REAL LIFE
Shared ownership: Brighton
F or mum Lana, it’s a dream come true. She said, “We’re over the moon. It was really exciting to be one of the first families to move in.We had been living with my mum, close by, trying to save. We drove past the development every day and saw how amazing the apartments looked.We’d seen a few other places but when we looked round we knew it was for us, and additionally, it’s just a 20 minute drive from Brighton.” Their perfect home, a second floor, three bedroom, two bathroom apartment, has a large and beautiful terrace. The apartment is also double aspect, allowing natural light to pour in and create a feeling of even more space. As well as allocated parking for all homes, for added convenience, the home was purchased through shared ownership. This has not only enabled Lana and Liam to secure a 30% share of the property against a deposit of £12,000, but also made it possible for them to comfortably afford a home that would provide ample space for their family. Lana said: “When the apartments were first released, we knew we really wanted to go for the three bedroom option.This would have been out of our budget if we’d have bought outright but it was more affordable because of shared ownership and it took less time to save for the deposit too. “Our monthly outgoings, which include the rent to Hyde New Homes, our mortgage repayments and service charge, are the same as if we were renting, but we know that the money is going into something that is ours, which has given us a sense of security. “I would recommend shared ownership to anyone. It’s made homeownership affordable for us.The team at Hyde New Homes was incredibly helpful at guiding us through the conveyancing process and made it a stress-free experience.” Isla attends the nearby school, which was a real draw for Lana who works as a deputy manager at a residential children’s home. She added, “The fact that the school is so close means there’s no rushed school run, and we can even walk to school in the mornings, which makes getting to work easier too. There is so much natural light and space, and we even have a spare bedroom for when family or friends come Bluebell Heights is a growing community nestled at the foot of the South Downs, and thanks to shared ownership, first time buyers Liam Barber, 28, his partner Lana Stoner, 26, and her daughter Isla, five, along with Daisy the dog, can now call Bluebell Heights home
FACT FILE
Property: Three bedroom apartment Share: £123,750 for a 30% share with a full market value of £412,500 Deposit: £12,000
"WE KNEW WE REALLY WANTED TO GO FOR THE THREE BEDROOM OPTION. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF OUR BUDGET IF WE’D HAVE BOUGHT OUTRIGHT BUT IT WAS MORE AFFORDABLE BECAUSE OF SHARED OWNERSHIP"
points to selected plots. Every resident has access to a fantastic travel incentive, which includes a subsidised bus pass, car club membership and offers on cycle hire or purchase*. Liam, who works in construction, said, “The location is perfect, it’s really easy to commute and it was of primary importance to me that where we ended up needed to be accessible. There are some really good public transport routes locally too.” With a bus route from Coldean into Brighton and ready access to the A23 and A27 towards London,Worthing, Chichester and Eastbourne, residents will always be well connected. Or take the train from Falmer station to Brighton in just nine minutes for convenient access to central London and beyond. For more information, please visit hydenewhomes.co.uk/bluebell-heights to make an appointment and visit the fully dressed show home on-site *Please speak to sales consultants for more information on the subsidised bus pass, car club membership and offers on cycle hire or purchase schemes.
to stay. Liam’s family are from up North and now they can stay in the spare bedroom instead of heading to a hotel. We also love the ample communal gardens, as well as the fact that they lead directly on to Stanmer Park, just behind the development.We walk our pug Daisy there every day." The stylish homes at Bluebell Heights have been built to be both energy-efficient and cost-efficient, with superior insulation, double-glazed windows and solar panels on the roofs.With each new home, purchasers enjoy the comfort and convenience of a selected choice of contemporary kitchens with integrated appliances, and quality flooring as standard. On selected homes there are even high-quality en suites available, along with built-in wardrobes in the main bedroom, adding that extra sense of luxury. It’s the kitchen that’s Lana’s favourite, she explained, “It’s open plan and just feels so spacious. This was always going to be an important space for us, it’s where everyone hangs out.” Hyde New Homes prioritises sustainable transport options at Bluebell Heights, with cycle storage and electric car charging
90 First Time Buyer June/July 2024
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