WELCOME
WORDS FROM OUR SPONSOR Inspired Homes are delighted to be the headline sponsor of the First Time Buyer Home Show in Croydon this spring For those who don’t know much about us, we are specialist investors, developers and asset managers focussing exclusively on emerging locations across Inner, Greater and Commuter London. Our innovative, designled approach to layout makes the most of every inch of space and we feel strongly that this is incredibly important to consumers. All of our homes offer an open plan interior designed for modern, luxurious urban living. They include the latest efficiencies in heating technologies, the UK’s fastest hyperoptic broadband, Sky TV and marble bathrooms, which allowed us to coin our tag line of ‘live brilliantly’. Every fixture, fitting and finish in our apartments has a contemporary feel that you – and your friends – will notice straightaway. So if you’re ready to own your first home, or are simply investing for the future, we can show you how to turn that dream into a reality.
Martin Skinner, CEO and Founder of Inspired Homes said, “It was my desire to spend money on enjoying life as opposed to housing that inspired me to create low cost homes for myself and others. At Inspired Homes, our objective is to create affordable luxury homes for first time buyers and young professionals who are renting. We use innovative approaches to design – made possible by new policies on office to residential conversions – to create high-spec homes at prices that young professionals can actually afford. “Our pipeline of more
than 1,300 new homes is spread across developments in Croydon, Epsom, Sutton and Crawley – and – this year – we have been accepted to offer Help to Buy on the majority of these developments making it even easier for us to help buyers on to the property ladder. Help to Buy is a government scheme that helps hard-working people to take steps to buy their own home. The scheme provides the chance for many to get onto the property ladder with just a 5% deposit. We have been a proud supporter of the First Time Buyer Home Show for several years now and look forward to seeing everyone there. Ultimately, it means that now is a great time for you to purchase your very own home. Help to Buy gives you the opportunity to find the Inspired home that’s right for you at this moment in time. Whether you’re after a London apartment in trendy Croydon or leafy Epsom, you’ll be overwhelmed by just how much you can get with Inspired Homes.
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WELCOME
WORDS FROM THE LOCAL MP We are delighted to welcome Gavin Barwell, Member of Parliament for Croydon Central, to the First Time Buyer Home Show I’m delighted that the First Time Buyer Home Show is being held in Croydon. As you can see, there’s a huge amount of building going on here at the moment. It’s a visible sign of London’s economic success. But that success comes at a price – rising house prices are making it harder for many Londoners to own a home of their own. I don’t want to live in a country where home ownership is the preserve of a privileged few. That’s why I’ve supported policies to help people who work hard, get on the housing ladder. Help to Buy: ISAs help would-be buyers save for a deposit on a mortgage. The Help to Buy scheme is to ensure the deposit they’ve been asked for isn’t too big. Action has been taken to reduce the deficit so that interest rates stay low and mortgages remain affordable. Starter Homes, which are will be available at 20% less than the market price and can only be sold to first time buyers. I hope you find what you’re looking for at the Show, but if you have any other thoughts on what the Government could do to help people like you own your own home, don’t hesitate to email me at gavin.barwell.mp@parliament.uk And enjoy your time in Croydon!
Gavin Barwell Member of Parliament for Croydon Central
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MEET THE EXPERTS Join our experts, who will be holding seminars throughout the day, see pages 18 – 19 for details and times MARTIN SKINNER A seasoned entrepreneur and property investor, Martin has experienced many of the highs and lows of business and property investment over the years. After selling his first technology business directly after leaving university, he developed a substantial high-yield portfolio of houses rented out to young professionals around Canary Wharf. Nice Group – a fast growing property development and management group – soon followed, as did two substantial joint ventures with large fund managers. After establishing portfolios of more than £150m, Martin and his partners sold 25% of their £30m operating business. He is now combining this experience in London residential property, finance and technology to build Inspired Asset Management. Inspired has established a number of substantial Joint Ventures which is rolling out its unique high-tech, high-spec, and affordable private housing across Greater London. As an expert on London residential property, Martin is a regular speaker at Real Estate Fund conferences and forums including MIPIM, PIN, Euromoney, and CASS Business School. He has also featured prominently in the BAFTA award winning BBC series The Tower as well as in Property Week, the Financial Times and on BBC Radio 4 and 5.
