Developer’s doctor

Stuart Hensby, Associate Director Sales and Marketing at Abri, is passionate about helping customers find their first home and getting on to the property ladder. He has a wealth of sales and marketing experience in the new homes industry helping to match people to the property that’s right for them. Stuart’s experience comes from working in property across the South of England and London, helping guide buyers across different tenures including shared ownership, resales and open market sale

Stuart Hensby, Associate Director Sales and Marketing at Abri

QI am looking to buy my first home

but is now still a good time to buy?

ABuying a home is one of the most emotional purchases you’ll ever make and with house prices continuing to rise, the recurring questions in your mind could well be: “Is now the right time or should I wait?” and “Can I even afford to buy right now and what are my options?”

The average house price reached an all-time high in March 2022, at £265,312 according to figures from Nationwide Building Society, an increase of 14% in just 12 months. Although prices have risen, mortgage rates still remain relatively low, although the base rate has risen from 0.1% to 0.75% and so it’s worth taking into consideration if rate changes are expected to rise and taking advantage of fixed or tracker mortgage rates to see which best matches your needs. Timing any market is going to be difficult, that’s why it’s better to always take the long-term view.

At Abri we understand that rising prices can make the thought of buying a home even more daunting, but the dream of owning your own home can still be within reach. The Government-backed scheme of shared ownership makes buying your first home more affordable and can help overcome some of the financial barriers.

Shared ownership allows you to buy a share of your home and increase this percentage share when and if you’re able to. Your mortgage is based on the share you’ve bought and then you pay rent on the remaining share. For example, at Abri’s The Orchards development in Southbourne, it’s possible to buy a 40% share of a two bedroom house for £118,000 instead of the full market value of £295,000. This makes the deposit just £5,900. It’s a great first step on to the property ladder and you can also work up to owning your home outright by purchasing further shares in your home known as staircasing.

As one of the South’s largest housing providers, Abri has a range of new homes that are available through shared ownership. Buying a new home comes with benefits including better levels of energy efficiency and everything ready to go as soon as you move in. No renovation, just a blank canvas to make your own. Not only are the running costs lower, an important factor with increasing energy prices, but new homes are also better for the planet with lower carbon emissions.

Our new homes at Castle Park View in Bristol are a great example of this. The homes are connected to the largest water source heat pump in the country that draws heat from the nearby floating harbour, and the solar panels on the roof take advantage of renewable energy from the sun. The pandemic has also placed more emphasis on the need for space, so many of our developments are designed specifically to make best use of their surroundings – built in great locations with amazing public spaces emphasising health, happiness and well-being.

Abri is dedicated to helping potential buyers find the property that best suits their needs. Abri means shelter, and providing shelter is our purpose. So, it’s not just a word, but a driver for achieving great things and providing quality homes for as many people as possible. We build, own, look after and sell homes that people can afford and we want to help you at every stage to find the best home that’s right for you.

To find out more about our wide range of homes across the South and South West of England visit abrihomes.co.uk.

Discover The Orchards, a new collection of two, three and four bedroom homes located in the village of Southbourne. With village of Southbourne. With several marinas, beaches, and nature reserves to explore, adventure is right on your doorstep. Plus, Chichester is less than 20 minutes’ drive away with a range of shops, restaurants and bars to enjoy.

These new homes, built by Abri’s in-house construction team, are tted with a wealth of professionally designed, high-quality features that make your new home even more special. All homes bene t from Symphony kitchen units with a Zanussi stainless-steel oven and hob, en suites and turfed back gardens. Built with modern life in mind, selected homes feature garages, utility rooms and space for home working.

Prices for a two bedroom semi-detached home start from £118,000 for a 40% share. So, Prices for a two bedroom semi-detached home start from £118,000 for a 40% share. So, stepping on to the property ladder could be more affordable than you might think. stepping on to the property ladder could be more affordable than you might think.

FROM £119,000*

Southbourne, The Orchards

abrihomes.co.uk

*Based on a 40% share with a full market value of £297,500