The government-backed Help to Buy scheme has boosted househunters in Tolworth where it has been used for nearly 40 per cent of the apartments sold at Linden Homes’ Red Square development.
The popularity of the high quality apartments in Ewell Road means 34 of the 35 available have already been secured. Of those sold, 14 were enabled by Help to Buy, which gives people the opportunity to purchase with a deposit as low as five per cent.
The one and two-bedroom contemporary properties sparked strong interest thanks to their superb specification, transport links and enviable location close to Tolworth’s bustling bars, restaurants and shopping.
With Help to Buy, even more people have been able to take advantage, whether first-time buyers or those climbing further up the property ladder.
Homes worth up to £600,000 are eligible under the scheme. It works by the government lending 20 per cent of the value of the property through an equity loan. It means buyers only need to come up with a 75 per cent mortgage on top of their five per cent deposit.
Residents have been delighted with the simple hand-up they have received. Red Square buyer Sebastian Czajka said: “Help to Buy is brilliant. It helped me to increase my deposit – therefore I was able to buy a larger property than I thought I could afford.
“The whole of the Help to Buy process has gone smoothly; everything has been taken care of. It has been a really positive experience; a good decision by the government.”
Similarly, Mr Kiam Lim added: “It would have been a couple of years away before we would have been able to save up enough deposit monies to buy our first property.
“It was a good experience with the guidance from everyone involved. I would definitely recommend HTB to all my friends – it makes the way forward easier.”
The rewards of securing a home at Red Square include an excellent position for transport: Tolworth and Surbiton train stations are nearby with services into the centre of the capital for all its jobs, attractions, food, shopping and cultural highlights.
Access to the A3 is straightforward as well, giving the advantage of its direct path into central London, plus the M25 and its national motorway links.
Parks and recreation grounds dot the area which is not far from the glorious Hampton Court Palace.
Inside, fitted kitchens come as standard alongside top quality fixtures and fittings and high level energy efficiency. A 10-year NHBC guarantee and two-year customer care warranty give peace of mind too.
Linden Homes South East sales and marketing director, Emily Nesbitt said: “For people and families who love city living, this is a wonderful neighbourhood to call home – and Help to Buy is giving that extra boost for people to do just that at Red Square.
“It’s made the difference between people renting and being able to own the roof over their heads in an area with bustling nightlife, green spaces, good shopping and within easy reach of the heart of the capital.
“At Red Square we have just one apartment left so people will have to act fast if they want to secure a home. As our buyers have shown, using Help to Buy won’t hold you up and could make all the difference.”
For more information, contact 0844 488 3179 or visit the sales office open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm.
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For further information, contact Claire McCowan or Claire Bradley at Remarkable Public Relations on 01962 893 893.
References to “we”, “us” or “our” are to the part of the Vistry Group (including Linden Homes, Bovis Homes, Countryside Homes 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.