Hf may 2015 single page version

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AT T R A C T I V E , A C C E S S I B L E , A F F O R D A B L E H O M E S

Shared Ownership and Help to Buy

LOOKING TO BUY

YOUROWN

HOME?

LINDA BARKERgives her views on design, buying a first home and affordable housing

‘We wouldn’t have been able to afford our property without Help to Buy’ says Natalie and David

Interior Designer

MADE MORE AFFORDABLE

MAY/JUNE 2015

TELECOMMUNICATING ALARM FROM YALE

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n The latest affordable developments in your region n Who to ask and where to find an affordable home n Advice on legal and mortgage matters from specialistsn Information about shared ownership, New Build HomeBuy, FirstBuy, and all low cost home ownership schemes

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Publisher’sComment

DON’T WAIT FOR THE HOUSING CRISIS TO BE SOLVED!By the time you read this you’ll know who has won the Election.

Or at least who is forming a Coalition. And what’s for sure, is

that whoever they are, they will have a policy on affordable

homes.

Housing has been an important issue right through the build up

to the election, with promises of hundreds of thousands of new

homes to be built. All of the main parties have acknowledged

that everyone needs a home that is right for them, at a price

they can afford. And all of them have a stated aim to end the

housing crisis within a generation.

Within a generation? That’s great for your children but what

about you? The fact is, whether we think we can afford it or not,

most of us want to own our own home. And we want it before

we’re too old to enjoy it.

It’s quite right to vote for your future, for the sort of country

you want to live in and how you feel society should be. But

it’s crucial to take action on how you want to live your life and

where you want to live it, right now. This issue of homefocus

will help you work out your finances, think about what kind of

property your income could buy you, how much you’ll need

to save to get you there and if the shared ownership or Help

to Buy programmes could make the difference between you

getting onto the home ownership ladder soon …or waiting for

those thousands of promised homes to be built.

Happy home hunting

Jeffrey Gritzman • Publisher

ISSN No 1470-0360

ADVISORY PANELMaddie Cross LONDON BOROUGH OF BEXLEY

Dave Evans BE CREATIVE LONDON Tony Harker GENESIS HOMES

Dave Lakin GRAND UNION HOUSING GROUP Yvette Ruggins SOUTH PARK ASSOCIATES

Isabel Saville CONCORDIA HOUSING CONSULTANCY

Simon Scott ORIGIN HOUSING

Sharon Shaw MARTIN SHAW CONSULTING

Richard Stone CENSEO LTD

Andrew Theoff DIRECTION LAW

Helen Towner HOMES AND COMMUNITIES AGENCY

Greg Warner-Harris SPECTRUM HOUSING GROUP

Chris Winfield LONDON BOROUGH OF BRENT

EDITORAlex Randell

e-mail: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS & GENERAL ENQUIRIESJulie Baugh Tel: 01622 772407


PUBLISHER Jeffrey Gritzman Tel: 01622 772407


PUBLISHED BYGraid Publications, Kent House, Romney Place

Maidstone, Kent ME15 6LHTel: 01622 772407

DESIGN & PRODUCTIONJohn Eldridge Design Associates

Website: www.homefocus.co.uk

www.facebook.com/homefocus

www.twitter.com/homefocus

homefocus

Supports the aims of homefocus

homefocus • MAY/JUNE 2015 3

From house hunting

to house warming

3414

17

Hot properties 12 Midlands A selection of affordable homes in the midlands region of the country – as defined by the Homes & Communities Agency

16 London And some in the capital

20 South Affordable properties in the south

24 East & South East And some from east & south east region

28 South West Finally, find affordable homes in the south west corner of the country

Just for you 3 Publisher’s comment Don’t wait for the housing crisis to be solved!

ContentsMAY/JUNE 2015

Buying Guide 6 Destination home ownership Sat nav your way to an affordable home

8 We’ll get you thereA route map of the affordable schemes

10 The family wayNew baby, new home…

40 Pre-owned and creating more choice Who says it has to be new-build?

42 Ahead of the pack Can you find the next great place to be? You’ll get a head start on property prices.

48 Finding your place on the ladderLow cost home ownership brings buying opportunities to different all kinds of people

Celebrity Status 34 In Conversationwith interior designer and TV presenter Linda Barker who says ‘it doesn’t matter if it’s large or small, home is where we should feel loved’

Where next? Homefinder DirectoriesOr search affordable homes at www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you

54 Introduction

55 Shows and Events

56 Property Listings

59 South West

60 East and South East

62 London

64 Midlands

65 South

66 Legal Directory


Contact us... E-MAIL: [email protected] PHONE: 0845 474 4734

MAIL: homefocus magazine, Kent House, Romney Place, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6LH

Lifestyle 36 Totally tropicalFeel as if you’re always on holiday by decorating your home with a tropical feel

44 Perfect picnicsAs picnic season approaches, we’ve taken a look at some of the latest al fresco accessories

Great Advice 32 Never mind the b****cksShattering a few myths and misconceptions about shared ownership

38 Moving ChecklistWho to tell you’re on your way

46 Money, Money, Money Get yourself ready to get the best possible mortgage

50 What will my money buy?Some examples of what sort of property your income will get you under shared ownership and the Help to Buy schemes.

Competition 52 CompetitionWin a Yale Easy Fit telecommunication alarm worth £320

homefocus

18

52

12

WIN36

44


H eading in the direction of home ownership? Need to find the right place in the right price range and steer through

the minefield of deposits and mortgages? Have you already taken a turn down one road and found out it’s a dead end? Have house prices gone up, so after saving for ages, you still can’t afford to buy? It drives you round in circles doesn’t it?

So maybe you need a bit of guidance? You know where you want to end up....in a place of your own. One you can love and decorate how you choose. And if prices continue to rise, one that you can build some equity in, along with a real stake in your future. So now we’ve established where you want to go, let’s help you plan the route to get there.

