHANGED? The new HTB2, while being a similar product, does have some key changes as follows: 9 HTB2 is only available to first time buyers – this means you will not be eligible if you have ever owned another property or been named on the deeds to Region

Maximum property price

North East

£186,100

North West

£224,400

Yorkshire and the Humber

£228,100

East Midlands

£261,900

West Midlands

£255,600

East of England

£407,400

London

£600,000

South East

£437,600

South West

£349,000

a property anywhere in the world 9 The product is still only available for a new build property 9 You can still obtain up to a 20% equity loan outside of London or up to a 40% equity loan inside London 9 The maximum purchase price has changed and is now subject to regional price caps. The new build property you are buying cannot exceed the price shown in the table (left) 9 Nothing is repayable for the first five years but interest is then charged at 1.75% of the loan and increases by the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) plus 2% (a minimum 2% will also apply even if CPI is negative). Note this is a change as the increase used to be RPI plus 1%.

9 If the property being purchased is a house then it must be freehold and not leasehold (apart from in exceptional circumstances with Homes England’s prior approval) 9 If the property is a flat/apartment and is therefore leasehold, the developer is not permitted to charge any ground rent 9 The Help to Buy Agent now wants to see certified ID and evidence of source of funds (evidence of how the buyer has acquired their deposit) which is to be provided by the buyer’s conveyancer 9 Before proceeding with a Help to Buy purchase you should check whether you

are eligible. More details and a buyer’s guide can be found on the Government’s website at the following link: helptobuy. gov.uk/equity-loan/eligibility

HOW DOES HELP TO BUY WORK? Using a 40% equity loan as an example and a purchase price of £500,000: 9 The buyer has a 5% deposit of £25,000 and secures a mortgage for £275,000 being a 55% loan to value 9 HTB provides an equity loan for 40% of the value of the property being £200,000 and this is secured against the property as a second legal charge (the mortgage will be the first legal charge) 9 The buyer does not repay anything for the first five years of the loan (other than a token £1 direct debit per month) but from year six the buyer is required to pay (monthly) interest of 1.75% of the equity loan. The interest rate then increases every year by the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) plus 2% (a minimum of 2% will always apply even if CPI is negative) 9 When the buyer sells the property, they must repay the 40% equity loan at the value of the property at that time. For example, if the property has increased in value to £550,000 then the 40% amount repayable will be £220,000; if

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LEGAL the value had decreased to £450,000 then the 40% repayable will be £180,000.

Process chart

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR A BUYER? Once you have reserved a suitable home with a developer or housing association and paid a maximum reservation fee of £500, you should follow the below steps to apply for a Help to Buy: Equity Loan: 9 Complete a Property Information Form (“PIF”) with your personal and financial information, the property details and proposed mortgage details. Often your mortgage broker or the developer’s or housing association’s sales staff will help you with this process. It is crucial that the information completed is accurate and correct or the process may need to be repeated, which can cause delays 9 The signed PIF and a copy of the reservation form must be sent to the HTB Agent 9 The HTB Agent will then assess your eligibility and, if approved, an Authority to Proceed (“ATP”) will be issued 9 You will need to apply for a repayment mortgage and are advised to seek independent financial advice 9 Once the ATP has been issued, the HTB is then progressed by your conveyancer.

WHAT IS THE LEGAL PROCESS MY CONVEYANCER (PROPERTY LAWYER) WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE? 9 Your conveyancer will receive the ATP from HTB directly, and upon receipt will check the details are correct. If not, an amended PIF will need to be submitted by you to HTB 9 Your conveyancer will report to you on the legal aspects of the HTB loan and will send you the HTB Charge and, as a new requirement, a declaration that you are a first time buyer for signing. Your conveyancer will only provide you with advice on the legalities of the HTB loan but cannot provide any financial advice 9 Once your mortgage offer has been received, your conveyancer can submit a Form 1 to HTB to apply for the Authority to Exchange 9 The Form 1 must be signed by a Partner

Key: HTB = Help to Buy ATP = Authority to Proceed PIF = Property Information Form ATE = Authority to Exchange COE = Confirmation of Exchange CTD = Confirmation to Developer

9

9

9

9

9

of the law firm and accompanied by a copy of the mortgage offer, the mortgage valuation (if available) and the Disclosure of Incentives Form and as a new requirement HTB is also now asking for certified copies of ID and evidence of the buyer’s source of funds.