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MEET THE EXPERTS
LAURA ELLIS
ALEXA BRUCE
Laura is the Equity Loan Manager for Help to Buy London and oversees the administration of the Equity Loan scheme. She has worked for Aldwyck Housing Group for over six years, initially starting out in the Help to Buy team as a Co-ordinator, moving up to Post Completion Team Leader until being promoted to her current role.
Alexa has worked for Aldwyck Housing Group for over three years, where she has established herself as a key member of the team. Alexa has progressed quickly to her current position of Equity Loan Team Leader and has a hands-on role with the day-to-day processes and running of the Help to Buy London team.
KATE FAULKNER Kate is one of the UK’s top property experts. She is the author of the Which? Property Books and You Can Buy Your First Home, regularly appears on BBC, ITV, Radio 5 Live and Radio 4, her advice is often sought for national and local property newspapers. She is also one of First Time Buyer magazine’s agony aunts. At our show, Kate runs a free one-to-one property clinic where she will be able to answer your questons and give advice on the other experts and companies you should talk to. Her advice is up-to-date and independent. So, if you have any worries, queries or just want a simple answer to a simple question, visit her stand at the show.
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MEET THE EXPERTS
KATIE MAY Katie joined Moat in 2007 initially working on the HomeBuy Agency Team as a Customer Service Advisor and then went on to work on the delivery of several other products, such as First Time Buyers Initiative and HomeBuy Direct. She was also part of the team at Moat that delivered Open Market HomeBuy and My Choice HomeBuy for keyworkers and other priority groups. Katie currently works in Moat’s New Homes Team and has established herself as a key member assisting in selling brand new homes for shared ownership predominately across Sussex and South East London. Katie is a busy mum of three young children but you will always find her regularly updating Moat’s social media platforms!
PAULA TURNER Paula has worked for Moat Homes for almost 15 years, gaining knowledge and experience from her various roles within the Property Services, Housing Management, Voids and Lettings and Sales and Marketing, Home Ownership and Mortgage Rescue teams. In 2011, Paula joined the Moat’s New Homes team and since 2013, she has had a hands on role leading the New Homes Team in delivering Moat’s shared ownership programme across London and Sussex, and more recently, in Kent and Essex as well.
RUPERT SWETMAN Head of Mortgages Rupert Swetman at Which? Mortgage Advisers, has over eight years’ experience in the industry and prides himself in offering jargon free advice to help first time buyers get on to the property ladder. Responsible for a team of more than 50 mortgage specialists, Rupert is hands on in his role to ensure the delivery of the best independent advice combined with the highest standards of customer service.
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MEET THE EXPERTS JILL O’CONNOR Jill O’Connor is a senior manager in the PR & Communications team within Experian’s Consumer Services business, which includes Experian’s credit monitoring services. Since joining Experian, over two years ago Jill has lead a comprehensive credit education campaign which helps people really understand and recognise the ways in which they use and manage credit, in order for them to be able identity the little changes they can make to take greater control of their credit rating and their finances, to achieve the things they want in life. Working with the media, financial education groups and lenders, Jill wants to help demystify the black box of credit ratings and credit scores. Jill is originally from Ireland and has worked in public relations and communications for over eight years across a number of consumer sectors.
STEVEN SUTHERLAND Through more than 15 years in the legal industry, Steven has worked for some of the country’s biggest conveyancing firms and now leads the training team at Beaumont Legal – First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards Best Law Firm for Conveyancing for the past three years. Not only has he directly helped thousands of people move home but he’s also trained hundreds of people who help others move – from solicitors to the people you’ll speak to when you call for a quote. This means his knowledge of the process and the people you’ll come into contact with is second-to-none. Join Steven for his seminar to get a basic understanding of the legal process of buying a home and ask any questions you may have.
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SEMINAR PROGRAMME Seminars by industry professionals will be running throughout the day 10.30AM: KATE FAULKNER – UNDERSTANDING PROPERTY PRICES Property expert and author of the Which? property books When buying your first home, one of the hardest things is to know whether the property you are buying is priced fairly, a bargain or over-valued. It’s also very difficult to know how to work out what offer to make and, if rejected, whether you should offer more. Kate Faulkner, one of the UK’s top property experts will explain how to work out what’s happening to property prices in your local area and what a property is REALLY worth. She will also be happy to answer any questions you may have.