The highway...There are schemes to get you on the road to home ownership far quicker than you might have thought possible. These schemes are far from expensive and may end up costing you less than renting privately. Sometimes a lot less.

The schemes are collectively called Affordable or Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO) and buying through one of them could be just what you need to get out of the cul-de-sac you’ve found yourself in and into your own home. And remember, it’s called affordable home ownership for good reason; it’s not cheap or smaller, but it’s made affordable. It’s programmed to allow you to live your life and leave enough over to take a little detour every now and again!

If home ownership is your destination, then take a look at some of the new-build LCHO homes we’ve found for you on our regional property pages from page 12 onwards. You’ll see we’ve given them estimated monthly costs – so you can check them against what you’re paying now, or what you might have to pay to rent a similar property. It’s good to have an idea of what you could be spending each month, to buy a home of your own. And just look at the figures on page 11. They compare buying and renting homes in different parts of the country. You may be pleasantly surprised at how often buying is the more cost efficient option.

Starting point…The key to finding a home through LCHO is your Help to Buy Agent. These are organisations appointed by the government to promote and co-ordinate LCHO in a particular area, and there’s a list of who they are and what areas they cover on page 54. Things work a little differently in London, but wherever you are, Help to Buy Agents will give you directions to get you going towards your own home.

The right direction...The majority of LCHO schemes are backed by the government, so you can be sure that the help you receive will be there for the long run. And unlike renting privately, where your landlord could decide not to renew your tenancy, leaving you needing to start your journey all over again, LCHO means that

Sat nav to a more affordable way to buy

DESTINATION HOME OWNERSHIP


Sounds good? Check out the next two pages and see if one of the LCHO schemes is right for you. You’ll find examples of people that did find their way to home ownership throughout the magazine.

Buyer’sGuide

your home will always be there for you, just as long as you pay your bills. So you and your family can start your journey to becoming part of the community.

Next journey...Once you’ve found your own place through LCHO, it’s flexible enough to change with you when your circumstances alter. You can buy more of your home until you own it outright – this is called staircasing. If you have a shared ownership home, in most cases you can staircase until you own 100%. For equity loan schemes, you can pay off some or all of the equity loan. And when you come to sell, your Local Help to Buy Agent will have a ready-made list of people who are hoping to buy through LCHO in your area. People who are in the same position you’re in now - keen to become home owners for the first time.

Two routes to home ownership…There are two main types of LCHO – shared ownership and equity loans. Both will get you to a place of your own and the one you choose depends on your particular circumstances. There’s no guarantee that both options will be available to you, although there are developments where both shared ownership and equity loans are available. There are more details of the schemes on the next two pages, but essentially they are:

Shared ownershipAlso known as part buy/part rent. This works by allowing you to buy a share of your home and pay a subsidised, less than market rent on the remainder, which is owned by a housing association. You’ll be expected to buy the largest share you can afford - but don’t worry, the key word here is “afford”, so you’ll be able to discuss what share is right for you.

Equity loansYou own 100% of your property, but initially, you’ll only have to cover a percentage of the cost with your mortgage and deposit. You can defer the rest for a while as it’s covered by the equity loan. You won’t have to pay anything on that equity loan for a few years, and the scheme you choose will dictate whether you pay any interest on this loan, and when you have to pay it back.

Is this the route for you? You may have already heard of LCHO but thought ‘it’s just for people with specific jobs or it’s social housing by a different name.’ Well, you couldn’t be more wrong! It’s home ownership, and you’ll take on all the responsibilities, and have all the

benefits, that go with it. LCHO is designed for a whole range of people who’ve been otherwise priced out of the market.

If you’re a first time buyer, or buying on your own for the first time and your household income is less than £60,000, (£66,000 if you’re looking for one or two bedrooms in London and £80,000 for three bedrooms or more) chances are you’re eligible for LCHO. For Help to Buy, the criteria is even wider.

You COULD be eligible for the schemes if…• You’re a first time buyer• You’ve owned a home in the past but don’t own one now • You need to buy a home of your own for the first time, for example after a relationship breakdown• You own your own home but it’s far too small for your needs – for example you have two children in a one-bedroom flat – and you can’t afford to buy somewhere bigger • You can’t otherwise afford to buy a suitable home in the area you need to live in• You’re working even though it’s not full time (you’ll have to show that you earn enough to cover your housing and living costs though. And you might be able to count long-term benefits towards your income)• You’ve got a large chunk of money to put down (for example if you have equity from a previous home after a relationship split and use that towards buying your share outright. Again, you’ll have to show you have enough coming in to cover your housing and living costs).

You’re NOT eligible for shared ownership if...• You already own a home that you’re living in and it’s adequate for your needs• You can already afford to buy a suitable home of your own in your area

You’re NOT eligible for any affordable home ownership scheme if...• You want to buy a property to rent out. LCHO funding is there to help people to buy a home, not to become a landlord• You already own a home and now want to help your adult child or children to get on the ladder. You can help them with their deposit BUT it’s your children who would have to apply and be eligible. • CCJ’s or a bad credit rating make it unlikely that you can pass financial assessments


Scheme type Shared ownership Help to Buy offers Try before you buy Discount offers

Scheme name New Build Resales Help to Buy Equity Loan Mortgage Guarantee Rent to Buy Discounted Market Sale

Intermediate Market Rent

DESTINATION You buy the share of your home you can afford (between 25% and 75%) and pay a subsidised rent on the remainder. You can buy more shares over time until in most cases you own 100% of your home. You may see shared ownership referred to as part buy/part rent.

These are properties that have already been bought through shared ownership in the past, and where the owners are now looking to sell their share and move on. You buy the share they are selling and pay a subsidised rent on the remainder. You might see resales referred to as ‘existing shared ownership’.

