Help to Buy unlocks dream home for couple in Havant
Ruth McNamara and her partner Jeremy Hart felt that getting onto the property ladder was an impossible task, but then they visited Linden Homes’ Hawthorn Mews development in Bedhampton.
Before visiting the development, the couple were renting in Chichester, West Sussex and were struggling to find a way to make the move from renting to owning.
Ruth explains: “We were renting for about four years together down in Chichester. And renting these days is expensive – you’re basically paying for someone else’s mortgage and costs to cover the property. So we decided we wanted our own place, but were trying to find a way to do it affordably. You obviously need the deposit, but also the solicitor’s fees and stamp duty which add more cost to the move. We were also aware that property in Chichester would be very expensive.”
With family in Guildford and jobs in West Sussex, location was a big factor for the couple. Bedhampton wasn't an area they'd considered, but then Jeremy found Hawthorn Mews, tucked away at the northern end of Langstone Harbour in the borough of Havant. Available on the Help to Buy scheme, the development has proved popular with young professionals.
Ruth explains: “Jeremy had found the development and we’d done our research on Help to Buy. Our financial advisor had recommended the scheme to us too, to make buying a home more affordable, so we felt confident that the scheme would be secure and the best way to get on the ladder.”
Once they stepped inside the show home, the couple were convinced that Hawthorn Mews was the place for them. Ruth comments: “We fell in love with the show house. The look, the feel of the place – it just felt like home! It was beautifully dressed – everything from the kitchen finish through to the bathroom fixtures and garden. At that moment I knew I wanted to live there.”
Ruth continues: “We wouldn’t have been able to buy a home without Help to Buy. When you’re renting you pay over the odds anyway and then having to save for the deposit on top of general living costs is so hard nowadays. Help to Buy allowed us to secure that all important deposit and luckily my parents very kindly gave us a large proportion of the monies we needed which helped pay for our deposit and solicitor’s fees to make it happen. The monthly repayments are really affordable and we’ve got such a beautiful house we can now enjoy.”
Ruth and Jeremy were very impressed with the quality of their new Linden Homes house.
The couple explored other options before committing to Hawthorn Mews. Ruth says: “We looked around a number of developments by different housebuilders, but this one really stood out. With so many of them you get a shell and everything from turf to a tap has to be paid for on top; you really get a bare minimum! Our house from Linden Homes is beautifully finished and we had all the white goods included as standard. Our garden was turfed and even came with a shed and a padlock – which was amazing as they are lots of expensive items we haven’t had to fork out for!”
The happy first-time buyers both love how peaceful their new place is. Ruth comments: “The homes are carefully arranged and it’s not a through-road so it means the road is really quiet. We have a dog called Bert and being so close to Portsdown Hill with all of its dog walks is perfect for us to go and enjoy the great outdoors. I have already joined the local gym so we are definitely taking advantage of the local amenities in the area.”
Susan Whiting, marketing manager at Linden Homes South comments: “It’s so wonderful to see more first-time buyers getting a leg up onto the property ladder. The townhouses at Hawthorn Mews are perfect for young professionals like Ruth and Jeremy who like having lots of space to enjoy and share with friends, family and their dog alike! It’s great that the location has unlocked a great work / life balance too and we’re sure to see more people like this couple taking advantage of the development with all it has to offer.”
Find out more about Hawthorn Mews from Linden Homes