11.15AM: BEAUMONT LEGAL – THE CONVEYANCING PROCESS Steven Sutherland, Head of People Development, Beaumont Legal Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from one person to another. If you want to buy your own home, getting a basic understanding of this can avoid unnecessary stress and worry that can otherwise come when you don’t know how the process works. This seminar gives you the basics of what’s involved and should help you to avoid stress and even save money by making sure you choose the best conveyancer for you.
12PM: GAVIN BARWELL MP, CROYDON CENTRAL The MP for Croydon Central will be talking about how he is helping first time buyers get on to the property ladder which will be followed by a Q & A session.
12.30PM: HELP TO BUY EQUITY LOANS Laura Ellis, Equity Loan Manager, Help to Buy London and Alexa Bruce, Equity Loan Team Leader, Help to Buy London The London Help to Buy 40% equity loan scheme was launched on 1st February, and is proving to be extremely popular. Laura and Alexa from Help to Buy London will explain how the new scheme works, what an agent does, how you access the scheme, the criteria and how affordability is assessed. At the end of the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions.
1.15PM: INSPIRED HOMES Martin Skinner, CEO and Founder of Inspired Homes Martin Skinner is a serial entrepreneur with a rich history in the property industry – his vision is to create beautiful housing that real people can afford in key locations in Greater and Commuter
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SEMINAR PROGRAMME London. Martin will speak about his story and the story of Inspired Homes, the transformation of Croydon over the last few years and the future of housing in London and the UK.
2PM: MOAT HOMES – SHARED OWNERSHIP Paula Turner, Senior New Homes Officer and Katie May, New Homes Officer, Moat Homes Limited Also known as part buy/part rent, shared ownership scheme has been available for around 30 years. Despite this, there are still a lot of people who haven’t heard about the scheme. This seminar aims to give you a better understanding of how the shared ownership scheme works and the general eligibility criteria. We will also cover where you can find the details of shared ownership properties and lots more!
2.45PM: WHICH? MORTGAGE ADVISORS – THE FIRST TIME BUYER’S GUIDE TO MORTGAGES: Rupert Swetman, Head of Mortgages, Which? Mortgage Advisors No matter how many times you’ve been through the process, buying a house and applying for a mortgage can be a complex and confusing experience. But, for a first time buyer it can feel even more daunting. Rupert from Which? Mortgage Advisors will guide you through the process of applying for your first mortgage, from saving for a deposit and understanding what lenders will look at, to the application process and where to start. If you’re a first time buyer looking for expert and impartial advice, Rupert is your man!
3.30PM: EXPERIAN Jill O’Connor, Senior Manager in the PR and Communications team within Experian’s Consumer Services team Recent research has found that many first time buyers are not fully aware of their credit report and are unaware of the massive impact this could have on getting that first mortgage. Each of us have some kind of credit history and, as such, we all have the responsibility to understand and take control of it, to help us avoid any issues in securing that first property. Join Jill O’Connor from Experian as she talks through how your credit report is made up, what you need to look out for and how you can go about improving your financial situation.
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EXHIBITORS WELCOME The exhibitors who are showcasing their developments and services especially for first time buyers
HEADLINE SPONSOR INSPIRED HOMES First Time buyer award-winner Inspired Homes is renowned for its high spec, high tech one and two bedroom apartments offering, community living, for young professionals in London who want to take that first step on the property ladder. Its developments in Croydon, Sutton and Epsom start from as little as £246,950 and include access to a superb range of communal facilities and services such as two roof gardens, members club lounge, a BBQ area, table tennis, Brompton bike hire and a concierge service for residents. inspiredhomes.uk.com
SUPPORTING SPONSOR BARRATT LONDON Barratt London is the marketleading residential developer in the Capital. With over 30 years’ experience we’ve helped – literally – shape one of the world’s most exciting, diverse and dynamic cities. We design, build and sell large, complex residential-led developments tailored to the needs of our customers. barratthomes.co.uk/london
MEDIA PARTNER CROYDON ADVERTISER The Croydon Advertiser reaches over 130,000 potential customers in the Croydon area every week, it is published on Fridays and is packed full of local news, in-depth features, entertainment coverage, property and much more. And it doesn’t stop there. Our readers come back for even more on our website,
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for updates on local news all day every day. We keep our audience engaged, so that you can reach your potential customers. Weekly Readers: 23,972 (Jicreg Dec 2015) Weekly Web browsers: 112,782 (Adobe Omniture Dec 2015) croydonadvertiser.co.uk
AFFINITY SUTTON Affinity Sutton is one of the largest housing providers in the country, with a range of homes for the first time buyer and a choice of ways to buy. We offer homes for sale through shared ownership or with equity loans. These homes are available to buy with just a 5% deposit thanks to our arrangements with high street lenders. affinitysutton.com
