The Ultimate Guide to... GETTING ON THE LADDER, NEW HOMES AND SHARED OWNERSHIP
the Ultimate Guide to ... GETTING ON THE LADDER, NEW HOMES AND SHARED OWNERSHIP
June/July 2024 £4.99
rsttimebuyermag.com
WIN! TWO 2.5L TINS OF V33 EXTREME
PROTECTION WOODSTAIN WORTH £92
RENT TO BUY & LONDON LIVING RENT: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
GOING OVERGROUND: NEW NAMES & GREAT HOMES
DARE TO DREAM, SAVE FOR SUCCESS
“ Buying your first home is a chance to blossom and nurture a space that reflects your personality, style and journey!”
Ashlee Jane Home decor in uencer and entrepreneur
EDITOR’S LETTER
Welcome
EDITORIAL – 020 3488 7754
Editor-in-Chief SARAH GARRETT sarahg@spmgroup.co.uk
We are very excited that after much debate and deliberation our expert panel of judges has decided on the shortlist for our FTB Readers’ Awards 2024. You will find the shortlist on pages 93-113 and it is now up to you, our readers, to vote – please take a moment to go to ftbawards.com and cast your all- important votes – thank you. If you live in London, or visit, you might well use the Overground. Recently, the various lines have
Editor LYNDA CLARK lynda@ rsttimebuyermag.co.uk Editorial Assistant and Head of Special Events KATIE WRIGHT
Editorial and Special Events Assistant SOPHIE MUNNERY
Creative Director RYAN BEAL
been renamed and I am sure like me you will be fascinated to know the history and stories behind the new names. Do turn to pages 22-26 to find out and also to check out some very affordable homes along the lines. If you are struggling to save for a deposit to buy your first dream home, then London Living Rent or Rent to Buy could help. On pages 28-35 we explain how they work and we highlight some great homes that are available through the schemes. If you are planning to spend some time outside enjoying the hopefully better weather, then check out our top choice of bright and fun outdoor living accessories on pages 10-11. I hope you enjoy this bumper issue which is packed with information, and if you are struggling to understand how the homebuying process works, then I am sure you will find the answers to your questions inside.
Sub Editor KAY HILL
Social Media KATIE WRIGHT, SOPHIE MUNNERY Contributors CHRIS CLARK, DEBBIE CLARK, KAY HILL, STEVE HIRD, SOPHIE MUNNERY, LAURA DEAN-OSGOOD, CORALIE PHELAN, GINETTA VEDRICKAS, STEPHEN WARD, KATIE WRIGHT
ADVERTISING 020 3488 7754
Director of Advertising/Exhibition Sales LYNDA CLARK lynda@ rsttimebuyermag.co.uk Special Events KATIE WRIGHT – National Home Buying Week – First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards katie@ rsttimebuyermag.co.uk Accounts accounts@ultimateguidecompany.com Managing Director SARAH GARRETT sarahg@spmgroup.co.uk
Until next time, happy house hunting!
firsttimebuyeronline
@firsttimebuyermag
SUBSCRIPTIONS 020 3488 7754
SWITCHBOARD 020 3488 7754
EDITOR’S PICKS…
All advertising copy for August/September 2024 must be received before 28 June 2024. Send all copy to: lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk The content of this publication, either in whole or in part, may not be reproduced, stored in a data retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission from the publishers. Opinions expressed in First Time Buyer magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. © The Ultimate Guide Company Ltd 2008-2024. The Ultimate Guide Company Ltd t/a First Time Buyer magazine will take no responsibility for any loss/claim resulting from a transaction with one of our advertisers/media partners.
Consider your location carefully, and how you can get to the places you need to be. Markus Kendall- Young, 20 Questions, page 142 A home is very special and there is nothing quite like it. Raj Somaiya, At home with, page 12
Your mortgage rate will depend on the amount of deposit you have, your credit history, and your income and expenditure. Rupi Hunjan, Agony Agent, page 126
Since the dark days of lockdown(s), we’ve all
The homes and location here provide us with the ideal balance we’ve been looking for. Martha Clarke-Reid, House Hunter, page 14
embraced more outdoor living. Steve Hird, Stepping into Summer:
Designing Your Outdoor Space, page 36
First Time Buyer June/July 2024 3
CONTENTS
JUNE/JULY 2024 / ISSUE 107 / FIRSTTIMEBUYERMAG.CO.UK
What’s in… 85 For sale – the best FTB properties
90 It is a dream come true for first time buyers Liam Barber, 28, his partner Lana Stoner, 26, and her daughter Isla, five, along with Daisy the dog, who managed to buy a three bedroom apartment through Hyde New Homes and shared ownership at Bluebell Heights in Sussex.
HOMEPAGE
events. He talks to Lynda Clark about his fascinating career, his rst home and has some great advice for rst time buyers. 14 House Hunter We go on the hunt with Martha and Ali Clarke-Reid who are on the lookout for their rst home in Kent. 16 Developer’s doctor Marc Woolfe, Sales & Marketing Director at Barratt David Wilson North Thames, answers your property question.
FEATURED
18 The View: Ashlee Jane Ashlee Jane is an award- winning home decor in uencer, entrepreneur and the founder of The Suffolk Nest. She talks to Lynda Clark about how her thriving oral business began and gives some top tips on how to add owers to your home without breaking the bank!
8 FTB Loves... Enjoy the outdoors with these vibrant fruit-inspired hot buys. 10 Living Celebrate summer and soak up the sun with the help of these outdoor living accessories. 12 At home with: Raj Somaiya Events planner and CEO of Silverfox Events, Raj works all over the world running high-pro le weddings, parties and corporate
28 Pay lower rent to save for a deposit If you are struggling to save for a deposit then London Living Rent and Rent to Buy could be the answer to your problems. We explain how it all works. 38 Homes of the future Lynda Clark talks to Chris Baxter from HOMErs who explains about these innovative, low-cost modular homes, which are fully furnished and very luxurious.
