EXPERTS
Readers put their property questions to our guest panel of experts: solicitors, mortgage advisers, property gurus and Shared Ownership providers Agony Agent
MEET OUR PANEL
Nick Street Founder and Creative Director, We Are Fred
Is a new development good quality? Q I am buying my first home. Beyond the price and location, how can I tell whether a new development is genuinely good quality? Ben K avanagh, Romford A One of the biggest misconceptions I come across is that quality is all about what’s inside the home. Having spent the last decade working alongside developers to help create places people genuinely want to live, I’ve learnt that the best developments are judged just as much by what happens outside the front door. Start with the developer. A strong reputation isn’t built through marketing campaigns; it’s earned by consistently delivering places that people enjoy living in years after they’ve moved in. Look at previous developments, speak to existing residents and see how those communities have matured. Then ask yourself a different question: Could I imagine building a life here? The strongest developments have a clear vision beyond selling homes. They invest in green spaces, local facilities, connections, community events and the things that help neighbours become communities. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask about the future. Every successful place has a long-term story. Ask what’s coming next, how the neighbourhood will evolve and how the developer plans to support it once the final home has been sold. Buying your first home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. In my experience, the happiest buyers are those who don’t just buy a property, they buy into a place with a future. For more insights into creating successful places and communities, visit wearefred.co.uk.
Lisa Westerman Director, LWC Consultancy & Property Sales Ltd
If you have any queries, or dif culties in understanding the property buying process, our panel of experts is waiting to help. Send our team your questions on buying property, Shared Ownership, legal issues, or your nancial problems and we’ll nd the best person from the panel to give the advice you need. We need your questions...
Email your questions to: lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk
Nick Street
98 First Time Buyer October/November 2026
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