Housebuilder Countryside has helped two couples looking for a brand new home in Kent find the perfect option at its developments in Royal Tunbridge Wells and Chatham.
After spending the last five years living in a two-bedroom apartment in Stourbridge, West Midlands, Georgie, 26 and her fiancé Luke, 31, with a wedding on the horizon, decided it was time to take the next step in their life.
Georgie, a finance manager and Luke, a sports coach, made the move down south seeking an area that was commutable to both London and Brighton for future career opportunities, and that provided excellent schools and a flourishing neighbourhood with a close-knit community.
After making the journey south to Royal Tunbridge Wells, the couple discovered Regency Grange and found their forever home.
Georgie commented: “It was actually my parents who introduced us to the area as after moving here in September 2019. My Dad had been familiar with Royal Tunbridge Wells having previously lived in nearby Maidstone and couldn’t stop going on about how great the location was. They suggested we come and visit, so we went online and found Regency Grange. When we made the trip, we knew straight away it was for us. The sun was out, and everything was lit perfectly through the front double-aspect windows.”
Luke added: “Our new house is positioned in such a fantastic spot. There is a real sense of community locally, as well as in the town centre. For when our family grows, we have good schools, a cricket club and a local gym all within walking distance – it’s perfect for us.
“We wanted our home to be somewhere that didn’t feel too alien from our old city life. It was certainly a change, but the local area has many cafes and shops nearby, allowing us to have the same creature comforts. We also now have the benefit of fantastic country walks for the weekends and we’re never too far from cities such London and Brighton which is great for both our careers.”
Georgie echoed Luke’s sentiment surrounding the ideal family environment on offer at Regency Grange. She said: “From the beginning, we were impressed with the diversity of the nightlife and weekend activities on offer. We didn’t want to compromise on our lifestyle and thankfully we didn’t have to. We have so many local high street pubs, gin and cocktail bars and restaurants.”
Whilst the Kent town is what initially drew Georgie and Luke to the area, the couple continue to fall in love with their home every day. The couple live at the house with their two three-year-old guinea pigs.
“It was literally love at first sight – and still is. We wake up feeling like we live in a plush hotel. We’ve been really impressed with the quality and finish of the house. Unlike other new builds that we have visited, everything is fitted and has worked well from day one. We can’t wait to spend forever in our new home.”
Homes at Regency Grange start from £480,000.
For a fair chunk of their lives, Jake Cox and his fiancé Megan, both 26, have lived their life in south-east London. With a wedding on the horizon, the couple decided it was time to take the next step and find new a spot to plant their feet and start a new life out of London.
Jake, who works as a professional barber and part-time musician and Megan, a council worker, wanted to move somewhere that allowed for a tranquil lifestyle by the water, whilst also being within commuting distance to London. After making the southern journey to St Mary’s Island at Chatham, the couple soon discovered they had found their dream destination.
Jake and Megan
Jake commented: “We always thought we would live on the coast; waterside living was always a top priority and then after seeing the island and the community on offer, we knew straightaway it was for us. To make our decision more perfect, The Boathouse hairdressers was right opposite the show home which I knew I could potentially operate out of. I even started working there before we moved and while speaking to customers, I just got more and more excited about moving here. I could tell that the community really looked out for one another and I’ve already established my business in the area”.
Megan was equally as happy to have made the move through lockdown as she swapped a view of the bedroom wall and now is able to gaze across the marina at the boats and water.
Jake added: “Our new house is positioned in such a fantastic spot, but we were also very impressed with the high quality of design. We love the open plan kitchen and living room, it works well and give us a great space for when we want to entertain and have people around.
“We thought buying through Covid would be a hard and difficult process. After spending over a year really saving and sacrificing our lifestyles, we were worried what Covid would do to the sales process and the market. We couldn’t be more pleasantly surprised, the sales team were great, and the property was finished to such a high standard and the neutral colour palette meant we could add little bits that we wanted.”
Whilst the prospect of waterside living is what initially drew Jake and Megan to the island,the couple continue to fall in love with their home every day and have found a great appreciation for the history of the island.
Jake commented “Our old house overlooks a submarine port during the Second World War and when we go for walks in the surrounding green areas and forests, there are loads of little plaques dotted around to remind us of the history”.
Find out more at www.countrysideproperties.com.
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