Again, it is crucial all information is completed correctly, as any inaccuracies can lead to the Form 1 being rejected and you having to return to the back of the queue Once HTB has checked and approved the Form 1 it will issue an Authority to Exchange (“ATE”). The ATE confirms that HTB is happy for your conveyancer to exchange contracts, provided that this takes place by the date it has specified. If this date expires, then an extension must be obtained (causing further delays) Your conveyancer will check the ATE and ensure it is correct and that the ATP is less than three months old. Provided they are correct then exchange of contracts can take place – completion must take place within six months of exchange of contracts Once exchange takes place your conveyancer must submit a Confirmation of Exchange to HTB (“COE”) and if a fixed completion date is agreed they must also submit a Form 2 A Form 2 and Certificate of Title (“COT”), together with your completed Direct Debit form, is submitted by your conveyancer to HTB once a completion date is known (either on exchange of contracts or once notice to complete is served) Once HTB has checked the Form 2 it

Prince Evans specialise in all aspects of conveyancing.

Please contact Prince Evans for all your conveyancing needs and for a friendly no obligation quote on 020 8567 3477 or nbh@prince-evans.co.uk

will issue a Confirmation to Developer (“CTD”) to confirm the funds will be released and completion can take place.

PROCESS CHART For ease, summarised above in a flow chart are the steps which must be undertaken for a HTB application to reach completion.

This process will run alongside your conveyancing transaction.

AFTER COMPLETION You should be aware of the following points after completion: 9 You must occupy and continue to occupy the property as your only main residence 9 You can add or remove a party from the Equity Loan with consent from HTB 9 The loan can be repaid at any time – you do not have to wait for a sale of the property. If you wish to repay the loan then you should contact HTB’s loan administrator who will explain the process (which in short is to obtain a RICS valuation of the property and repay, via a conveyancer, the percentage you borrowed) 9 You can remortgage your main mortgage but can you only borrow more money in certain circumstances 9 You must seek permission from HTB to make any structural alterations to the property 9 You cannot sub-let the property without obtaining consent.

As you can see, there is much work to be undertaken by your conveyancer if you are purchasing with assistance from a Help to Buy: Equity Loan and there are several factors that can cause delays to your conveyancing transaction.

For this reason, it is very important that you instruct a conveyancer who is very experienced and well versed in Help to Buy and new build properties.

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Directory HELP TO BUY - NORTH PlusDane Tel: 0300 790 0570 helptobuyagent1.org.uk Cheshire Cumbria Durham East Riding of Yorkshire Greater Manchester Lancashire Merseyside North Yorkshire Northumberland Tyne and Wear South Yorkshire West Yorkshire

HELP TO BUY - MIDLANDS AND LONDON bpha Tel: 03333 214 044 helptobuyagent2.org.uk

ZONES, HELP TO BUY AGENTS, HELP TO BUY PROVIDERS AND MORE...

HELP TO BUY - SOUTH Radian Tel: 0800 456 1188 helptobuyagent3.org.uk Bedfordshire Berkshire Bristol Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Devon Dorset East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Norfolk Oxfordshire Somerset Suffolk Surrey West Sussex Wiltshire

Derbyshire Herefordshire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London Northamptonshire Nottinghamshire Rutland Shropshire Staffordshire Warwickshire West Midlands Worcestershire