AMICUSHORIZON AmicusHorizon own and manage thousands of homes
in Croydon. We’ll share our experience and details of our brand new homes and large portfolio of re-sale properties. Croydon’s a fantastic area, offering great value for money and transport links, either into London or the South Coast. We’re looking forward to meeting you and helping you become a home-owner in this exciting borough. amicushorizon.org.uk
BEAUMONT LEGAL First Time Buyer magazine’s Best Law Firm for Conveyancing in 2013, 2014 and 2015 (and shortlisted again in 2016), Beaumont Legal helps thousands of first time buyers get on the property ladder each year. While the firm can trace its history back for 200 years, modern customers are tempted to Beaumont Legal by the ability to follow their case online and via email. Based in Yorkshire, the firm can keep its prices competitive for customers nationwide. Beaumont Legal are offering visitors to the First Time Buyer Home Show free legal advice and discounts off their conveyancing, which is well worth taking advantage of. beaumont-legal.co.uk
CATALYST HOUSING Catalyst Housing provides high-quality, affordable homes across London and the South
EXHIBITORS
East of England. We offer a range of opportunities that help ordinary people on to the property ladder. We want to: sõ Offer home ownership to those who may find it difficult to get onto the property ladder sõ Generate large scale regeneration of neighbourhoods, working closely with residents sõ Build desirable new properties catalysthomes.co.uk
of affordable housing in the UK, which manages more than 60,000 homes. We’re a dynamic and innovative company with expertise in a broad range of property activities and services. We’re commercially-minded and customer-orientated, focusing on service delivery and practical and efficient solutions. Our award-winning in-house teams offer regional and local, tailor-made services at competitive rates. centragroup.org.uk
CENTRA LIVING
DIRECTION LAW
Centra Living, part of Circle – one of the leading providers
Acting for First Time Buyers is over 80% of what Direction
Law do. The company has been offering an excellent service for over 25 years and, in 2013, completed over 2200 First Time Buyer transactions. But don’t just take their word for it, see what the people they work with say: Clients: “Extremely supportive, will use again.” Housing Associations: “They put their customers’ needs first. A unique‚ ‘can-do’ approach” Leading Mortgage Advisors: “It’s a pleasure to work with Direction Law.”
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EXHIBITORS Direction Law’s service is proven, with 94% of their clients saying they would recommend them to others. directionlaw.co.uk
EXPERIAN Taking the time to check, understand and improve your credit report before you think about applying for a mortgage could mean lower interest rates and more money in your pocket each month. Experian are the UK’s No.1 credit monitoring service and with a FREE 30-day trial of their Experian Credit Expert, you’ll get access to your credit report and expert credit management advice from our UK-based team – meaning you can apply for that mortgage with confidence. experian.co.uk
HELP TO BUY Aldwyck Housing Group is the Government appointed Help to Buy Agent for Equity Loans in London. We work with house builders who are registered for Help to Buy Equity Loans in London. Equity loans are up to 20% of the property value; for full information on equity loans please visit the website. helptobuylondon.co.uk
HEXAGON HOUSING ASSOCIATION Hexagon Housing Association is a locally focused and community based organisation working to meet housing and care needs in South East London, managing 4,100
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homes mainly across five London boroughs (Bexley, Croydon, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark). hexagon.org.uk
LAWCOMM Lawcomm solicitors was established in 1999 and has offices in London and on the south coast. We offer a nationwide conveyancing
service and have a dedicated specialist department for new build and affordable housing properties. Our experienced team is widely renouned for providing an efficient and cost effective service whilst maintaining a considerate and understanding approach to the needs of our clients. lawcomm.co.uk
EXHIBITORS
LEEDS BUILDING SOCIETY For over 140 years, we’ve had a simple idea - saving together to help each other buy homes and enjoy other big things in life. An idea that’s just as relevant today as it was then and we continue to put our members at the heart of everything we do. leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk
LIGHTHOUSE MORTGAGE & PROTECTION SOLUTIONS We understand how important a decision getting the right mortgage is. It’s not just about taking out a sizeable loan; it’s about getting the right deal
for your money and making proper arrangements for your future. Our professional advisers specialise in finding the right, affordable mortgages and protection plans for thousands of people across the UK every year. So, why not come along and see us? We feel sure you’ll be glad you did. lighthousemps.co.uk
L&C L&C are the UK’s largest fee-free mortgage broker. Our team of advisers are available seven days a week to provide customers with tailored
