Posted 30 November 2023 by
Keith OsborneHumayun Jamshed (40), his wife Wajeeha (38) and their son Mohammed (15) decided to head north up the M1 to find the perfect new home in late 2022, swapping Slough for David Wilson Homes’ Linmere development in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire.
The family were able to upgrade from a two-bedroom apartment in the Berkshire town to a three-bedroom home, moving in just before Christmas 2022, having been searching for the best part of the year.
Humayun, an accounts manager at G4S, commented: “We knew that we had to move out of Berkshire and one place which was much healthier on the wallet was Bedfordshire. Despite being so close to London, the area’s property prices are plenty more affordable than places like St Albans, Harpenden and Hemel Hempstead. We looked at a few other new build developments in the county, however when we visited Linmere we instantly knew it was the right place for us.
“The one thing which struck us was the transport links, with the development being a five-minute drive away from the M1 and a short drive to Leagrave railway station too. We couldn’t compromise on changing jobs, so our commute to our offices in west London was key.
“Value for money was essential. Being couped up in a two-bedroom property in Slough just wasn’t working for a growing family and as our son becomes more independent, we knew we needed a larger family home before our son started the most important years of his education. We are glad that buying a bigger home has meant that we haven’t had to compromise too much on our finances. Our rental apartment cost us £1,150 a month on rent, and now our mortgage is £1,251 a month which is on a 4.09% fixed rate for two years with Precise Mortgages – so no huge change.”
Humayun and his wife were able to get onto the property ladder thanks to the government’s popular low-deposit Help to Buy scheme. Whilst this has now ended, David Wilson North Thames’ Deposit Unlock is expected to work in a similar way, allowing buyers to purchase with just a 5% deposit. Terms and conditions apply.
“Having been stuck in the rental trap all of our lives, achieving a 10 or 15% deposit would have simply been unattainable. Being able to aspire to a deposit of 5% was much better for us however, and without it we would have really struggled to stretch ourselves to buy a decent sized property that we needed. It is wonderful waking up every day in a property which we can call our own, and it was a fantastic 40th birthday present for me to take a step on the property ladder!
“Not being in rental accommodation also brings other benefits, as we have recently bought a cat called Izzy which we wouldn’t have been able to have in our previous apartment. It has been a real treat for the family, and she is loving all the green open space on the development.”
Marc Woolfe, director of sales and marketing at David Wilson North Thames, commented: “Originally created as a response to get Britain building after the Second World War, new towns have a proven track record of boosting local economies, providing quality homes in areas people want to live, and ensuring residents have access to as many facilities as they need, thus creating relatively autonomous communities. As Labour pledge to reinstate new towns, the M1 corridor around Milton Keynes has been tipped as a target area.
“We are seeing an increasing number of first-time buyers heading north up the M1 in search of more reasonable house prices – so it is unsurprising that Milton Keynes will likely be a key beneficiary should Labour’s plans for new towns go ahead. At our Clipstone Park development in Leighton Buzzard, just outside Milton Keynes, we are working with a consortium of developers to deliver self-sustained communities with facilities such as schools, shops and transport links within easy reach. And at Kingsbrook in Aylesbury, we have adopted a similar approach to create a near-enough garden city. The benefits of new towns mean that generations to come can look to adopt a more sustainable way of life, rather than needing to get in a car and drive simply to access essential services.”
On the energy efficiency of his new home, Humayun concluded: “Our energy bills in our previous apartment amounted to around £2,600 each year, and our current home is projected to be only £2,000 due to the energy efficiency rating of a B and no service charges, despite being far bigger – this is just the cherry on top of the cake for us!"
Sustainable features also coming to Linmere include 90 acres of public open space, 17 play areas for the community, electric car charging points, and new community allotments. Linmere is conveniently situated within walking distance to everyday amenities and local villages, whilst Dunstable Downs, which is part of Chiltern Hills, is just a ten-minute drive away, offering residents walking and cycling routes with views of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The newly launched David Wilson Homes’ Rent then Buy scheme is available on selected homes at Linmere. This allows buyers to purchase with just a 2.5% deposit paying ‘rent’ for the first six months, with the money paid each month eventually amounting to a 5% deposit to buy the home outright. Terms and conditions apply.
Prices start at £355,000. Find out more about DWH at Linmere.
Find out more about current David Wilson Homes developments in Bedfordshire.
Find new homes in Bedfordshire
Find new Shared Ownership homes in Bedfordshire
Find retirement homes in Bedfordshire