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USEFUL CONTACTS

ZONES, HELP TO BUY AGENTS & HELP TO BUY PROVIDERS – RECEIVE ADVICE ON PROPERTY FUNDING OPTIONS

NORTH

Shropshire Staffordshire

PlusDane

Warwickshire

Tel: 0300 790 0570

West Midlands

helptobuyagent1.org.uk

Worcestershire

Cheshire

SOUTH

Cumbria Durham

Radian

East Riding of Yorkshire

Tel: 0800 456 1188

Greater Manchester

helptobuyagent3.org.uk

Lancashire Merseyside

Bedfordshire

North Yorkshire

Berkshire

Northumberland

Bristol

Tyne and Wear

Buckinghamshire

South Yorkshire

Cambridgeshire

West Yorkshire

Cornwall Devon

MIDLANDS AND LONDON

Dorset East Sussex Essex

bpha

Gloucestershire

Tel: 03333 214 044

Hampshire

helptobuyagent2.org.uk

Hertfordshire Isle of Wight

Derbyshire

Kent

Herefordshire

Norfolk

Leicestershire

Oxfordshire

Lincolnshire

Somerset

London

Suffolk

Northamptonshire

Surrey

Nottinghamshire

West Sussex

Rutland

Wiltshire

ADVERTISE HERE Speak to our advertising team to find out the best ways to give your organisation maximum exposure.

Call 020 7258 0036 or email lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk

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USEFUL CONTACTS HELP TO BUY PROVIDERS – OFFERING NEW BUILD SCHEMES, INCLUDING HELP TO BUY (SHARED OWNERSHIP) AND RENT TO BUY PROPERTIES

LONDON Catalyst Housing

BMA Property Group

Hastoe Housing

Optivo

octaviahousing.org.uk

bmapg.com

Association

optivo.org.uk

020 8354 5500

020 8942 4062

hastoe.com

0800 012 1442

catalyst.homes 0333 444 3500 Clarion Housing

01235 515 900

Octavia Housing

0300 555 2171

Optivo

Chelmer Housing Partnership

optivo.org.uk

chp.org.uk

Home Group

originhousing.org.uk

0800 012 1442

0300 555 0500

homegroup.org.uk

0300 323 0325

myclarionhousing.com/

Southern Home Ownership shosales.co.uk

0300 123 2250 Origin Housing

Sovereign Housing sovereignliving.org.uk

0345 141 4663

0300 500 0926

sharedownership

Origin Housing

CHS Group

020 7378 5638

originhousing.org.uk

chsgroup.org.uk

Housing Solutions Group

Association

0300 323 0325

0300 111 3555

housingsolutions.co.uk

orwell-housing.co.uk

Stonewater

0800 876 6060

0345 601 0030

stonewater.org

Estuary Housing Association

Orwell Housing

01202 319 119

estuary.co.uk

Paradigm Housing

Clarion Housing

0300 304 5000

paradigmhousing.co.uk

myclarionhousing.com/

Hyde New Homes

PA Housing

0845 337 4877

sharedownership

hydenewhomes.co.uk

pahousing.co.uk

Swan Housing Association

Fabrica

Peabody

020 7378 5638

0345 606 1221

0300 123 2221

swan.org.uk

fabrica.co.uk

peabodysales.co.uk

0800 783 2159

020 7021 4842

Crown Simmons

L&Q

Paradigm Housing

crownsimmons.org.uk

lqgroup.org.uk

paradigmhousing.co.uk

Thames Valley Housing

Gateway Housing

Places for People

01372 461 440

0300 456 9998

0300 303 1010

Association

Association

placesforpeople.co.uk

gatewayhousing.org.uk

01772 667 049

Estuary Housing

Metropolitan

Peabody

Association

metropolitansales.org.uk

peabodysales.co.uk

020 3535 2555

020 7021 4842

Moat

Places for People

Fabrica

moat.co.uk

placesforpeople.co.uk

0300 323 0011

01772 667 049

Notting Hill Genesis

Rosebery Housing

Flagship Homes

nhgsales.com

Association

0333 000 4000

rosebery.org.uk

020 8709 4300

0300 303 2500

tvha.co.uk

Sanctuary London

estuary.co.uk

Guinness Partnership

sanctuary-homes.co.uk

0300 304 5000

guinnesspartnership.com

0800 916 1444

0303 123 1890 Site Sales

fabrica.co.uk

Hexagon

site-sales.co.uk

0800 783 2159

hexagon.org.uk

020 8502 5758

020 8778 6699 Shepherd’s Bush Housing

flagship-homes.co.uk

Home Group

sbhg.co.uk

0808 168 4555

homegroup.org.uk

020 8996 4200

020 8607 0550 Town and Country Housing tchg.org.uk 01892 501 480 Worthing Homes worthing-homes.org.uk 01903 703 108