Available on newly built properties up to a value of £600,000. You buy 100% of your home but only have to pay for 80% initially. The rest is covered by an equity loan from the government. There’s nothing to pay on the equity loan for the first five years, after which there’s a small interest charge.

Designed to make 95% mortgages available to a wide range of people. More importantly it means that you only need to raise a 5% deposit. These mortgages will be available on new and older properties costing up to £600,000.

This is available on selected new developments and gives you the opportunity to rent the home you wish to buy at a reduced rate, on the understanding that you’ll buy it through shared ownership within a specific time. In London there’s a similar scheme called Rent to Save, ideal if you want to buy a home in the city.

Allows you to buy a new build property at a discount against market value. For example, the purchase price may be 50% of current market value (the precise discount changes property to property), but when you sell, the same discount is applied to the current market value. So the discount percentage is carried forward forever.

Offers you the chance to rent a brand-new or refurbished home or a home that is being re-let for a reduced rent. The rent charged is usually around 80% of the rent that you would expect to pay if you were renting from a private landlord

FREEFLOWINGTRAFFIC

Ideal if you live in an area where prices are high as you only need to buy the percentage you can afford (just as long as it’s over 25%). This means you need a smaller mortgage. It’s also perfect if you don’t have much in the way of savings as you only need to find the deposit for the share you’re buying.

Not limited to recently-built homes so properties are likely to be in established communities and you may have a wider choice of styles. There could be more flexibility with regards to who is eligible.

Great if you can almost afford your home but don’t have a thumping great deposit to start you off. You only have to find a 5% deposit. Not restricted to first time buyers, and doesn’t have the same income restrictions as shared ownership, so you can use the scheme to move to a larger home or one in a more expensive area.

It’s perfect if you can afford a mortgage for 95% of your home, but don’t have a large deposit. And as it’s available on existing properties as well as new ones, you can still benefit even if you want to live in an older home or somewhere that’s seen no new homes for a while.

Perfect if you can demonstrate that you could afford to buy 25% of your home, but are not in a position to do so straight away – for example you earn enough for a mortgage but don’t have a deposit saved. It gives you a chance to put down roots and move into your new home sooner.

Ideal in really high value areas such as central London. Particularly helpful if you can’t afford to buy on the open market or aren’t keen on paying rent.

Great if you’re looking to rent for the short term whilst building a deposit to buy your first home.

TRAFFIC ALERT As with the most of the schemes on these pages, the properties are all new-builds, which might not be to your taste. If you’re looking for period features, though, you might find a shared ownership home that’s a conversion of an older building.

You’re unlikely to be able to buy a smaller share than the previous owners are selling, though it may be possible to buy more. And you’re buying someone else’s taste in décor – though it’s fun to change it!

You still have to be able to afford 80% of your home with your mortgage and deposit, so if you live in a very expensive area house prices could still be out of reach.

You still have to be able to get a mortgage for 95% of your home, so might not be right for you if you want to live in an expensive area.

There are very few Rent to Buy properties available, and no more are planned outside London. You have to be disciplined to use the discount on your rent to save for your deposit.

Only available on a small number of new-build properties. The scheme is still in its infancy and the number of lenders and the choice of mortgage products is limited.

This is a shorthold tenancy agreement only, initially covering just 6 months, after which the agreement can be extended.

BUY FROM JUST 25% WITH A SMALL DEPOSIT

WIDE CHOICE NOT JUST FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS

FOR HIGHER WAGE EARNERS

SAVE TO BUY THE NEW HOME YOU’RE LIVING IN

OPENS UP PRICE RESTRICTED AREAS

TYPICALLY 20% LESS THAN MARKET RENT

WANT MORE INFORMATION? Call homefocus on 0845 4744734 or e-mail [email protected]

WE’LL GET YOU THERE... There’s more than one route to becoming a homeowner...

This page gives you an at-a-glance reference to all the schemes on offer, so if you find a home you like, you can check out the key points of the scheme...


What percentage of the home you need do you think you could buy with your deposit and mortgage?

Finding the right LCHO scheme can be a bit daunting, so focus on this question...

Scheme type Shared ownership Help to Buy offers Try before you buy Discount offers

Scheme name New Build Resales Help to Buy Equity Loan Mortgage Guarantee Rent to Buy Discounted Market Sale

Intermediate Market Rent

DESTINATION You buy the share of your home you can afford (between 25% and 75%) and pay a subsidised rent on the remainder. You can buy more shares over time until in most cases you own 100% of your home. You may see shared ownership referred to as part buy/part rent.

These are properties that have already been bought through shared ownership in the past, and where the owners are now looking to sell their share and move on. You buy the share they are selling and pay a subsidised rent on the remainder. You might see resales referred to as ‘existing shared ownership’.

Available on newly built properties up to a value of £600,000. You buy 100% of your home but only have to pay for 80% initially. The rest is covered by an equity loan from the government. There’s nothing to pay on the equity loan for the first five years, after which there’s a small interest charge.

Designed to make 95% mortgages available to a wide range of people. More importantly it means that you only need to raise a 5% deposit. These mortgages will be available on new and older properties costing up to £600,000.

This is available on selected new developments and gives you the opportunity to rent the home you wish to buy at a reduced rate, on the understanding that you’ll buy it through shared ownership within a specific time. In London there’s a similar scheme called Rent to Save, ideal if you want to buy a home in the city.

Allows you to buy a new build property at a discount against market value. For example, the purchase price may be 50% of current market value (the precise discount changes property to property), but when you sell, the same discount is applied to the current market value. So the discount percentage is carried forward forever.

