Thanks to an assistance scheme offered by WhatHouse? Award-winning Weston Homes, young couple Jade and Jake – together with their cat Franco – have found an ideal first home at a development called 1023 West, in the Essex commuter town of Brentwood.
They used the housebuilder’s Discount Market Sale scheme (DMS), which is available on selected plots at a number of current Weston Homes developments, is offered in collaboration with the local authority, providing buyers with the opportunity to purchase a new apartment with a saving of up to 30% whilst still giving the buyer 100% of the ownership. Buyers just need to live or work in one of the areas required for the scheme to be valid, and there are other eligibility terms and conditions.
Jake, a 25-year-old graphic designer first met 25-year-old paralegal Jade on a friends’ night out near their family homes in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. After two years together, they both decided it was time to leave home and fly the nest: “Neither of us thought we’d be able to afford to buy a place of our own and planned instead to save up and go travelling.”
Despite this decision, the couple were still looking at properties for the future and discovering 1023 West became a turning point. Jake recalled: “We could not believe the price. The one-bedroom apartments were advertised at £320,000, but we used the Discount Market Sale scheme, and with our travelling savings as our deposit, we bought for £265,000 and fixed our mortgage for two years.”
Jade, who read law at Manchester, handled all the contracts, and notes how Weston Homes made the process that much easier: “We used the Weston Homes mortgage broker, and it all went very smoothly.”
Having moved in just a few months ago, the couple’s space currently boasts only a borrowed sofa and a budget-friendly storage bed, along with the lively Franco, their black kitten with needle-sharp claws. Jake recalled: “When Franco arrived, we had a face-off to establish who was in charge. Of course, Franco had all the weapons, and I sensibly retreated.”
The floor-to-ceiling windows of their living area open to a balcony overlooking a peaceful grassy bank, offering a serene view that Jake appreciates: “The window is almost always open, and the flats are so warm; we only ever seem to put the heating on for an hour.”
Show home at 1023 West
And although he and Jade have yet to kit out their new home, he added: “The amount of fittings Weston Homes includes as standard instantly makes it a home when you move in.”
All apartments at 1023 West feature quartz stone kitchen worktops, a wide range of integrated appliances, a sink with integrated removable chopping board, tap with hose-spray extension, instant boiling and filtered water tap and neat integrated soap dispenser. The luxurious bathrooms and en suite bathrooms have integrated vanity storage, Fascino digitally controlled Smart taps, Smart baths and Smart walk-in double showers, mirrors with LED lighting, shaver socket, digital clock and de-mist feature. Other features include oak strip wood flooring to the entrance hall, kitchen and living areas, deep woven carpets to the bedrooms and superfast broadband, ideal for home working.
The couple have now begun to build a life at 1023 West, even joining in on the community at the development, sharing interior design tips and skills with their young neighbours, one of whom is, very usefully, an electrician.
“The day we moved in, four other couples moved in, too,” said Jake. “Now we have 50 people on our group chat, and we are planning a party. I think we have to find out who has the biggest flat!”
Aside from the affordable price, it was the allure of the town of Brentwood, with its cobbled town centre, good schools, and family-friendly community, coupled with the proximity to work and leisure, that drew the couple in. Jade, working as a paralegal in London Bridge, takes advantage of her free Transport for London travel pass: “My mum works for TfL, so I take the train to Stratford and use my pass.”
Suzanne Aplin, group sales & marketing director of Weston Homes, said: “Nestled on the edge of London, Brentwood provides open countryside on the doorstep as well as direct, speedy connections into the city, making 1023 West the ideal place to live for commuters. With a diverse mix of popular chain restaurants, independent bars and cafés, boutique shops, and well-known brands, the nearby High Street provides residents with unrivalled options.”
Buyers looking to make the move like Jade and Jake must hurry, for there is only a final number of two-bedroom homes at the development remaining. 1023 West is a development of 81 converted and newly built one- and two-bedroom apartments and three- and four-bedroom houses located within attractive gardens and mature landscaped grounds. The homes, all with private outdoor space.
The two-bedroom apartments at 1023 West start from £399,995. The show home and marketing suite is open daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm.
Find out more about 1023 West from Weston Homes.
Find new homes in Essex
Find new Shared Ownership homes in Essex
Find retirement homes in Essex