SOUTH WEST

01372 814 000 Aster Group

Nu Living Guinness Partnership

nuliving.co.uk

Sanctuary South East

buyanasterhome.co.uk

Southern Home

(South)

0800 819 9390

sanctuary-housing.co.uk

01380 735 480

Hyde New Homes

Ownership

guinnesspartnership.com

hydenewhomes.co.uk

shosales.co.uk

0303 123 1890

0345 606 1221

0300 555 2171

0345 141 4663

Islington and Shoreditch

Swan Housing Association

Housing Association

swan.org.uk

isha.co.uk

0300 303 2500

0800 131 3348 Cornerstone Housing

One Housing Group onehousing.co.uk

Soha Housing

cornerstonehousing.net

0300 123 9966

Soha.co.uk

01392 273 462

0300 131 7300 Thames Valley Housing L&Q

Association

lqgroup.org.uk

tvha.co.uk

0300 456 9998

020 8607 0550

Metropolitan

Wandle Housing

metropolitansales.org.uk

Association

020 3535 2555

wandle.com 0300 200 0120

Newlon Living newlonliving.co.uk

SOUTH EAST

0800 058 2544 Accent Group Notting Hill Genesis

accentgroup.org

nhgsales.com

0345 678 0555

0333 000 4000 Aster Group Nu Living

buyanasterhome.co.uk

nuliving.co.uk

01380 735 480

0800 819 9390

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USEFUL CONTACTS HELP TO BUY PROVIDERS CURO

Rooftop Housing Group

Accord

Friendship Care & Housing

Nottingham Community

South Staffordshire

curo-group.co.uk

rooftopgroup.org

accordgroup.org.uk

fch.org.uk

Housing Association

Housing Association

01225 366 000

0800 042 1800

0300 111 7000

0300 123 1745

ncha.org.uk

ssha.co.uk

0800 013 8555

01785 312 000

Elim Housing

Sanctuary Southwest

Acis Group

Home Group

elimhousing.co.uk

sanctuary-housing.co.uk

acisgroup.co.uk

homegroup.org.uk

Orbit

Waterloo Housing

01454 411 172

0800 131 3348

0800 027 2057

0345 141 4663

orbit.org.uk

Association

0800 678 1221

waterloo.org.uk 0800 435 016

Green Square

Severn Vale Housing

Bromford Group

Guinness Partnership

greensquaregroup.com

svhs.org.uk

bromford.co.uk

(Northern Counties)

PA Housing

01249 465 465

01684 272 727

0330 123 4034

guinnesspartnership.com

pahousing.org.uk

WM Housing Group

0303 123 1890

0116 257 6716

wmhousing.co.uk 0300 790 6531

Guinness Partnership

Sovereign Housing

Caldmore Accord

(Hermitage)

sovereign.org.uk

caldmoreaccord.org.uk

L & H Homes

Places for People

guinnesspartnership.com

0300 500 0926

0300 111 7000

landh.org.uk

placesforpeople.co.uk

0345 309 0700

01772 667 002

0303 123 1890

NORTH WEST Accent Group

Stonewater

Clarion Housing

Hastoe Housing

stonewater.org

myclarionhousing.com/

Metropolitan

Riverside Housing

accentgroup.org

Association

01202 319 119

sharedownership

metropolitansales.org.uk

Association

0345 678 0555

020 7378 5638

020 3535 2555

riverside.org.uk

hastoe.com 0300 123 2250

Westward Housing

Liverty

westwardhousing.org.uk

Derwent Living Housing

Midland Heart

dchliverty.com

0300 100 1010

Association

midlandheart.org.uk

Rooftop Group

derwentliving.com

0345 602 0540

rooftopgroup.org

0300 123 8080

MIDLANDS

0345 155 9029

01332 346 477

Places for People

Adactus Housing Group adactushousing.co.uk 0300 111 1133

0800 042 1800

Arcon Housing Association

Muir Group

placesforpeople.co.uk

Accent Group

East Midlands Housing

muir.org.uk

Sanctuary Midlands

arcon.org.uk

01772 667 049

accentgroup.org

Association

0300 123 1222

sanctuary-housing.co.uk

0161 214 4120

0345 678 0555

emhhomes.org.uk

0800 131 3348

0300 123 6000

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USEFUL CONTACTS HELP TO BUY PROVIDERS CDS Co-operatives