12
22 Going Overground The highly successful London Overground has recently had a rebrand. Debbie Clark looks at the six new line names and highlights some affordable homes along the different routes.
4 First Time Buyer June/July 2024
CONTENTS
ASHLEE JANE, PAGE 18
18 Ashlee Jane
BUY JUST ONE ARRANGEMENT OR THREE
OR FOUR STEMS THAT YOU LOVE. THEY DON’T COST VERY MUCH AND WILL LOOK SENSATIONAL
122 Finance Don’t get despondent and keep working towards your dream, says Kay Hill, who looks at the options. 124 Market As rst time buyers struggle to nd a home that they can afford, is the Government doing all it can to ensure that more new homes are being built? Ginetta Vedrickas looks at the problem. 126 Agony Agent All your property questions answered by our panel of experts. 129 Buyer’s Guide Check out FTB’s Buyer’s Guide, which walks you through the property buying process. 134 How shared ownership resales and staircasing work Coralie Phelan, Head of Resales and Staircasing at Prince Evans Solicitors LLP, explains the resales process along with the option to staircase In the future. 136 Directory Check which scheme is right for you, plus some useful contacts. 142 20 Questions We ask 20 quick- re questions to a property expert and in this issue Markus Kendall-Young, Director of Vibe Living, is in the spotlight.
REGULARS
93 First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards – time to vote!
50
50 and 70 Hotspots We look at Chichester and Hendon as places to live.
116 First home, rst meal Richard Craven, Head Chef of the One Michelin-starred The Royal Oak creates this mouthwatering recipe for trout, fresh peas and elder ower blossoms. 117 Know How Trying to save for a deposit? Then these money-saving tips should come in very handy. 118 Cause for Complaint Stephen Ward, Director of Strategy and External Relations at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, explains what to do if a property transaction goes wrong. 120 The Conveyancing Process Shared Direction Conveyancing explains how the process works and the timescales involved.
115 Competition
Four lucky winner have the chance to win two 2.5L tins of V33 Extreme Protection Woodstain, worth £92.
First Time Buyer June/July 2024 5
LETTERS
Mailbox WRITE TO US!
Please send us your questions, comments and suggestions concerning property, or the articles in First Time Buyer magazine.
lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk
LOAN-TO-VALUE I keep hearing the term “loan-to-value” and know that it is important, but I’m not entirely sure what it means.What does it involve and how important is it? Marvin West
FTB says: Loan-to-value (LTV) plays a pivotal role in mortgage transactions, affecting both lenders and borrowers. LTV is a measure, used when getting a mortgage, to show the ratio of the loan amount to the appraised value or purchase price of a property. It’s crucial for assessing risk, determining lending criteria and setting interest rates. Higher LTV ratios signify greater risk for lenders and may lead to higher interest rates or the requirement of mortgage insurance. For borrowers, a lower LTV means more equity in the property, offering benefits such as better loan terms and easier access to home equity.
CHILDCARE COSTS My partner and I are wanting to get on to the property ladder but we are concerned that the high childcare costs we currently have could hamper our mortgage application. Will this be the case? Will Dewdon FTB says: Childcare costs can indeed impact a mortgage decision. When applying for a mortgage, lenders typically assess the borrower’s income and expenses to determine their affordability and creditworthiness. Childcare costs are considered a significant expense and can affect the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio, which is a crucial factor in mortgage approval. It’s essential for people such as yourselves, considering a mortgage, to thoroughly evaluate your financial situation, including childcare expenses, and work with lenders or financial advisers to determine a realistic budget and mortgage affordability. It’s best to speak to a mortgage adviser who can give you advice based on your circumstances.
This issue’s star letter prize wins a copy of Prospect Cottage: Derek Jarman’s House from photographer Gilbert McCarragher, worth £25 and published by Thames & Hudson. This book invites readers into the personal sanctuary of the iconic artist for the very first time. While the gardens of Prospect Cottage in Dungeness are much visited and widely known, few people have seen inside his house. All of the doors have windows in them, etched by Jarman with flowers or poems. In the studio, paints and power tools are scattered across the STAMP DUTY What are the current Stamp Duty rates for first time buyers and what is Stamp Duty Relief? Chloe Farrington FTB says: First time buyers in England and Northern Ireland are exempt from Stamp Duty on properties up to £425,000. For properties costing between £425,001 to £625,000 you’ll pay 5% Stamp Duty, but only
LIFETIME ISA AND SHARED OWNERSHIP
VISIT OUR WEBSITE For everything you need to know about buying for the first time, go to firsttimebuyermag.com eligibility (you must be a first time buyer), property value limit (the property does not exceed £450,000) and that you have met any conditions set out in your LISA as well. Again, it’s advisable to consult with a financial adviser or mortgage broker who can provide personalised advice based on your specific circumstances. the purchase of a first home, including shared ownership properties, as long as certain conditions are met. Some key points to consider are:
I have spent a long time trying to save enough to be able to get on to the property ladder. I took advantage of a Lifetime ISA and I have managed to accumulate a total of £7,000, which falls short of what I really need. Consequently, I have been exploring the option of shared ownership. Can I utilise the deposit from my Lifetime ISA for the shared ownership scheme? Bradley Waters FTB says:Yes, you can use a Lifetime ISA (LISA) to help buy a shared ownership property. The funds saved in a LISA can be used towards
work table and many of the decorative objects are beachcombed finds, testament to the way the local environment served as inspiration to him. Available from Amazon and leading book shops.
on the value above £425,000. Properties over £625,000 follow standard Stamp Duty rates. First Time Buyer Stamp Duty Relief is a measure designed by the Government to make it easier for people get on the property ladder following the guidelines above. It’s worth noting that Stamp Duty is set to change again in April 2025 so it’s a good time to make use of this tax relief while it’s available.