Offers you the chance to rent a brand-new or refurbished home or a home that is being re-let for a reduced rent. The rent charged is usually around 80% of the rent that you would expect to pay if you were renting from a private landlord

FREEFLOWINGTRAFFIC

Ideal if you live in an area where prices are high as you only need to buy the percentage you can afford (just as long as it’s over 25%). This means you need a smaller mortgage. It’s also perfect if you don’t have much in the way of savings as you only need to find the deposit for the share you’re buying.

Not limited to recently-built homes so properties are likely to be in established communities and you may have a wider choice of styles. There could be more flexibility with regards to who is eligible.

Great if you can almost afford your home but don’t have a thumping great deposit to start you off. You only have to find a 5% deposit. Not restricted to first time buyers, and doesn’t have the same income restrictions as shared ownership, so you can use the scheme to move to a larger home or one in a more expensive area.

It’s perfect if you can afford a mortgage for 95% of your home, but don’t have a large deposit. And as it’s available on existing properties as well as new ones, you can still benefit even if you want to live in an older home or somewhere that’s seen no new homes for a while.

Perfect if you can demonstrate that you could afford to buy 25% of your home, but are not in a position to do so straight away – for example you earn enough for a mortgage but don’t have a deposit saved. It gives you a chance to put down roots and move into your new home sooner.

Ideal in really high value areas such as central London. Particularly helpful if you can’t afford to buy on the open market or aren’t keen on paying rent.

Great if you’re looking to rent for the short term whilst building a deposit to buy your first home.

TRAFFIC ALERT As with the most of the schemes on these pages, the properties are all new-builds, which might not be to your taste. If you’re looking for period features, though, you might find a shared ownership home that’s a conversion of an older building.

You’re unlikely to be able to buy a smaller share than the previous owners are selling, though it may be possible to buy more. And you’re buying someone else’s taste in décor – though it’s fun to change it!

You still have to be able to afford 80% of your home with your mortgage and deposit, so if you live in a very expensive area house prices could still be out of reach.

You still have to be able to get a mortgage for 95% of your home, so might not be right for you if you want to live in an expensive area.

There are very few Rent to Buy properties available, and no more are planned outside London. You have to be disciplined to use the discount on your rent to save for your deposit.

Only available on a small number of new-build properties. The scheme is still in its infancy and the number of lenders and the choice of mortgage products is limited.

This is a shorthold tenancy agreement only, initially covering just 6 months, after which the agreement can be extended.

BUY FROM JUST 25% WITH A SMALL DEPOSIT

WIDE CHOICE NOT JUST FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS

FOR HIGHER WAGE EARNERS

SAVE TO BUY THE NEW HOME YOU’RE LIVING IN

OPENS UP PRICE RESTRICTED AREAS

TYPICALLY 20% LESS THAN MARKET RENT

WANT MORE INFORMATION? Call homefocus on 0845 4744734 or e-mail [email protected]

Between 25% and 75%

Shared ownership could be right for you

Around 70% or more

Consider Help to Buy or an equity loan

100%, but I can only afford a 5% deposit Check out the mortgage guarantee schemes

I haven’t got enough for a deposit yet Time to start saving! Or take a look around for a try before you buy option

Buyer’sGuide

WE’LL GET YOU THERE...



T here are some events which are guaranteed to change your life. The main one, of course, is starting a family. And one of

the things that having a baby tends to change is where you live, and just as importantly, what you THINK about where you live.

Whether you’ve got another little person to be responsible for already, one on the way, or are just planning for the future, a lot of the things that were ‘ok for now’ are suddenly NOT ok any more. Are you sharing with friends? Well with a baby you really need your own space. Living with family? Privacy can be an issue. Renting a tiny flat on your own? Well, for their size, babies take up a LOT of space! A family means putting down roots and finding somewhere that has a feel of permanence about it.

Baby optionsSo, what do you do? Well buying your own place might be out of reach. Not only do you need a large deposit but then there are the mortgage repayments – just when starting a family can mean going down to one salary.

You could continue to rent. But if you’re already renting privately, you know that it takes up a big chunk of your income. Sometimes, so much that it’s virtually impossible to save any money for a deposit to buy a home. Renting somewhere with another bedroom is going to be even more expensive, and at just the time when you’ve got all those new baby expenses to deal with.

Stay where you are? Not really an option for many people. Whilst a tiny baby doesn’t need a room of his or her own to

begin with, the amount of ‘stuff’ they accumulate does, and eventually your little person needs their own space to spread out and play, and you need your bedroom back.

Out of options? Then it’s time to find out about low cost home ownership (LCHO). You could buy a share in your home through shared ownership, and pay a reduced rent on the share you don’t own. Or if you’re ‘almost there’ in terms of the mortgage but haven’t got a huge deposit saved, you could look at the Help to Buy equity loan deal.

Baby size deposits! The real bonus with LCHO is in the amount of deposit you’ll need. With shared ownership you only have to find a 5% deposit for the share you’re buying, not for the whole value of the home. For Help to Buy, just a 5% deposit is enough. And for Help to Buy, you don’t even have to be a first time buyer! If you’re already a homeowner but need an extra bedroom for the new baby, you can sell the place you’re in and find somewhere bigger, and right now, only pay for 80% of the cost – which could mean more home for the same money!

Whichever way you go, buying a home through LCHO is likely to mean paying out less - sometimes MUCH less - per month than renting privately. And it’s definitely less than buying in the traditional way.

Take a look at the figures on the next page and see how much you could be saving. Maybe you WILL be able to bring the baby back to his or her own nursery, after all.

NEW BABY, NEW HOME...

THE FAMILY WAY


‘we pay out around £1800 a month. If you consider a two-bedroom flat in this area rents for around £1600 a month this seems pretty good value’.