0117 407 2415

0345 678 0555

cds.coop 0333 321 3030 Eden Housing Association

Equity Housing

Guinness Partnership

Acis Group

manninghamhousing.co.uk

Accent Group

muir.org.uk

acisgroup.co.uk

01274 771 144

accentgroup.org

0300 123 1222

0800 027 2057

0345 678 0555

Places for People

Broadacres

muir.org.uk

Bernicia

placesforpeople.co.uk

broadacres.org.uk

0300 123 1222

bernicia.com

01772 667 002

01609 767 900

Progress Housing Group

Crucible Homes

placesforpeople.co.uk

Castles and Coasts

progressgroup.org.uk

cruciblesalesandlettings.co.uk

01772 667 002

castlesandcoasts.co.uk

0333 320 4555

0114 241 3430

0800 085 1171 Together Housing

Regenda Homes

Equity Housing

togetherhousing.co.uk

Erimus Housing Ltd

regenda.org.uk

equityhousing.co.uk

0845 077 0027

erimushousing.co.uk

0344 736 0066

0300 123 4460

Home Group

0300 111 1000 Sanctuary North

homegroup.org.uk

Riverside Housing

Guinness Partnership

sanctuary-housing.co.uk

Guinness Partnership

0345 141 4663

Association

(Northern Counties)

0800 131 3348

(Northern Counties)

riverside.org.uk

guinnesspartnership.com

0345 155 9029

0303 123 1890

impacthousing.org.uk

guinnesspartnership.com Stonewater

0303 123 1890

stonewater.org Sanctuary North

Home Group

sanctuary-housing.co.uk

homegroup.org.uk

0800 131 3348

0345 141 1663

Association

01202 319 119

Home Group homegroup.org.uk

Wakefield and District

0345 141 1663

Housing

irwellvalleyha.co.uk

Your Housing Group

Leeds Federated Housing

wdh.co.uk

Karbon Homes

0161 610 1000

yhghomes.co.uk

Association

0345 850 7507

karbonhomes.co.uk

0845 618 5008

lfha.co.uk 0113 386 1000

Knowsley Housing Trust k-h-t.org 0151 290 7000

0300 111 1000

0344 800 3800

0303 123 1890

Irwell Valley Housing

Thirteen

Places for People

guinnesspartnership.com

0344 873 6290

0800 131 3348

thirteengroup.co.uk

Muir Group

(Northern Counties)

Impact Housing

Sanctuary North sanctuary-housing.co.uk

Muir Group

equityhousing.co.uk 0300 123 4460

NORTH EAST

Association

edenha.org.uk 01768 861 400

Manningham Housing

YORKS/ HUMBER

L&H Homes

0808 164 0111 Your Housing Group yhghomes.co.uk

Places for People

0845 618 5008

placesforpeople.co.uk

landh.org.uk Liverpool Housing Trust

Accent Group

lht.co.uk

accentgroup.org

01772 667 002

0345 309 0700

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20 QUESTIONS Sue Dance is Sales & Commercial Manager for the wider Grand Union Housing Group overseeing a portfolio of shared ownership sales and market rent properties for Grand Union Living and market sale for Grand Union Homes. Her career started in property as an agent, moving on to new homes, then to a marketing agency. Followed by work with private developers, then joint ventures with housing associations

20 QUESTIONS W i t h Sue

Dance

What room at home is your favourite?

Our big open-plan kitchen/diner, which is great for entertaining.

What’s your favourite gadget or technology at home?