solutions suited to their requirements. We are known for our fee-free advice and excellent customer service that guarantees customers a simple and cost effective process. YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP ON REPAYMENT ON YOUR MORTGAGE. landc.co.uk
METROPOLITAN Homematch is a service from Metropolitan’s home ownership team. Metropolitan is one of London’s largest
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EXHIBITORS all aspects of conveyancing. We are committed to delivering a better customer experience and a level of service not normally associated with legal firms. We invest significantly in the development of new technology platforms in order to deliver better communication and increased flexibility. pcsconveyancing.com
PLS SOLICITORS
housing associations. We provide the Homematch service to help Londoners find affordable homes to own and rent from partner housing providers including housing associations, local authorities and private developers. metropolitan.org.uk
MOAT Moat is a charitable housing association with over forty years experience in providing thousands of homes, including shared ownership. Most of Moat’s shared ownership homes are located in Essex, Kent, Sussex, South East and South West London. Otherwise known as part buy/part rent, shared ownership is one of the most affordable home ownership options available, and Moat want to help you find your dream home. moat.co.uk
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Mortgage Advice Bureau is an award-winning mortgage broker, with over 750 advisers across the UK. We are an expert mortgage broker that has access to over 80 lenders in the UK. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. There will be a fee for mortgage advice. The actual amount you pay will depend upon your circumstances. The fee is up to 1% but a typical fee is 0.3% of the amount borrowed. mortgageadvicebureau.com
PLS are a national law firm, with offices in Manchester and London, specialising in conveyancing, property, secured lending and property litigation. We are on the panels of all major banks and are preferred solicitors for large UK developers and estate agencies. Our conveyancers are qualified solicitors and experts working in small dedicated teams, supported by experienced assistants all using our highly efficient and innovative systems. Our clients are at the heart of everything we do. We are CQS accredited and members of the Conveyancing Association. pls-solicitors.co.uk
PCS LEGAL
PROPERTY CHECKLISTS
PCS Legal are an established firm of Licensed Conveyancers and Probate Practitioners regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers. Our staff are dedicated and highly trained in dealing with
propertychecklists.co.uk is a new property advice website to help consumers carry out property projects successfully. People need to follow key steps, including research and planning, and how to
MORTGAGE ADVICE BUREAU
EXHIBITORS find reputable national and local companies. Property Checklists provides them with this information completely free of charge. Consumers sign up online, choose a free property magazine to be sent to their home and secure instant access to hundreds of checklists, each of which give them a list of essential to-do’s. propertychecklists.co.uk
SITE SALES Here at Site Sales, we have specialised in the marketing and selling of luxury new build properties across London and the south east for over 20 years. Our experienced team work closely with many housing associations and private developers to offer a friendly and efficient service to any first time buyer wishing to get onto the property ladder. site-sales.co.uk
TMP SHERWINS Working with over 60 Housing Associations across the UK, TMP Sherwins are the number one firm for mortgages in the affordable sector. Our team of experts are always on hand to guide purchasers from their first enquiry right through to picking up the keys to their new home. We are also proud to offer a unique and unparalleled service to our partners, advising and supporting them to ensure a smooth customer journey. Tailoring our solutions to both purchaser and partner, we
are committed to supporting and enhancing the affordable homes market. tmpsherwins.co.uk
WHICH? MORTGAGE ADVISERS We give you impartial mortgage advice when buying your first home. We’re here to take the hassle out of the research process to make sure all goes smoothly. You’ll have your own dedicated mortgage adviser and caseworker they’ll help you every step of the way, from when you start dreaming about your new
home, to picking up the keys. Our advisers don’t work for commission, so when we recommend a mortgage there’s no hidden agenda. We’ll search whole of market deals and tell you if you’d be better going direct to a lender. We’re owned by the consumer champion Which? Group, who have been giving independent advice and campaigning on behalf of consumers for more than 50 years. mortgageadvisers.which.co.uk/ first-time-buyer