Architect Wilson Yu and his partner, Yen Leung were renting a flat in the Surrey Quays area of London. Wilson had sold a property and was going to buy another one when the market surged and he found it impossible to get a mortgage with his bank. The search for a property became more urgent as Yen was pregnant.

Wilson decided that the only way he was going to afford anything in the area was through shared ownership and his search led him to Metropolitan’s Roseberry Street development, a rare opportunity to buy larger, family sized home on a shared ownership basis.

‘I was sent an advert by Metropolitan and had a telephone interview to check that I was suitable financially and arranged a viewing. There was only a show home available as they were still building at the time and the sales staff advised me to go for a three-bedroom house. We decided that it was ideal for us and put down a deposit and arranged for an in-depth financial interview.

The house is terraced with a garden and a front parking area. There are three bedrooms with a family bathroom, an en-suite and a downstairs toilet and although there is plenty of space, it mainly seems to be taken up with baby clutter at the moment!’

Affordability-wise, shared ownership compared favourably to local alternatives, with three-bedroom properties typically renting for over £2000 per month and the cost of buying an average new build, almost £3400 per month in Southwark. Wilson’s three-bedroom home was valued at £550,000 and he bought a 40% share. He says, ‘This means with rent, service charge, and mortgage payments we pay out around £1800 a month. If you consider a two-bedroom flat in this area rents for around £1600 a month this seems pretty good value.’

SmartBuyer

Check the figures in your area…We’ve done a bit of checking around, and compared the price to rent a typical two-bedroom property with the cost of buying outright with a 95% mortgage, buying different shares through shared ownership, and buying through the 80% Help to Buy equity loan scheme. So do the sums and see if shared ownership or Help to Buy will give you the extra bedroom you need!

Deposit Mortgage Mortgage pcm

Rent pcm Total monthly costs

Shared Ownership 25% share £3,864 £73,411 £429 £532 £961

Shared Ownership 50% share £7,728 £146,822 £858 £336 £1,194

Help to Buy 80% equity loan) £15,455 £231,825 £1,355 £0 £1,355

Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee £15,455 £293,645 £1,717 £0 £1,717

Renting Privately - - - £1,221 £1,221



25% share £4,850 £92,150 £539 £667 £1,206

50% share £9,700 £184,300 £1,077 £445 £1,522

80% Help to Buy equity loan £19,400 £355,500 £1,701 £0 £1,701*

100% buy £19,400 £368,600 £2,155 £0 £2,155

Private rent - - - £1,465 £1,465



25% share £4,794 £91,081 £532 £659 £1,191

50% share £9,588 £182,162 £1,681 £439 £1,504

80% Help to Buy equity loan £19,175 £287,625 £1,681 £0 £1,681*

100% buy £19,175 £364,325 £2,130 £0 £2,130

Private rent - - - £946 £946



25% share £1,415 £26,885 £157 £195 £352

50% share £2,830 £53,770 £314 £130 £444

80% Help to Buy equity loan £5,660 £84,900 £496 £0 £496*

100% buy £5,660 £107,920 £631 £0 £631

Private rent - - - £630 £630



25% share £2,238 £42,512 £249 £308 £557

50% share £4,475 £85,025 £497 £205 £702

80% equity loan (Help to Buy) £8.950 £134,250 £785 £0 £785*

100% buy £8,950 £170,050 £994 £0 £994

Private rent - - - £855 £855

Bristol City Centre £309,100

Lewisham £388,000

Cambridge £383,500

Coventry £113,200

Basingstoke £179,000

The small print We’ve used an average repayment mortgage over 25 years at 5% to get our figures. Deposit amounts are 5% which reflects what is available in the market at the moment. Please note that Help to Buy Guarantee Mortgages are NOT available in conjunction with LCHO schemes. But we have used 5% deposits for 100% purchases assuming that the mortgage will be attained using a Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee. Rent for shared ownership is based on 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year (we then divide this by 12 to get a monthly rate). Private rents and property prices are based on averages in the area, taken from popular property websites not specific properties.* Please note that with a Help to Buy equity loan, you will be paying back some interest from year 6 onwards.

Midlands

Compendium Living has launched a fourth phase at their Weston Heights development in Weston Coyney. The properties have been built by Lovell and Help to Buy is available on all of the 79 new homes in this final phase.

Located between the peace of the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands and the bustle of Stoke and the Potteries, Weston Heights offers a variety of three and four-bedroom properties, each of which has been carefully designed and built to the

highest standards. Among the new show homes (and illustrated) is an unusual Tower house style, a three-storey home which offers spacious, well designed living accommodation including kitchen/dining room and generous living room with French doors to the garden on the ground-floor. On the first floor are two bedrooms, including the master bedroom with en-suite, while on

the second floor is a third bedroom, a fourth bedroom or study and a separate shower.

There are other two popular show homes to view at the development, Kenwood and Leeswood, both three-bedroom properties which would both make perfect family homes, offering flexible living accommodation and providing the advantage of a garage.

Four bedroom homes at Weston-Heights start at £189,950 (£151,960 with Help to Buy) and three-bedroom homes at £169,000.

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying in the midlands be more cost effective than renting or commuting? Then take a look at this selection of low cost home ownership (LCHO) homes. There are more listed on pages 58 and helpful contacts on our Midlands homefinder, on page 64. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you.

WESTON HEIGHTSWeston Coyney from £135,200 for 80%

Want to know more? Want to know more? Then email [email protected] with the name of the development that interests you in the

subject line and don’t forget to include your contact details. Or you can visit www.homefocus.co.uk.

Three-bedroom house: Full value: £169,000 • Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £135,2005% deposit: £8,450 • Mortgage on 80% equity*: £741 • Total costs: £741

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year.; *** Help to Buy property, interest on the equity loan starts in year 6. Please note: monthly outgoings do not include service charges

www.homefocus.co.uk/Weston-Heights


Midlands Properties


THE LEYSWellingborough from £39,750 for 30%

GOODWIN PARKKidderminster from £119,960 for 80%

UPLAND MILLSBiddulph from £61,650 for 50%

Metropolitan is offering attractive two and three-bedroom family houses in Wellingborough, available through shared ownership.