Our Tassimo coffee machine which was purchased for treats of fancy coffee at the weekend – but is in daily use since lockdown!

What colour do you think everyone should have in their home?

Colour is such a personal choice, but if we are installing show homes we like everything to be neutral but on trend which allows buyers to add their own signature splash of colour in each room.

Which three people would you invite over for a housewarming party if you could have any guests?

That’s tricky – but here goes. Karren Brady CBE as she is such an amazing female role model with her career achievements, (particularly making MD of Birmingham City FC); someone fun like Paddy McGuinness as he would get the party started… and James Martin as I’m a bit of a foodie and love watching his style of cooking.

What’s your favourite memory from your childhood home?

We were lucky in that although we lived in a fairly basic house with no central heating, we were an end of terrace house on a corner plot which happened to have a large, wild garden. I used to climb trees and hide to surprise my older brother, who was regularly heard calling "Mum, come and see what Susie has done now"!

What interior trend do you hate?

I’m not keen on the latest fad for modern four poster-style bed frames – to me four posters only suit traditional country manor houses and are out of place anywhere else other than Bridgerton!

Would you rather have a garden or a balcony?

We live in an apartment with a wraparound south facing terrace and I have managed to grow all sorts of plants including tomato plants and an orange tree. We would love a garden one day though.

Do you prefer modern homes or period properties?

I like both. I love the character features you can find in a period property, but I also love new builds, with everything shiny and new.

Would you rather have a library room or media room at home?

I think a media room would be a great asset, especially with us all working from home. It would be great to watch films in a separate room (sound-proofed of course) with the surround sound on.

Would you prefer a luxurious bathtub or a sumptuous shower?

A swanky power shower with a rainfall head is hard to beat.

Would you rather live in the bustling city or in the country?

While countryside living does appeal, I get a bit panicky if there

is not a Costa Coffee within 200m! We live in a large village with a couple of pubs and a few restaurants and shops, so we are very spoilt. We can also walk to a station and get to London in 20 minutes.

If you were buying a property overseas, in what country would you buy a home?

Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands has been a favourite for many years, Corralejo in particular. We love the laid-back vibe and beautiful scenery of this volcanic island. With its harbourside surfer bars and fish restaurants by the sea, there is nowhere I’d rather be.

Would you rather have a bigger property or a better location?

Location was always the focus, but now so many of us are working from home, there seems less importance on location for commuting so I would go for size and value for money.

What is one thing you couldn’t live without at home?

An en suite bathroom is an absolute must! As we often have family or friends staying over, it’s something I couldn’t do without.

What’s your favourite way to unwind at home after work?

To sit on our terrace with a glass of rosé – we have a wonderful view over the Grand Union Canal and we can watch the canal boats chugging by and the swans, geese and cormorants flying over.

Where did you buy your first home?

It was a Victorian terraced house in Chesham, Bucks, where I grew up, and it cost £11,500. It needed a major refurb and it was sold three years later for £23,000! Those were the days… however at one point the mortgage rate was 15% so maybe we didn’t have it all!

What advice would you give a first time buyer?

To buy the best they can within budget in an area that is desirable, to ensure it’s always saleable and in demand.

What are your views on shared ownership?

I think shared ownership is a fantastic product to assist young people on to the ladder, allowing them to buy the share they can afford initially then purchase more as they progress in life. I am always preaching shared ownership to anyone who will listen!

What are your views on the property market?

The market has had a boost with the Stamp Duty holiday. It would be good if this could continue to assist buyers going forward, even if it was 50% towards the cost; this would help enormously, particularly for those people who have been trapped in flats with no garden over lockdown aspiring to purchase something larger.

Also, we will soon welcome the new shared ownership product, which will hopefully make it more accessible for more people. grandunionliving.co.uk / grandunionhomes.co.uk

Grand Union Living offers homes to market rent or homes for sale through shared ownership – a truly affordable route into homeownership.

We enable people to have choices, realise their aspirations and build successful lives by renting or buying a home from an established housing provider. As part of Grand Union Housing Group, a provider of housing since 1994, we are passionate about building more homes, stronger communities and better lives across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire.

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