First Time Buyer June/July 2024 7
FTB LOVES
Ripe and ready for the summer season! This month FTB Loves explores vibrant collections of fruit-patterned glasses, bowls and picnic items to add zesty colour to this season’s gatherings. We hope you find our picks ap-peel-ing and they add a smile to your face while you squeeze the most out of the summer sun this year... FRUIT FANATIC!
Fruit bowl cushion , £22, Dunelm, dunelm.com
Strawberry glass tumbler , £1.49, Home Bargains, home.bargains
Cushion , £7.99, Home Bargains, home.bargains
Cabbage bowls , £22, Next, next.co.uk
Strawberry picnic bowl , £4, Marks & Spencer, marksandspencer.com
Orange and lemon dinner candles , £15 for 2, Talking Tables, talkingtables.co.uk
Lemon fruit placemat , £1.99, Home Bargains, home.bargains
Strawberry eece blanket , £5.50, George @ Asda, direct.asda.com
Strawberry vase , £50, Joe Browns, joebrowns.co.uk
8 First Time Buyer June/July 2024
FTB LOVES
Papaya serving plate , £5, Primark, primark.com
Strawberry plate , £5, Primark, primark.com
Fig serving plate , £5, Primark, primark.com
Orange serving plate , £5, Primark, primark.com
Lemon bowl , £3, B&M, bmstores.co.uk
Strawberry doorstop , £5.99, The Range, therange.co.uk
Embossed lemon mug , £3.50, B&M, bmstores.co.uk
Lemon picnic caddy , £7.99, Home Bargains, home.bargains
Orange mug , £3.50, B&M, bmstores.co.uk
Lemon pitcher , £20, Daisy Park, daisypark.co.uk
Orange picnic caddy , £7.99, Home Bargains, home.bargains
Fruit candles , £3.99, Home Bargains, home.bargains
Fruit reed diffuser , £3.99, Home Bargains, home.bargains
First Time Buyer June/July 2024 9
Homepage LIVING
LETS SHELL EBRATE GOOD TIMES AND
TAN LINES... Whether you’re relaxing on your apartment balcony, hosting a barbecue with friends, or simply unwinding in your own oasis, let these inspiring interiors fuel your imagination and transform your outdoor living experience this summer. So, grab a cool drink, soak up the sun, and let the summer begin...
4 side plates , £16, Next
Striped parasol , £59, George Home
Picnic basket , £10, B&M
Woodland platter £5; bear plate £3; set of 6 kids bowls , £2.50, B&M
Floor cushion , £20, B&M
Picnic blanket , £8, B&M
May lounge set , £200, Habitat
10 First Time Buyer June/July 2024
Homepage LIVING
Plant table , £14.99, Homesense
Planter , £10, George Home
Set of 4 coral plates , £8, George Home
Stretching dog , £26, Matalan
Garden rug , £16.99, Dobbies
Hanging chair , £149, George Home
Set of 4 tumblers , £16, Next
CONTACTS » B&M bmstores.co.uk » Dobbies dobbies.com » George Home direct.asda.com » Habitat habitat.co.uk » Home Bargains home.bargains » Homesense homesense.com
Olive trees , £25; outdoor rug , £18; solar lantern , £15, B&M
» Marks & Spencer marksandspencer.com » Matalan matalan.co.uk » Next next.co.uk
First Time Buyer June/July 2024 11
Homepage LIVING
Raj is an esteemed events planner and CEO of Silverfox Events who works internationally and in the UK. Starting out selling balloon bouquets with his late mother, he now runs high-profile weddings, birthday parties and corporate events. He also owns GupShup in Hale, which is one of the most popular Indian restaurants in the North West. He chats to Lynda Clark about his incredible career, his first home and gives some good advice to first time buyers Photos: iproductions At home with: Raj Somaiya
room but we hope to complete them this year. We invested every single penny we had into the house and we pretty much gutted it. I copied the idea from our other house, The Square, and we created an orangery which leads off the kitchen. It’s all really very special and I think this will be our forever home. FTB : How did you career begin? RS: My mother had three Post Offices and card shops and I used to help her. It was the mid 80s but sadly in 1989 interest rates rocketed and we couldn’t afford to carry on with the shops and we went bust! It was very sad but my mother was an incredible woman. Luckily she had also started a helium balloon business and was the first person to offer balloon bouquets in the North. She had arrived in the UK aged 19 from Africa and married my father and she
Hale as an area. We bought a house which is on the cusp of Hale and Bowdon. Bowdon is a very affluent town and at one point the homes there were more expensive than in Knightsbridge! It’s an old detached house and is gated and has a stunning garden. We have done a great deal of work to it and extended it and turned it back to brick. It’s over four floors and has six bedrooms all with en suites and we have created a little temple upstairs. We still have to finish the interiors of the main lounge and dining
FTB : Tell us about your first step on the property ladder? RS: In 2002 we bought an amazing townhouse in Whitefield called The Square, which had been designed by the renowned property developer PJ Livesey. It was really very special and had a garage in the basement, a den, a lovely kitchen that led on to a conservatory, and four bedrooms with an en suite to the main one plus a family bathroom. The communal gardens were wonderful and we really loved it. My eldest daughter was four when we moved there and my youngest daughter was just six months old. We stayed until 2016 when my son was born and it began to feel a little cramped and we wanted more space. We sold it and rented for around four years until we decided where we really wanted to move to. FTB : Where do you live now? RS: We were keen that our son went to Manchester Grammar School and we loved
“WE ARE WELL KNOWN FOR OUR GROUND-BREAKING DESIGN IDEAS, BESPOKE WEDDING CREATIONS AND IMPECCABLY HIGH STANDARDS OF FOOD, DRINKS AND SERVICE”
12 First Time Buyer June/July 2024
Homepage LIVING
