REAL LIFE
Open market: Aylesbury
Over 60,000 individuals in the UK are on the self-build register, seeking to build their own homes.¹ Taking this idea to a whole new level is first time buyer Deividas Brokas, 31, who helped not only to build his own home but an entire apartment block at Barratt Homes’ Kingsbrook development in Aylesbury
D eividas began work at the Kingsbrook development in 2018 with Prestigious Carpentry Ltd, where he is now Contracts Manager. The Kingsbrook development is set to include over 2,450 homes once complete, many of which Deividas has helped to build through his carpentry business. In May 2024, Deividas, along with his two cats Sky and Sima, relocated from rental accommodation in Aylesbury to Kingsbrook, where he is now the proud owner of a two bedroom apartment costing £272,000. Deividas comments, “It is a strange feeling waking up not only at a development you work at, but also in a home you helped build. After working at the Kingsbrook development for so long, I always knew that I would one day move here – it wasn’t a question of if, it was a question of when! I expect a lot of people working on site will follow in my footsteps due to the community spirit and build quality here at Kingsbrook. Everyone makes an effort to socialise and you never feel alone, even as a solo buyer. “I put down a 10% deposit on the apartment which I managed to save over a period of time alongside my rental costs in my previous home. My long-term plan is to be here for as long as possible, thanks to the ample space in my apartment, there is no need to move out any time soon. I am also looking forward to seeing Kingsbrook grow for as long as I’m both working and living here.” Amid rising house prices and unstable mortgages rates, "Generation Apartment" buyers are on the hunt for spacious apartments over more traditional starter houses, to take advantage of lower prices despite these types of properties often coming with more square footage. Deividas adds, “I was previously in
rental accommodation in the centre of Aylesbury and felt it was time to put down my roots. Taking the leap into homeownership can be a little daunting, especially being a solo buyer, however I was surprised to learn that I would be eligible to purchase a property on my own. My previous one bedroom property in Aylesbury cost around £750 a month on rent and now my two bedroom apartment mortgage repayments are around £1,200. Despite the increase, I now have somewhere of my own for me and my pets, and an extra room too. The apartment is extremely spacious, and the balcony is a massive hit with my cats.” Marc Woolfe, Director of Sales and
FACT FILE
Property: Two bedroom apartment Deposit: £27,200 Full market value: £272,000 Mortgage repayments: Around £1,200 a month
Marketing for Barratt North Thames, said, “It is always a pleasure to welcome first time buyers at our homes at Kingsbrook, but Deividas’ story is extra special to us. We often have Barratt employees buying at our developments, but it is rare to have someone who has helped to build their own home.” The premium one and two bedroom apartments at Kingsbrook include £0 ground rent and a 999-year lease with prices starting from £231,500. There are also a number of incentives on offer on select homes, including an IKEA furniture package worth up to £8,500, deposit contribution and lower mortgage rates with the Own New Rate Reducer mortgage product. gov.uk/government/publications/self-build-and-custom- housebuilding-data barratthomes.co.uk/offers/own-new-rate-reducer/
"I WAS PREVIOUSLY IN RENTAL ACCOMMODATION IN THE CENTRE OF AYLESBURY AND FELT IT WAS TIME TO PUT DOWN MY ROOTS. TAKING THE LEAP INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP CAN BE A LITTLE DAUNTING, ESPECIALLY BEING A SOLO BUYER"
110 First Time Buyer August/September 2025
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