Help to Buy opens young couple’s housing horizons

Over 150,000 homebuyers have now been able to secure a new home thanks to the government-backed Help to Buy scheme, among them first-time buyers Samuel Brant and Kathy Cook, who recently opened the door to their new home at Taylor Wimpey’s Badgers Rise development in Ketley, Telford.

“Help to Buy was perfect for us – it definitely allowed us to widen our horizons when we were shopping around as well as gifting us some financial breathing space,” says Samuel, a trainee accountant.

“When we decided to move in together and take our first step on the property ladder, we chose to stay in Telford in order to stay close to family and friends but also due to work commitments. We’d also received a good recommendation from my sister who moved to the development in early May 2015.

“What appealed to us about a new build home was the fact that we were able to customise the interior and with DIY being neither of our strong points, this made the choice a lot easier. The NHBC warranty included with a new build property also gives you some peace of mind.”

Samuel and Kathy bought a three-bedroom ‘Ashton’ house type at the scheme, part of the Telford Millennium Village development just three miles from Telford’s town centre. “We chose the ‘Ashton’ as it’s a three-storey property with bundles of space which is showcased by the master bedroom occupying the entire top floor. Kathy just fell in love with it!”

Help to Buy’s shared equity scheme requires buyers to provide just 5% as a deposit, which is supplemented by a government equity loan of 20% of the property price, interest-free for the crucial first five years after moving in. The loan can be paid back over a period of time, or paid off when the property is later sold.

As is often the case, it’s the personal relationship between buyer and seller which really makes an impression and the couple were delighted by the housebuilder’s team on site. “The Taylor Wimpey staff were helpful in guiding and advising us through the entire home buying process. We received constant updates on how the house was progressing,” says Samuel.

It’s not just the bricks and mortar that appeals to the couple, either. “Badgers Rise is marketed as eco-friendly area with lots of greenery,” adds Samuel, “providing us with a nice view from our house. The development definitely isn’t just bricks and concrete, it has character.”

There’s currently a selection of two-bedroom apartments available at Badgers Rise, priced from £101,995. The sales and marketing suite is open Thursday to Monday, from 11.00am to 5.00pm.

Find out more at www.taylorwimpey.co.uk ; 01952 456213