FTB : What are your plans for the future? RS: During Covid we had to completely shut down, but 2022 and 2023 have been our best years so far. We love our work but we also want to spend more time with the children. We have an office in London and Paris but we are opening one in Dubai as that is a much bigger sea to swim in. There’s so much going on there and my philosophy is that you have to keep moving forward. FTB : What advice do you have for first time buyers? RS: We made a big mistake when we bought The Square. We paid £395,000 and when we sold in 2016 we only got £580,000, which considering the time we lived there wasn’t a great profit, so look at the capital growth in the area you are buying in and ensure you will make money when you decide to move on. I think everyone should really research the area they are
“I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD REALLY RESEARCH THE AREA THEY ARE LOOKING TO BUY IN AND DO YOUR SUMS”
me to be a judge alongside two celebrities, who were Fred Sirieix and Sara Davies. We got on really well and I love working on TV and I’ve been told I am very charismatic. I have also been on The Apprentice – You’re Fired on BBC2 hosted by Tom Allen. The first challenge on the programme was to put on an event and I was asked to comment on it. It was very funny to see what they all planned. FTB : Tell us about your restaurant? RS: I opened a restaurant called GupShup in Hale, which in Hindi means chat or
was very clever and a real entrepreneur. She then became the first Indian wedding planner in the country and she was highly successful. In 2002 she branched into catering for Indian weddings and parties and arranged around 300 weddings a year – it was very hard work! The company was called Payal, which is the Indian word for an anklet which has bells on, which are very popular at Indian weddings. I worked with my mum and was responsible for all the logistics and she did sales. It was the perfect duo as she was very creative and had great attention to detail. FTB : You are now CEO of Silverfox Events, can you tell us about that? RS: I married my wife Sheetal in 1995 and she is brilliant – she does all the PR and marketing and is creative director. We run high-profile weddings for people of all faiths as well as bar mitzvahs, birthday parties and corporate events. We run and create every aspect of the occasion. We are well known for our ground-breaking design ideas, bespoke wedding creations and impeccably high standards of food, drinks and service. One occasion that stands out is an extravagant 50th birthday party at Palais Garnier in Paris. We brought a Mancunian twist to an iconic Marie Antoinette theme and everyone loved it. We also did a Great Gatsby-themed party, which was like building a film set. It took three weeks to build and was incredible. Nothing really fazes us and we did another party on a yacht off the coast of St Tropez and had to crane the infrastructure in. After my mum passed away in 2017 we sold the original company, Payal, to somebody we knew and now we just concentrate on Silverfox. FTB : Tell us about your television work? RS: In 2014 I was approached to do a documentary called My Big Fat Asian Wedding for Channel 4. They documented everything I did, organising four weddings, around the country, for nine months. It was great fun to do and I really enjoyed the experience. Then, during Covid, I was approached to be a judge on a show for BBC2 they were planning called The Ultimate Wedding Planner . They were looking for three luxury planners but they only liked me! After the pandemic was over they approached me again and said they were changing the format of the programme and that they wanted
gossip. It is one of the best known and most popular Indian restaurant in the
looking to buy in and do your sums. A home is very special and there is nothing quite like it but you also have to think further down the line and look at the capital growth in say 10 years’ time.
North West. We have recently changed the vibe and created a new menu. I have a great Italian general manager and we offer Pan-Indian food which is rather like tapas – lots of smaller dishes which are all very different and it’s worked very well.
silverfoxevents.com Instagram: @silverfoxevents and @rajsomaiyaofficial
First Time Buyer June/July 2024 13
Homepage FIRST RUNG
The HOUSE HUNTER
What we found…
THE GO-TO DESTINATION THE COUNTRY CONNECTION
Whitstable Heights Whitstable, Kent
Spring Acres Sittingbourne, Kent
This month FTB goes on the hunt with Martha and Ali who are looking to move from London to Kent and are seeking a new home with at least two bedrooms and good commuter links
Situated on the outer fringes of Sittingbourne, this new collection of two, three and four bedroom homes borders open elds and stunning countryside. The development is also set within a country park itself, while the Kent Downs and North Kent coast are reached in mere minutes. The three bedroom properties feature a separate living room and kitchen, while upstairs there’s an en suite from the main bedroom. Nearby Sittingbourne is great for schools and amenities and has a theatre and cinema. Trains reach London St Pancras in 69 minutes.
The ever-popular coastal town of Whitstable is a huge draw for homebuyers and holiday makers alike, charmed by its mix of pretty cottages, historic harbour and scenic sea views. The new homes at Whitstable Heights give rst time buyers the chance to be part of this lifestyle in brand new, quality homes. The development
PROFILE
Names Martha Clarke-Reid, 37, Ali Clarke-Reid, 42 Occupations Recruitment Manager, Events Co-ordinator Maximum budget £300,000 Requirements A home with at least two bedrooms and ideally a garden, in Kent, with good rail links to London and a range of local facilities close by
includes two, three and four bedroom houses and coach
houses. The larger homes feature open-plan living/dining areas that open to turfed rear gardens, en suites to the larger bedrooms, and plenty of storage.
