From Rented Flat To A Brand New Home - Help To Buy Joy For First Time Buyers!
01 Dec 2014

With a brand new home of their own – Christmas will be extra special this year for first time buyers Joe and Rebecca Moyes.

The couple recently moved into their brand new three-bedroom semi detached home in Peterborough, after living in rented accommodation and then with parents, in their efforts to save for a deposit.

And with the assistance of the Help To Buy scheme, Rebecca (23) and Joe (25) will be spending their first Christmas together in their new home at Linden Homes Midlands’ White Willows development.

Rebecca explained: “We had just moved in with parents as the lease on our rented flat had ended. We were also struggling to save money for a deposit to buy our own house and living with family allowed us to save much more quickly.

“We began looking immediately at developments to give us an idea about prices in the area and time scales of the builds. We never expected it to all happen so quickly!”

The couple had their hearts set on a new build property, and with the Help to Buy scheme meaning they only had to find a five per cent deposit to secure their dream home, they were able to reserve at the development.

Location, design and affordability were also key to making their decision. Rebecca added: “Many other local developments seemed to be coming to an end, or were too expensive for us. The Linden Homes development featured lovely houses in a great area - close enough to the centre of town but tucked away in a quiet part of the city. We felt that it was a nice area to raise a family.

“We were definitely wowed by the kitchen in the style of home we chose, and pleasantly surprised that the third bedroom wasn't a tiny box room like other properties we had seen.”

Joe and Rebecca say that Help to Buy has enabled them to buy a property big enough for them to raise a family in. Joe said: “We probably would have looked at buying a flat without the scheme, which would have been a much shorter term prospect for us. Now we feel set up, comfortably, for the future.”

The government has announced that it will extend the Help to Buy equity loan scheme to December 31st 2020. Here’s how it works:

  • You only need a minimum 5% deposit.
  • It is available to all house hunters, not just first-time buyers.
  • The government will lend you up to 20 per cent of the value of your property through an equity loan, which can be repaid at any time or on the sale of your home - so you will only need to secure up to a 75 per cent mortgage from a bank or building society.
  • The scheme is available on new build homes only with a maximum purchase of £600,00.

-ENDS-

For further press information please contact Cetti Long at Media Matters on 01733 371363 or email cetti@mediamatters-pr.co.uk

References to “we”, “us” or “our” are to the part of the Vistry Group (including Linden Homes, Bovis Homes, Countryside Homes, Drew Smith or one of Vistry’s joint venture companies) from which you are intending to purchase a new home. References to "you” and “your” are to the prospective buyer or buyers of a new home from us.

All images are used for illustrative purposes only and are representative only. They may not be the same as the actual home you purchase and the specification may differ. Images may be of a slightly different model of home and may include optional upgrades and extras which involve additional cost. Individual features such as windows, brick, carpets, paint and other material colours may vary and also the specification of fittings may vary. Any furnishings and furniture are not included in any sale. Please check with our sales consultants for details of the exact specifications available at the development(s) for each type of home and the associated prices.