All of the light and airy homes feature fitted kitchens, incorporating integrated Bosch and Smeg appliances and oak worktops. The fully fitted bathroom has a heated towel rail and each home comes with a downstairs w.c, carpet and tiles throughout. The living/diner leads into a rear garden and outside, is allocated parking (two spaces for the three-bedroom homes).

Two-bedroom apartment: Full value: £132,500 • Minimum share: 30% • Cost of share: £39,7505% deposit: £1,898 • Mortgage on share*: £221 • Rent on remaining share**: £213 • Total costs: £434

Interested? Email [email protected] with “The Leys” in the subject. Remember to include your

contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/The-Leys

Barratt Homes’ new development on Stoney Lane, Kidderminster features a range of three-bedroom homes available with Help to Buy.

Ilustrated is the The Barwick style semi-detached family home. The ground floor comprises a lounge and dining area, with French doors leading to the rear garden, a fully fitted kitchen with family breakfast area, plenty of storage space and a useful cloakroom. Upstairs is a master bedroom with en suite, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Three-bedroom house: Full value: £149,950 • Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity 119,9605% deposit: £7,498 • Mortgage on 80% equity*: £657 • Total costs: £657***

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Goodwin Park” in the subject. Remember to include

your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Goodwin-Park

Staffordshire Housing Group is offering shared ownership at Uplands Mill, a range of high quality two-bedroom homes at Biddulph. Each home has a family-sized kitchen, living room with dining area, two bedrooms and a family bathroom. All homes have off-road parking, uPVC double glazing and gas central heating.

There are four first schools within a mile of Uplands Mill, two middle schools for pupils aged nine to thirteen and Biddulph High School takes thirteen to eighteen year.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £123,300 • Minimum share: 50% • Cost of share: £61,6505% deposit: £3,083 • Mortgage on share*: £360 • Rent on remaining share**: £141 • Total costs: £501

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Upland Mill” in the subject. Remember to include

your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Upland-Mill

Get on or move up the propertyladder withHelp to BuyMidlands.

www.helptobuymidlands.co.uk

03458 50 20 50 opt 2


Civil servant Nathan Townsend and Jennifer Farmery, a product manager,

from Loughborough met through family friends, three years ago, and lived with parents until they felt the time was right to buy their first home.

‘We thought it was the next step in our relationship and that it would be nice to have a place together,’ but with rent so high in their area, the couple decided that investing in a home that they could call their own, was the way to go.

But it’s not just rents that are expensive in their part of the world. After looking around at old and new homes, Jennifer and Nathan, couldn’t find anything they liked in their price range, and then they heard about the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme!

At first, they were little sceptical and asked friends, who had purchased through Help to Buy, to explain how it worked. ‘We asked our friends so many questions about the scheme and did a lot of research ourselves to make sure we

understood everything’After talking with a financial advisor,

Nathan and Jennifer felt they were ready to buy their first home, a brand new three-bedroom property on the Jelson Homes development in the popular village of Sileby in rural Leicestershire.

Now with a house of their own, Nathan and Jennifer are enjoying the benefits of home ownership. “We love the peace we’re getting. In fact, we’ve not invited many people over yet just because it’s so quiet!”

Will this story inspire you to become a homeowner? See the list of low cost home ownership (LCHO) properties on pages 56-59. Or go to www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you. Or email [email protected]

Nathan Townsend & Jennifer Farmery

Previous situation: Living with Parents

Scheme: Help to Buy

Location: Sileby, Leicesershire

Provider: Jelson Homes

Help to Buy Agent: www.helptobuymidlands.co.uk

‘We asked many questions about the scheme and did a lot of research to make sure we understood everything’


Midlands Properties


ELLIOTT SIDESelly Oak from £61,250 for 35% Singles, couples and small families can find affordable homes at Selly Oak, where Midland Heart has a few two-bedroom homes available under the shared ownership programme, at Elliott Side.

Each home offers spacious rooms, parking and all the extras such as carpets, oven, hob, washer/dryer and fridge/freezer come as standard.

Elliott Side has a variety of amenities with local supermarkets, pubs and restaurants and is only a stone’s throw from Birmingham City Centre. It is also close to major public transport links with easy access to London, Coventry and Leicester.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £175,000 • Minimum share: 35% • Cost of share: £61,250 • 5% deposit: £3,063 • Mortgage on share*: £357 Rent on remaining share**: £261 • Total costs: £618

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Elliott Side” in the

subject. Remember to include your contact details.

Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Elliott-Side

HARVILLS GRANGEWest Bromwich prices TBC for 80%

Lovell is launching

new two, three and

four-bedroom homes

at Harvills Grange

offering homes for

first-time buyers,

couples, families

and downsizers.

Each home has been

designed to provide inspiring, contemporary living spaces.

The high quality finish and spacious interiors will be

evidenced at two styles of showhome, the Scotswood and

Ringwood house types.

The Scotswood’s ground-floor layout features a living room

with bay window, kitchen/dining room with French doors to the

garden, hall and cloakroom whilst The Ringwood’s ground-floor

accommodation comprises a spacious living/dining room, with

French doors to the garden, the kitchen, hall and cloakroom. Both

property types benefit from a garage.

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Harvills Grange” in

the subject. Remember to include your contact details.

Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Harvills-Grange





Walthamstow is a relatively modern area with the underground station, shopping parades and houses, many of which were built in the mid to latter half of the last century. The highly fashionable Walthamstow Village, E17, is a small area just east of the town centre with a cluster of three very old historic houses and a high concentration of period houses on narrow pathways, boutique shops and cafes.