What they wanted…
We made the decision to leave London a little while ago and have spent a while trying to nd the right place for us. We’ve settled on Kent as we’re both from the South – me from Kent, Ali from Surrey – and it’s possible to nd a great quality of life within easy reach of the capital. We live in a very busy and polluted part of London and though we love city life, we’ve fallen out of love with the area and would like to be closer to family as well as to all the countryside and coastline that Kent has to offer. We both have to be in London regularly, so would like rail links to be no more than one hour each way. We’d love some outdoor space and ideally to have local shops and facilities within walking distance.”
hydenewhomes.co.uk
hydenewhomes.co.uk
*Shared ownership: based on a 40% share of the full market value of £285,000
*Shared ownership: based on a 40% share of the full market value of £415,000
What they thought…
Wow – what pretty surroundings this development has. We’d certainly never be short on places to explore for walks, and I can imagine the air is fresh and lovely – a big change from our current place. The properties are very attractive – we love that the three bedroom homes have a separate living room, and can barely imagine having so much space. The extra bedroom means we’d have enough room for guests as well as an of ce space, which is just amazing.”
I grew up in Kent and we visited the coastal town of Whitstable on a regular basis. I have some lovely memories of the area and it’s always been so popular. We visited a few years ago when a couple of our friends moved down and it really is just as lovely as I remember – they can’t recommend it enough. The properties are of a high quality and we’re super impressed that we can afford a house here; something we could only have imagined in London.”
14 First Time Buyer June/July 2024
Homepage FIRST RUNG
First choice!
THE LAKESIDE LOVELY
THE COASTAL CHARM
Martello Lakes Hythe, Kent
Spit re Green Ramsgate, Kent
Ramsgate is among the Kent seaside towns that have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with increasing numbers of young professionals buying in or relocating to the area. These new three bedroom homes offer the perfect mix of coast, country and town. On the ground oor you can enjoy a spacious kitchen/dining area with French doors leading out on to the garden, a light- lled relaxing lounge, and a bathroom. Upstairs there are two double bedrooms, with an en suite to the main bedroom, a single bedroom, and a modern family bathroom.
These beautiful new homes sit in a pretty spot on the Kent coast, just 15 miles from the white cliffs of Dover. The properties available range from two bedroom apartments to four bedroom detached houses, all with outdoor space, and many with views out over lakes. The apartments feature open-plan living/dining areas with French doors leading to a private terrace. The bedrooms are well sized, with the main also featuring an en suite. London can be reached in under two hours – including a 20-minute drive to Ashford International.
*Shared ownership: based on a 40% share of the full market value of £222,500
THE NEXT STEP
“To say we’re excited about the homes at Riverside Square is a serious understatement. We are very committed to making this dream a reality. We registered with Hyde New Homes right away, have our nances in order and a mortgage offer in principle for the right amount.”
barratthomes.co.uk
barratthomes.co.uk
*Based on a 50% share of the full market value of £330,000
The homes and location here provide us with the ideal balance we’ve been looking for – a taste of city life outside of London, with country and coastline all on the doorstep. We love the look of Canterbury, with its stunning historic sights and lots of entertainment and culture on offer, and the commuting time into London is so impressive. The houses are just perfect – very contemporary and stylish. The kitchens are just to our taste, and we would be so proud to invite friends and family over for dinner or to stay. There’s so much close by, too, with some absolutely amazing coastline within a 20-minute drive.“
There’s a lovely mix of country and coastal here: although you’re not right by the sea, it’s such a short drive, that we could really make the most of it without having to do a huge trip. We really like how the development includes green space and wildlife areas and that there are a range of properties, meaning a more diverse community around us. Ramsgate is a cool place - it’s got a lot of history but also has a growing arts and culture scene, which really is a piece of us.”
This is a beautiful development – the surroundings are just so different to what we’re used to – stunning lakes on the doorstep, and the sea literally minutes from the door. Hythe is very close by and has all the amenities you’d need on a daily basis, while Ashford is only a 20-minute drive, so we’d never be far from super-speedy travel. This is a real getaway-from- it-all location. It’s a bit far south for us at the moment, but it has given us serious pause for thought.”
15
First Time Buyer June/July 2024
ADVICE
Marc Woolfe is the Sales & Marketing Director at Barratt David Wilson’s North Thames division, joining in 2012 on the Barratt Aspire Graduate scheme as a Sales & Marketing Graduate. From specialising in the sales sector and beginning his career as a Sales Adviser, Marc joined the North Thames division in 2019 as a Senior Sales Manager before entering his current role in the summer of 2022. Marc is keen to encourage and help aspiring owners on to the property ladder as much as possible in 2024 Q My partner and I are both in our mid-20s and live and work in London,
Marc Woolfe, Sales & Marketing Director, Barratt David Wilson North Thames
Most recently, we have launched the “Own New – Rate Reducer”² mortgage product, where Barratt Homes could contribute 3% or 5% and will see buyers benefit from reduced monthly mortgage repayments for the first two to five years. Finally, my most important piece of advice is to research, research, research.To get the ball rolling, speak to a mortgage adviser, as you might be surprised by what you can actually afford, and they will help you to set financial goals and guide you through the process. Best of luck!