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AN INSPIRED STORY Project manager Toni Popova, 25 and her boyfriend Jack Moorcroft, 27, have Help to Buy to thank for enabling them to get on the property ladder for the first time and realising their dream of sharing an Inspired Home together in up and coming Croydon Until now, Toni has been living at home rent-free with her parents in Chislehurst, allowing her to save a deposit for her first property. Jack, who lives in South Norwood, set up his own building company in 2015, making it difficult for him to get a mortgage, as lenders typically need a minimum of three year’s accounts, something he doesn’t have. But when Help to Buy London was launched by the Government on the 1st February 2016, it provided the perfect opportunity for Toni to push ahead with her plans to buy much sooner than expected as she could afford to buy based on her salary alone. She is taking out a mortgage of £145,000, and expects to pay monthly repayments of around £650-£700 a month plus bills, which is significantly less than the £1,000-£1,500 per month average rent in the Croydon area. Toni explains, “We’ve been saving for about a year with the intention of getting on the property ladder by the end of 2016; we’ve managed to pull together a deposit of £27,000 which includes financial contributions from our families. When we heard the Government was extending the Help to Buy scheme to Greater London and increasing their contribution to 40%, we realised we could be in our own place much sooner than expected. But we knew we’d have to act quickly in order not to be priced out of Croydon where demand is high and where house prices are rising very quickly.” They focused their search on Croydon - which is currently benefitting from a multi-billion pound regeneration programme – as they had both grown up there and were very familiar with the area already. And because of Croydon’s excellent transport links, being able to get into central London where Toni works within 20 minutes was a huge selling point. “We’ve had our sights set on Croydon for some time because of the convenient links and fast growth. And I have to admit that the new Westfield
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FAC T F I L E
Property: One bedroom apartment Deposit: £27,000 Mortgage: £145,000 Monthly outgoings: £650-£700 plus bills
development which is expected to open there in 2020 was also a deciding factor, because we know our investment will grow faster than some other areas local to us.”
AN INSPIRED HOME Toni is buying a one bedroom apartment in Inspired Homes’ Canius House development, which offers 39 one and two bedroom apartments right in the heart of Croydon. As well as benefitting from a range of high spec, high tech fixtures and fittings such as hardwood flooring, Bosch kitchen appliances and 1 Gig hyperoptic broadband, residents will have privileged access to a 10th floor ‘sky garden’ and BBQ, table tennis and WIFI-ready resident’s lounge in neighbouring Inspired Homes’ development, Green Dragon House. “We’ve had our eye on several of Inspired Homes’ properties for some time and as soon as we were in a position to buy we contacted them straight away as we knew there’d be a huge surge in interest and we didn’t want to wait any longer and potentially miss out. “We consider ourselves very lucky to be in a position to be able to get one of Inspired Homes’ developments off-plan. We love the high spec finishes and communal areas - it’s nice to know there’s a community feeling in an apartment development, something we assumed would be missing. We’re super excited to build our first home together in an Inspired Home.”
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BARRATT LONDON AT THE HEART OF THE CAPITAL Barratt London is the leading residential developer in the capital Catford Green
With over 30 years’ experience in London we have helped – literally – shape one of the world’s most exciting, diverse and dynamic cities. We have crafted our portfolio to build and deliver homes for all Londoners, from state-of-the-art penthouses to complex, mixed-use regeneration schemes. Working with respected planners and designers, we’ve accrued invaluable experience in realising high-quality homes right across one of the world’s most architecturally challenging, but undeniably exciting cities. We are proud that half of our 2016 portfolio sits within the Government-backed Help to Buy London scheme. This initiative has proved extremely popular with first time buyers, as well as people moving up the property
ladder. Help to Buy London is available on many of our developments across the capital. From Greenland Place, SE8, which is selling fast and in its final phase to Catford Green, SE6 – described by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, as “wonderful for Catford”, right through to family homes at Edgware Green. Barratt London is incredibly proud to have been recognised as a market leader for quality. We have been awarded the maximum five-star rating, for seven consecutive years, in the annual Home Builders Federation Customer Satisfaction survey. This means that over 90%1 of our customers said that they would recommend us to their friends and family. We are the only nationwide house builder to be awarded with this key industry accolade.
It’s touches like our outstanding levels of customer satisfaction, a range of on-site amenities, our unique on-site property management company (BRAM), and ten-year NHBC warranty that make Barratt London the right choice for you. We know that buying a home is a big step, so our customer experience team will be with you every step of the way, to ensure you have a stress-free experience from the point of reservation until long after you have moved in. If you’d like to talk to us about finding a Barratt London home that’s right for you, visit our stand at the show. 1 The 90% percentage is based
on the number of valid responses received. The HBF Star Rating Scheme is open to HBF members who typically build more than 300 homes per year. It is a voluntary scheme so only those builders who opt to participate will be star rated.
