Help To Buy Sees Tom Swap London For Berkshire

After renting in West London, a solo buyer has purchased an apartment at David Wilson Homes’ Newbury Racecourse to get onto the property ladder.

Home to a wide range of apartments and houses, the development on Home Straight boasts panoramic views over Newbury Racecourse itself, as well as a good range of local amenities.

Tom Pugh (27), a territory sales manager, has recently purchased his first home, climbing onto the property ladder with a two-bedroom apartment. Originally from Poole in Dorset, Tom was renting in west London but wanted to get onto the property ladder himself. Buying a new build home appealed to him, as well as the location of Newbury Racecourse, which still presented him with easy access to London.

Tom said: “With my work, I have to travel to and from multiple customers who have offices along the M4, so Newbury is perfectly positioned to give me easy access to commute. This new home is ideal because it sits on Newbury Racecourse, giving a great view of the races from my balcony as well as greenery within walking distance.”

Tom purchased an apartment in Porter House, which is a block of apartments on the edge of the development. Through buying a new build property, he was able to customise aspects of the apartment, such as having an extra shower and being able to choose his carpets and tiles. The layout of the apartment appealed to him as having two bedrooms enables him to work from home comfortably, and the location enables easy access to client meetings, as well as the benefits of the capital.

Tom continued: “The experience with David Wilson Homes has been very positive. The sales team have been especially responsive and have always strived to share as much detail as possible; despite the challenges of going through the process of buying during the pandemic. All members of the David Wilson Homes team have been friendly and actively took an interest in my purchase to ensure I had the best possible experience.”

Moving out of London has been a relief for Tom, with a quieter surrounding area, but still retaining convenient transport links to use when needed.

He continued: “The local area is lovely and a drastic change to what I was used to living in London, for example. I now wake up to deer grazing across the racecourse, rather than the sound of sirens.”

Tom used the Help to Buy scheme and added: “As a first time buyer purchasing on my own, it really helped with the upfront capital and enabled me to purchase a property I wanted, rather than just what I could afford.

“My advice to someone who is looking to get on the property ladder is to stop thinking about it, and when you can financially, do it. It is a liberating feeling to no longer be paying someone else's mortgage and instead be investing in my own financial future.”

Rob Allen, sales director at David Wilson Homes Southern, said: “We are delighted to give Tom the opportunity to get onto the property ladder, and to help other first-time buyers purchase with the Help to Buy scheme. The location of our Newbury Racecourse community is truly unique, and the range of homes available offer beautiful views and a stunning location in an area with a rich heritage, while keeping the city accessible and having a good selection of local amenities.”

There is currently a selection of one-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes available at Newbury Racecourse with prices starting at £489,000. Find out more from David Wilson Homes.

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