We see plenty of buyers from the north of London, from areas such as Bushey, Mill Hill and Finchley, so you would certainly not be alone in looking towards neighbouring counties to London. There are also plenty of schemes available to help first time buyers at Barratt David Wilson North Thames.All of our homes come with best-in-class energy efficiency as standard, and our Deposit Unlock scheme allows buyers to purchase with just a 5% deposit¹.We also provide a Key Worker Deposit Contribution scheme which is available to people in a range of job roles and offers a £1,000 contribution for every £20,000 of the purchase price.
having been raised there and lived there all our lives.We are looking to escape the city to enjoy a quieter way of life and to get on to the property ladder but don’t want to move too far from our family, friends and jobs, which require us to commute into the office for most of the week. Do you have any advice about the process for first time buyers and are there any areas you’d recommend that are commutable to London? A Well, you’ve made the first important step in deciding you are ready to buy your first home and move out of London, congratulations! Starting out can seem very daunting but there are plenty of options, locations and schemes available to first time buyers.The market for 2024 is looking seemingly better too, with interest rates not as high as they were in the peak of 2022. The good news is that there are plenty of areas surrounding London that have excellent transport links in and out of the city and house prices that are a fraction of the cost of what you see in London. We see first time buyers of all ages and demographics interested in our developments here at Barratt David Wilson North Thames, and, in fact, around half of our buyers are getting on the property ladder for the first time, so you are not alone in the process. A number of towns in counties such as Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire have become increasingly popular post-pandemic as they offer a perfect blend of countryside living while still being within commutable distance of the city. My advice would be to look at the train lines that have regular services in and out of London and evaluate the affordability of those areas. As an example, Leagrave station is a stone’s throw away from our Linmere development and is served by Thameslink. Services take just 36 minutes into the city – which is quicker than some underground services take to reach Zones 3 or 4 in London!
barratthomes.co.uk/offers/deposit-unlock/ barratthomes.co.uk/offers/own-new-rate-reducer/
We have many developments throughout Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, including our agship Kingsbrook development in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, which has a good mix of starter properties for rst time buyers... This is a large, multi-phase development near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, comprising 2,450 new homes, three new schools and new community infrastructure. We’ve partnered with the RSPB, so sustainability is at the heart of this development. It includes a 250-acre area of wildlife-rich space, and we’ve installed a number of bat and bird boxes and created more than 100 allotments. The partnership has seen a number of conservation-concerned species increase in numbers such as house sparrows, starlings and whitethroats. Canal Quarter: two bedroom homes from £231,500 (Barratt Homes) Orchard Green: one bedroom apartments from £245,000 (Barratt Homes), three and four bedroom homes from £380,000 (David Wilson).
Find out more at barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/dev001701-canal-quarter-at-kingsbrook/
16 First Time Buyer June/July 2018 June/July 2024
THE VIEW
FLOWER POWER!
Ashlee Jane, an award-winning home decor influencer and entrepreneur, is the visionary founder behind flourishing floral e-commerce business The Suffolk Nest.With over 500,000 followers on Instagram, she talks to Lynda Clark about how her thriving business began and gives some tips on how to add flowers to your home without breaking the budget A shlee runs The Suffolk Nest with her husband Chris, and although business is booming and she is incredibly busy, she has people wanted to touch our faces or hold our hands – apparently for good luck – it was a very special time.” Ashlee eventually went to university in
Nottingham to study Fashion Management. “I was rather headstrong and always wanted to be the best at everything I did. I worked myself into the ground and set such high standards for myself. It really brought out the best and worst in me.” She got a first class honours degree and her dissertation on how online shopping was set to change the world won awards. Little did she know at the time that she would end up running her very own e-commerce business! “I then got a job at ASOS as a merchandiser, which again was a highly successful online fashion brand and tied in well with my dissertation. It was buzzing, busy, thriving and very exciting. We had goals to hit, and it was pretty full-on. I had to work on a lot of spreadsheets and numbers though and I missed doing anything creative. As a child I had always loved making things and I felt this creativity was lacking in my life and work.” After two years. Ashlee decided to move on as the wages were low and it was difficult to get a promotion and move up the ranks, but also time to move closer to home. She moved back to Suffolk and got a job
time to chat and obviously loves what she does with a great deal of passion. She explains, “I had a very normal upbringing. My sister is only 15 months older than me and we were like two peas in a pod! I was actually born in Liverpool, but my parents moved to Suffolk because of my dad’s work. Then when I was five, we all moved again to Hong Kong because of my dad’s career. My mum stayed at home and looked after us all and made a lot of sacrifices for the family. It did instil in me that a career was very important, and I used my dad as a role model. It was about 30 years ago, so not many English people had ever visited Hong Kong and we were rather unique. We used to get stopped in the street and the local
"WE WORKED ALL HOURS AND IT WAS BOTH EXCITING AND CHAOTIC BUT THE SUFFOLK NEST WAS BORN"
20 First Time Buyer December 2021/January 2022
18 First Time Buyer June/July 2024
THE VIEW
First Time Buyer June/July 2024 19
THE VIEW
"IT SEEMS INCREDIBLE THAT A HOBBY HAS BECOME MY FULL TIME CAREER AND WE ARE IN A PERIOD OF HUGE GROWTH AT THE MOMENT AND BEGINNING TO SCALE THINGS UP"
20 First Time Buyer June/July 2024
THE VIEW
with Cadbury. “I stayed there for eight years and it suited me at the time. It was getting near to Christmas and I was due to go with some friends on a wreath-making course. I had a terrible day as I had been driving a lot and was very tired but I felt I had to turn up as there were only four of us going and I didn’t want to let anyone down. Thank goodness I did go as that night something clicked! I loved it and it sparked something in me to want to do more. I went home and made lots more wreaths and foraged shrubs and trees in my parents' garden to work with. Then I suddenly got requests from friends to make one for them and things started to take off. “A friend then asked me if I could do the flowers at her wedding, which came as a bit of a shock. She wanted orchids and a trailing bouquet and I felt it was way out of my zone. I advised her that she needed a professional florist but Chris, my husband, encouraged me and said it might be my only opportunity to do something on such a large scale as this. I suppose I just needed someone to believe in me and I decided to go ahead. I spent hours and hours looking at orchids on the internet and how to work with them. I