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WE LOVE CROYDON With a bustling town centre, snappy commuting times, plenty of great schools and green spaces, Croydon is a perfect choice for first time buyers. Here are just some of the reasons why we love Croydon FOOD AND DRINK The Restaurant Quarter in South Croydon is bursting with choice, from cosy pub grub to Michelin guide-listed fine dining. And there’s plenty on offer elsewhere, too: t Albert’s Table, South Croydon: Listed in the Michelin guide, this British restaurant earned a great reputation with locals who keep coming back for the impressive seasonal menus. t Dexter Burger, Purley: Serving glorious gourmet burgers, Monmouth coffee and cocktails, Dexters offers everything you’d expect from Soho in the heart of Purley. t Karnavar, South Croydon: Try the tasting menu at this modern Indian restaurant that’s earned several awards, as well as the love of the locals.
PARKS AND GREEN SPACES Croydon straddles the Surrey borders, making trips to the countryside or the coast very
Lloyd Park
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easy. There are also many great parks within the borough itself: t Farthing Downs, Coulsdon: Perfect for dog walking, cycle rides and general exploring, the Downs is a 55-hectare grassland with pockets of ancient woods. t Lloyd Park, Croydon: A huge, hilly park close to Croydon town centre, with plenty of activities to keep parents and children occupied. There are weekly bootcamps, organised runs, playground, sports facilities – and an annual festival. t South Norwood Country Park: The Dragonfly Pond and wetlands at this sprawling green space makes the park an excellent place for spotting wildlife, including over 100 species of birds.
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES There are over 120 primary, secondary and special schools, sixth-form colleges and adult education centres in the borough, making it an ideal place for families. Renowned institutes include: t Croydon College: Combining a sixth-form with an art school and university centre, the college offers a great range of traditional and vocational courses. t BRIT School, Selhurst: The world-famous school and college for the performing arts has produced some of recent history’s biggest stars including Adele and Amy Winehouse.
FAMILY FUN There’s so much to chose from
WE LOVE CROYDON when it comes to entertaining the kids, the only problem will be deciding what to do first. Some places to try include: t Kid Space, Purley Way: The hours of entertaining activities at Kid Space will guarantee happy, tired children by the end of the day. There are also classes and clubs to take part in as well as great party facilities. t Croydon Ecology Centre: An ideal outing for the little nature lovers in your life, the centre runs fun events through the year, from bat and glowworm walks, to pond-dipping and stargazing. t Nature Play, Coombe Wood: Let the kids lead the fun at this outdoor play centre set in woodland, where the children are encouraged to play, integrate and enjoy nature.
ENTERTAINMENT You’re never stuck for something great to see or do in Croydon, with so many events taking place every week: t Cinema: Catch a film in comfort at one of the two Vue cinemas, one on the High Street and one at Purley Way. With 18 screens between them, you’re always guaranteed a wide choice of the latest releases. t Fairfield Halls: Theatre, cinema, music, comedy and events venue – the Halls are an established part of the Croydon entertainment scene and attract huge household names. t Screamlounge, South Croydon:
Croydon Clock Tower
t You can catch live music every night here that started life as studios and practice rooms.
t No shopping trip is complete without a trip to the famous 700-year-old market.
SHOPPING
TRAVEL
The town’s already brilliant shopping facilities are set to be transformed with a £1billion regeneration of the Whitgift Centre, making Croydon a true shopping destination: t Croydon High Street: Complete with two shopping malls and half a mile of pedestrianised high street, Croydon is even better than shopping in central London. t Purley Way, Croydon: Superstore heaven, Purley Way has all the big names, including IKEA, as well as some great restaurants, bowling and cinema. t Surrey Street Market, Croydon:
Being in travel zones 5 and 6, makes Croydon ideally located for getting in and out of London. t Commuting into central London is easy: From East Croydon, you reach Victoria in 20 minutes and London Bridge in 21 minutes. t Travel to the coast in under an hour: The south coast is under 50 miles away. From East Croydon, the train to Brighton takes 49 minutes, while driving takes just over an hour. t The tram network: As well as a comprehensive bus network throughout Croydon, trams connect the borough with Wimbledon and Beckenham.
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