And within easy walking distance of both is Metropolitan’s brand new development in Shernhall Street,

With one, two and there-bedrooms available, The Village is suitable for singles, couple and families, so it’s good to know that Shernhall Street is close to nurseries, primary and secondary schools and colleges. There’s a health care centre just across the road from the development and whilst we hope you never need to use it, Whipps Cross Hospital in close by.

The local road network offers reasonable easy access to the A12, A406 and M11.

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying in the Capital be more cost effective than renting or commuting? Then take a look at this selection of low cost home ownership (LCHO) homes. There are more listed on pages 57 & 58 and helpful contacts on our London homefinder, pages 62 & 63. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you.

London

THE VILLAGE E17 Walthamstow, prices and shares tbc

Want to know more? Then email [email protected] with the name of the development that interests you in the subject line and don’t

forget to include your contact details. Or you can visit www.homefocus.co.uk.

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.0%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year.; *** Help to Buy property, interest on the equity loan starts in year 6. Please note: monthly outgoings do not include service charges

www.homefocus.co.uk/The-Village

designed as two low level blocks to fit in comfortably with their surroundings. The shared ownership block will cover three floors and provide 6 one-bedroom apartments, 10 two-bedroom and 5 three-bedroom apartments. Prices and shares are yet to be confirmed and the opportunity to live there will be offered first, to those people already living or working in Waltham Forest.

A good bus service runs to the tube station at Walthamstow Central and the overground takes just over 15 minutes to Liverpool Street.


London Properties

FABLE APARTMENTS City Road Basin from £103,125 for 25%

JESSOPS BUILDING New Providence Wharf from £93,688 for 25%

Fable Apartments, part of a 36 storey tower on City Rd EC1, will include 70 shared ownership apartments from Affinity Sutton.

Part of the Basin Masterplan, this is the tallest residential tower in Islington - overlooking the Regent’s Canal basin. When complete, there will be a total of 307 apartments arranged around a landscaped courtyard.

Fable Apartments has been designed by world-renowned architects, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill who are known for their design of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, as well as One World Trade Center in New York and the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

The nearest tube stations are Angel and Old Street.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £412,500 • Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £103,125 5% deposit: £5,157 • Mortgage on share*: £573 • Rent on remaining share**: £662 • Total costs: £1,235

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Fable Apartments” in the subject. Remember to include

your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Fable-Apartments

Just minutes from Canary Wharf, Genesis is offering shared ownership on a collection of one and two-bedroom apartments at the prestigious Jessops Building, New Providence Wharf.

Located moments from Blackwall DLR station, from where trains to Canary Wharf take just six minutes, the new homes in Poplar, E14 are perfect for commuters looking for a quick and simple journey to work.

The new homes boast an excellent

LIME WALKWembley from £98,000 for 35%

Lime Walk, a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments situated just around the corner from Wembley Stadium, and is available on a shared ownership basis from Network Living.

Internally all apartments feature open-plan living spaces and a high specification, including white gloss or cashmere grey kitchen cabinets with integrated SMEG fridge/freezers and washer/dryers, while bathrooms feature Hansgrohe brassware.

Transport links from Lime Walk offer excellent access into central London.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £280,000 • Minimum share: 35%Cost of share: £98,000 • 5% deposit: £4,900 • Mortgage on share*: £572Rent on remaining share**: £417 • Total costs: 1,189

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Lime Walk” in the subject.

Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Lime-Walk

specification, with contemporary kitchens offering integrated Bosch appliances including dishwasher and washing machine, granite worktops and chrome finishes. Bedrooms are spacious, and all rooms enjoy full height windows for plenty of natural light. Some apartments include balconies.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £374,750Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £93,6885% deposit: £4,685 • Mortgage on share*: £520Rent on remaining share**: £644 • Total costs: £1,164

Interested? Email [email protected]

with “Jessops Building” in the subject. Remember to

include your contact details.

Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Jessops-Building



Clara, 24, a trainee solicitor had been renting with a friend which cost her

£850 a month, but she wanted to live on her own. So she started to look at rents on one-bedroom apartments…and was taken aback. Clara says, ‘Initially I wasn’t looking to buy, but the rents on one bedroom flats were just extortionate. I remember seeing one place in fact and it was the size of a shoebox. There was a bed, a cooker and that was it - and I think it was about £1,000 a month. At that point I just thought; am I ever going to find anywhere to live?

Looking online at government schemes eventually led Clara to L&Q’s Greenwich Square development. Clara says ‘I remember ringing my mum as soon as I found it and saying…mum this is absolutely brilliant, how come I have not heard about shared ownership before?’!

For around £890 per month, Clara was able to buy a 25% share of a one-bedroom apartment with balcony valued at £300,000. The £890 includes her mortgage repayment, rent to L&Q and

service charges - it’s only £40 more than she had been paying to flat share!

Clara continues ‘I think it’s widely acknowledged nowadays that to get on the property market in London is extremely hard - especially for a young person like myself. Originally I had a 10 year plan for putting down a deposit on a house; I’d worked out that I wouldn’t be able to buy my own place until I was about 34 years old! It just feels like a dream when I say I’m a home-owner, I don’t quite believe it myself.

Will this story inspire you to become a homeowner? See the list of low cost home ownership (LCHO) properties on pages 56-59. Or go to www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you. Or you could call 0845 474 4734

‘I wasn’t looking to buy, but the rents on one bedroom flats were just extortionate.’