was terrified they would all die but everything worked out all right and the wedding was beautiful. She loved what I did and I must admit I was quite euphoric.” Ashlee had been running an Instagram account detailing all the home renovations she and Chris were doing on their house. “I occasionally put up stories about flowers and wreaths and they were very popular. But, then the pandemic hit and while we were all at home I decided to launch my own Christmas wreath-making kit. People would buy the kit which I posted to them and then follow my video on how to make it. To my absolute surprise it went wild but we had no website and no way of taking anyone’s money and I had to go through each individual message on Instagram and get back to everyone. "The other problem was where to get the flowers, as up until then I had only used a small local grower who just didn’t have the capacity to supply me with the amount I needed. It was very tough as my daughters were so young, Orla was two and Florence just six months, and I was working all hours trying to look after them and run the business. I was on maternity leave but Chris decided to come into the business and my parents thought I was crazy, but I couldn’t have done it without them. We worked all hours and it was both exciting and chaotic, but The Suffolk Nest was born.” They created a website and at the start they only had three items for sale. One was an apothecary glass vase which they sold thousands of. They had a lot of hurdles
"INSTAGRAM IS MY BABY AND WE GET AROUND 100 TO 200 MESSAGES A DAY, WHICH IS A LOT TO DEAL WITH. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE PLATFORM AND IS A HUGE PRIORITY TO ME"
“We moved at Christmas which was a bit of a nightmare but I love Christmas and I managed to decorate the new house and put up a gorgeous garland on the fireplace mantle, and make it homely and cosy for our girls' first Christmas there.” Ashlee has some great advice for first time buyers who are working on a small budget but would still like faux flowers in their dream home. “My advice would be to buy just one arrangement or three or four stems that you love and arrange them in a simple vase. They don’t cost very much and will look sensational on a coffee table, in the kitchen, or bedroom. Buy something you really can’t resist and I know it will make a very big impact and you won’t have the expense of buying fresh flowers every week which can be pricey.” She looks after all the social media and has just hit over half a million followers on Instagram. She explained, ”Instagram is my baby and we get around 100 to 200 messages a day, which is a lot to deal with. It is an incredible platform and is a huge priority for me and sometimes Chris will help me with content to put up but it’s very precious to me – it’s where it all started! We are also on TikTok which is great too.” As if Ashlee wasn’t busy enough, she has also written a book, House of Flowers , published by Quercus, £25. It features 30 floral project ideas across each season and was published in March 2023 and hit the bestseller list on multiple occasions. “It was quite chaotic as I am not a writer, but I loved the creative side of it and all the wonderful photoshoots we did. It’s sold around 11,000 copies which is great and I am very pleased that I did it, even though it was tough.” Ashlee and Chris enjoy their holidays with the girls and even though they are both passionate about The Suffolk Nest, they try to spend as much family time as possible. The world-class faux flowers, arrangements and home decor pieces are stunning, but after talking to Ashlee I truly think her favourite is the Christmas wreaths she makes – it was, after all, where it all began.
to jump through as they needed to find more suppliers and sort out packaging. Then Ashlee was at a supplier and saw a eucalyptus stem which she was convinced was real but was actually faux. She said, “I asked how many stems they had and they came back and said just 80, so I bought them all. I packed them into the boot of my car and when I got home Chris was very surprised and asked how I proposed to sell them! They are still extremely popular today and three years on we work with different manufacturers and many different types of stems – it’s just grown and grown!” Chris came into the business full time around a year ago. It was a very big decision for them both as they have two young children and a mortgage. “I had a real inner belief that we would make it work. At the time we rented a warehouse, but within a year we had run out of space. We used to pack everything ourselves and often had to work nearly all night to get through the orders but we now employ someone to do it and we have a warehouse manager and executive. Chris looks after logistics and I look after everything else – I literally have a different hat on throughout the day!” They stopped dealing with fresh flowers a couple of years ago as shipping them created multiple problems. For starters they are perishable and hot weather can cause real problems, plus once they are with a courier anything might happen. “I didn’t want to get a reputation for sending dead flowers to our customers. I used to panic and not sleep just imagining what might go wrong and that made me resent the flowers, which was awful.We don’t do weddings any more either as they take up so much time and at weekends too and we really want to spend some family time with the girls as we are always so busy. “It seems incredible that a hobby has become my full-time career and we are in a period of huge growth at the moment and beginning to scale things up. I pride ourselves on our customer service though, as that is very important – some days I think we will take over the world and others I just go with the flow, but I am so happy and proud at what we have achieved.” Ashlee and the family live in Suffolk and have recently moved into a new home.
thesuffolknest.com @The_Suffolk_Nest
First Time Buyer June/July 2024 21
OVERGROUND
GOING OVERGROUND
Carrying more than three million customers a week and serving 113 stations and all nine London fare zones,The London Overground is one of the most successful railways in the country. In 2024 it is undergoing an exciting rebrand! Debbie Clark explores how the six new line names – and colours – will strengthen and celebrate the identity of the areas they serve, and identifies some of the best new developments for first time buyers in those areas
SO, WHAT ARE THESE NEW NAMES AND WHY ARE THEY SIGNIFICANT? THE WEAVER LINE: LIVERPOOL STREET TO CHESHUNT/ENFIELD TOWN/CHINGFORD
The London Underground map, designed by Harry Beck in 1931, is widely recognised as a design classic. However, as sections of the London Overground have been added since 2007, the parallel orange lines (that now represent over 100 miles of railway!) have proved confusing in comparison to their stylish underground counterparts. Responding to research by Transport for London (TfL), which indicated customers would find the Overground network easier to navigate if it wasn’t one colour and name, an independent research and naming process was undertaken by DNCO, a creative agency specialising in place branding and naming. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said, "This is a hugely exciting moment, transforming how we think about London's transport network. Giving each of the Overground lines distinct colours and identities will make it simpler and easier for passengers to get around. In reimagining London's tube map, we are also honouring and celebrating different parts of London's unique local history and culture. The new names and colours have been chosen through engagement with passengers, historians and local communities, reflecting the heritage and diversity of our amazing city."
