Looking Back At 2012 - And Looking Forward To A New Home In 2013
03 Dec 2012

Christmas and the New Year are on the horizon – and it’s almost the season to look back and reflect on the year that has been.

Darren Maddox is the managing director of Linden Homes Chiltern. For his company, 2012 has been a good one.

“We have launched several developments this year – they’re in very different locations and offer lots of different types of home – but the enthusiastic sales have been common to all of them. It’s been pretty exciting.

“St Albans has been particularly popular: Our Mosaic apartments have continued to sell really well – 65 per cent of the 230 homes have sold. Lots of customers who like the short commute to London from here have used the Government led NewBuy scheme to buy their apartments. And across the city, at King Harry Park – a very different development - our mix of 2, 3, 4 and 5 homes are proving just as popular.

“Nash Mills Wharf in Hertfordshire has sold out – which bodes well for the next phase – The Peninsula – and we have high hopes for his development too.

“During 2012, Linden Homes has created houses and apartments in the outskirts of London and deep in the Oxfordshire countryside and they’ve all sold well. Thornbury Park, a 30 minute tube ride from Knightsbridge, seems to have struck a chord with Londoners and commuters alike. At the other end of the spectrum, our new residents at Cholsey Meadows in south Oxfordshire say they love their idyllic rural location – near the river Thames and flanked by fields and meadows.

“Buoyed by the success of 2012, we’re really looking forward to 2013 – we have new developments for a new year – RG1 in Reading – which has demonstrated an increase in buyer confidence with reservations taken off plan and over 60 per cent sold in its opening weeks; and the Willows – in the village of Aldermaston in Berkshire.”

Darren isn’t the only person looking ahead to the New Year. The pending Christmas period is traditionally a time for revaluation and making plans – and it is often during these festive weeks that people make the decision that it is time to move house.

But, as Darren explains, the journey from one home to another doesn’t need to be expensive or stressful; he says the trick for a smooth move is knowing where to turn for the right help and advice.

“I would suggest that the first thing you need to know is how much you have to spend; how much you can afford to pay each month and what mortgage offers are available. For this information, Linden Homes recommends the New Homes Mortgage Helpline as a great place to start. They are able to guide you through some of the thousands of mortgage products on the market, make sense of the figures and can advise on the best option to suit your individual needs and circumstances.

“It’s also worth finding out more about the Government led NewBuy* scheme that was launched in March this year: Interestingly, some people still seem to be under the impression that NewBuy is for new buyers – first time buyers. That is not true. This scheme is called NewBuy because it is for buying new homes and it’s for anyone who wants to buy a new property up to the value of £500,000. This scheme has been put together with the backing of several high street lenders to offer 95% mortgages – so you only need a 5% deposit to buy your dream home.

“Another good source of help is the range of incentives – these may come from the building companies themselves. At Linden Homes we offer several schemes to make the process of buying a home easier: Part Exchange* is just one example. This scheme has been designed to take away some of the stresses and strains of selling your old home, whereby Linden Homes could become your guaranteed buyer and you don’t need to pay any estate agent fees.

“It’s often a good idea if you’re looking for a new home, to try and visit any new development early. Buying off plan – that is choosing and signing up for a home before it’s completed - can have considerable advantages: You get the first pick of the houses or apartments and at Linden homes this means you have plenty of time to use our Enhance Service where you can personalise your home from a range of options and upgrades.

“So, for example, at the moment Linden Homes is building a collection of one and two bedroom apartments and three and four bedroom houses in Maidenhead at Boyn Hill Gardens on Boyn Hill Avenue. This is a very new development and this a great opportunity to register your interest and get an early look at these lovely new homes.

“Investigate some of the schemes, incentives and advice on offer - and you could find yourself in your new Linden Home in 2013”.

*conditions apply

-ENDS-

For further information, contact Claire McCowan or Emma Cox 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, Drew Smith, Vistry Ventures 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.