All smiles for a brand new start at Stanground

The old saying ‘new home, new baby’ certainly came true for first-time buyers Blake and Sandy Van Eeden, because just a week after celebrating the birth of their first child Millie, the couple collected the keys to their new Bovis Home at Milbey Manor in Stanground, a move that was made possible thanks to the government’s Help to Buy scheme.

Help to Buy is exclusive to new homes and requires a 5% deposit, allowing the buyer access to a 75% mortgage and a government equity loan of 20%, and it helped the Van Eedens move  into a spacious, three-bedroom ‘Draycott’ town house.

“The scheme worked really well for us and our circumstances,” said Blake. “Finding more than a 5% deposit would have been really difficult and we would probably have had to settle for something smaller.”

The couple had been renting a one-bedroom coach house in Surrey and after getting married a year ago were keen to get a place of their own and start a family. House prices in Surrey were proving way out of reach so the Van Eedens began looking in Peterborough – where Sandy’s family already live.

“We initially viewed some second-hand properties in the area but didn’t like the idea of ongoing refurbishment and maintenance costs,” explained Blake.  “New build is so much easier as everything is done for you and you just move in, plus you have build warranties for peace of mind.”

The Van Eedens looked at several new builds before falling for their Bovis Home, and Blake says they couldn’t be happier: “We absolutely love it and everything is spot-on. The three-storey design gives us a lot more space and having three bedrooms, one with an en suite, is ideal now we have Millie.

“There is a study for Sandy to work from home after her maternity leave and we’ve got a garage, parking space and a garden for when Millie gets older. We’ve even got a third bedroom should Millie get a brother or sister in the future. For us it makes a perfect family home.”

Find out more information about Help to Buy

For more information about Bovis Homes visit www.bovishomes.co.uk