The Weaver Line runs through Liverpool Street, Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and Hackney – areas known for the textile trade, and shaped by different migrant communities at different points in history.The Huguenots in the 17th century established a flourishing silk trade,
and in the next century, Irish weavers arrived searching for work after the collapse of the Irish linen trade. At the end of the 19th century and during the second world war, Jewish families fleeing antisemitism in eastern Europe moved to the area, revitalising the garment industry and maintaining the market at Petticoat Lane. By the 1960s, Bangladeshi immigration increased due to the area’s low-cost housing and work opportunities in the textile and garment industry.The Weaver Line also weaves its way up to Walthamstow, home to William Morris.
WALTHAMSTOW – THE WEAVER LINE Forest Road E17
There are 90 one bedroom, energy-ef cient apartments available at a 20% discount to the local market. Situated within minutes of Lloyd Park and opposite the Grade II* listed William Morris Gallery, Forest Road E17 has a host of communal spaces for residents to enjoy, including two roof terraces. Here, residents can make use of the shared allotment beds to grow fruit and veg, use the space to exercise, or relax with neighbours.
pocketliving.com/projects/development/32-forest-road-e17-waltham-forest 020 7291 3683
22 First Time Buyer June/July 2024
OVERGROUND
THE LIONESS LINE: EUSTON TO WATFORD JUNCTION
CASE STUDY
Running through the heart of Wembley,The Lioness Line honours the historic achievements and lasting legacy created by the England women’s football team. The Lionesses enjoyed their greatest triumph when they won the UEFA Women’s EURO final in 2022. Their success in this tournament, along with their
memorable run to the FIFA Women’s World Cup final a year later, have attracted millions of fans and had a significant impact on the sport’s participation numbers; 2.3 million more women and girls were inspired to play football.The Lionesses continue to inspire and empower the next generation of women and girls in sport.
Diego , a Technical Account Manager, purchased his two bedroom shared ownership apartment (including parking) in November 2023. He paid a deposit of £11,500 for a 25% share of the £460,000 home at Harrow and Wealdstone Heights. Diego explains, “I had previously been privately renting a two bedroom home in north London. Before that, I had owned a property in Bedford but had relocated back to London to be closer to my kids.” He was keen to get back on the property ladder. Diego was aware of the shared ownership scheme but was unsure as to whether he would qualify having previously owned a property. Upon enquiring with the Origin team, he quickly learnt that he would be, as his income fell under the £90,000 threshold for London and he did not own a property or part of one at the time of application. Diego searched online for north London homes. “I hadn’t previously considered Harrow,” he admits, “but when I came across Origin Housing and its new development, the apartments looked really great, so I knew I had to check it out!” He researched journey times and found it was an easy journey to both his son in Burnt Oak and his daughter in En eld. “I took both of them to see the apartment,” he says, “and they loved it as well, so I knew it was the place for me.” Diego was really impressed by how much he would get for his money. He says, “The apartments were really spacious and I could easily t two single beds with a desk in the second bedroom for my kids.” Diego was also attracted by the local amenities and transport links. The development is also pet friendly, which was important to Diego as he has an eight-month-old puppy, Elvis. Diego is delighted with his new investment. “The whole process was really quick,” he reports. “I had a positive experience from start to nish.” Looking ahead to his future, he says, “My long-term plan is de nitely to staircase in the future – I’d like to own a greater share in my apartment. For now, I’m enjoying settling into a routine and having my kids come to stay – it’s fantastic to have more space as they get older.”
ALPERTON – THE LIONESS LINE Liberty Wharf
Liberty Wharf in Alperton offers a collection of
one, two, and three bedroom apartments available through shared ownership, by the historic Grand Union Canal. Liberty Wharf is ideal for city lovers seeking a home with easy access to leisurely towpath walks, runs and bike rides. It has the added bonus of being close to popular local parks and green spaces. Liberty Wharf is just an 18-minute walk to the Overground and a 10-minute walk to Alperton station, where the Piccadilly Line takes just 24 minutes to South Kensington or 34 minutes to Leicester Square. Alperton is packed full of neighbourhood cafes and culinary hotspots, with a diverse and welcoming community. Homes offer high-speci cation interiors, oor- to-ceiling windows and secluded communal gardens and kitchens include an integrated fridge-freezer, oven and electric hob. The two and three bedroom apartments have secure underground car parking available, and all homes are kitted out with a video entry system.
HARROW – THE LIONESS LINE Eastman Village Eastman Village is a regeneration project on the site of the former Kodak factory which will provide over 2,000 new homes, a school, shops, leisure and community facilities, a new medical centre and commercial space. The development will offer electric car charging points, free car club membership for residents and plenty of cycle storage. Commuters will be able to reach Euston in just 13 minutes via Harrow & Wealdstone station, on the Lioness Line, which is only a 14-minute walk away. barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/dev002159- eastman-village 0343 253 8918
liberty-wharf.co.uk 0300 100 0308
*Based on a 25% share with a full market value of £333,000
THE LIBERTY LINE: ROMFORD TO UPMINSTER
The Liberty Line celebrates the freedom that is a defining feature of London. It runs through Havering and the name is indicative of the unique
independence of the area, reflecting its past, present and future. Liberty references the motto of the London Borough of Havering, and its historical status as a royal liberty, which also gives its name to the Royal Liberty School in Gidea Park and the Liberty Shopping Centre in Romford. It also reflects the independent spirit of the Havering community.The line links the borough to the rest of London by connecting it to the Elizabeth Line, and enables residents to enjoy the freedom and independence that public transport provides; it gives them the liberty to explore the capital now and in the future.
First Time Buyer June/July 2024 23
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