Clara Garfield

Previous situation: Renting

Scheme: Shared ownership

Location: Greenwich

Provider: L&Q



London Properties

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year. *** Help to Buy property, interest on the equity loan starts in year 6. Please note: monthly outgoings do not include service charges

CHARTER COURTPinner from £85,750 for 35%

VISIONGrahame Park, Collindale from £188,000 for 80%

GRAND UNION CENTRELadbroke Grove from £125,875 for 25%

Metropolitan Home Ownership is offering 26 one and two-bedroom apartments at Charter Court in Bridge Street, Pinner.

Each home is built to a high standard of specification, with fitted kitchens that include white goods, bathrooms that feature heated towel rails, and carpeting throughout the living areas.

Charter House is at the heart of a lively café-culture with plenty to fill your leisure time. Pinner has a great selection of shops and boutiques, as well as green spaces, great transport links, a traditional village atmosphere and a real sense of community.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £245,000 • Minimum share: 35% • Cost of share: £85,7505% deposit: £4,288 • Mortgage on share*: £476 • Rent on remaining share**: £365 • Total costs: £841

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Charter Court” in the subject. Remember to include

your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Charter-Court

A new phase of one, two and three-bedroom Help to Buy homes has been released by Genesis at Vision, part of the ongoing Grahame Park development in Collindale.

The homes are finished to an exacting standard with sleek, modern kitchens featuring granite worktops. Stainless steel appliances, including oven and microwave, and integrated white goods, combine style with practicality.

White bathrooms with chrome fittings are complemented by floor tiling and a heated towel rail.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £235,000 • Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £188,0005% deposit: £11,750 • Mortgage on 80% equity*: £1,030 • Total costs: £1,030

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Vision” in the subject. Remember to include your

contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Vision

Affinity Sutton has just launched 22 shared ownership apartments at Grand Union Centre on Ladbroke Grove Road.

The development comprises a selection of one and two-bedroom apartments with spacious living areas and generous terraces or balconies, surrounding a landscaped courtyard.

This is a prime location that gives access to the tube network via Ladbroke Grove Underground Station - just a 10 minute walk away. The leisure and shopping facilities at Westfield (White City) are just 8 minutes away by bus.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £503,500 • Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £125,8755% deposit: £6,294 • Mortgage on share*: £699 • Rent on remaining share**: £865 • Total costs: £1,564

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Grand Union” in the subject. Remember to include

your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Grand-Union


First Wessex has just one remaining one-bedroom apartment at Redlands Grange in Emsworth. Available through shared ownership, this is a last chance to live at this new development from as little as £37,250.

Sited between the idyllic fishing village of Emsworth and the picturesque village of Westbourne, Redlands Grange offers a peaceful environment with great transport links for commuters. Emsworth

is linked by rail to London Victoria and London Waterloo and the nearby A3(M) and M27 provide easy access to Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton and London.

This apartment features an attractive open-plan living and kitchen space, and a well-planned kitchen with integrated stainless steel electric oven, gas hob

and integrated Zanussi washer dryer. Also included is a white contemporary bathroom suite, complementary vinyl flooring in the kitchen and bathroom, and neutral carpets throughout. There is also an allocated parking space and visitors’ parking.

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying in the South be more cost effective than renting or commuting? Then take a look at this selection of low cost home ownership (LCHO) homes. There are more listed on pages 58 & 59 and helpful contacts on our South homefinder, page 65. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you.

REDLANDS GRANGEEmsworth from £37,250 for 25%

South




www.homefocus.co.uk/Redlands Grange

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £149,000 • Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £37,250 • 5% deposit: £1,863 Mortgage on share*: £207 • Rent on remaining share**: £256 • Total costs: £463

homefocus • MAY/JUNE 2015 21homefocus • MAY/JUNE 2015 11

South Properties

CORINTHIAN Bath Riverside from £100,000 for 40%

CENTENARY QUAY Woolston from £45,500 for 35%

Bath Riverside is Bath’s newest residential quarter and Corinthian is the latest block of apartments to be marketed there: Curo Homes is offering one and two-bedroom apartments on a shared ownership basis.

Each apartment offers a versatile open-plan living/kitchen/dining area and spacious family bathrooms with one or two bedrooms. All apartments come with an allocated parking space.

When completed, Bath Riverside will be a vibrant community with around 2,000 homes, a new primary school, student accommodation and a choice of cafés.

The development is a five minute walk from a supermarket and ten minutes from Oldfield Park railway station.

Two-bedroom apartment: Full value: £250,000 • Minimum share: 40% • Cost of share: £100,000 • 5% deposit: £5,000 • Mortgage on share*: £555Rent on remaining share**: £343 • Total costs: £898

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Corinthian” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Corinthian

Radian has a new shared ownership phase at the stunning new development on the east bank of the River Itchen, a stones throw away from Woolston town centre.

All apartments have been built to a high standard with a range of fixtures and fittings that include a fully fitted kitchen, built in oven, gas hob, and cooker hood and washer/dryer.

Kitchens have a vinyl floorcovering as do the bathroom areas whilst the rest of the apartments are carpeted throughout. And for security, there’s a video entry system to all communal areas.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £130,000 • Minimum share: 35% • Cost of share: £45,500 • 5% deposit: £2,275 • Mortgage on share*: £265 Rent on remaining share**: £224 • Total costs: £489

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Centenary Quay” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details.

Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Centenary-Quay


THE CEDARS Reading prices to be confirmed from 35%Southern Home Ownership is offering shared ownership at their new development, The Cedars, in Reading. The 14 one and two-bedroom apartments, and the 3 three-bedroom houses all have a bright, modern, high spec finishes.

The Cedars is sited in a leafy, green suburb of Reading, off Tilehurst Road, with easy access to Reading town centre, and the good news for commuters is that Reading’s main railway station will get you to London Paddington in less than half an hour. Being just off of the M4, there’s also great road links to London and the South West. And a half hourly coach service will get you to Heathrow Airport in around 40 minutes.

All Saints Junior School is just three minutes from The Cedars and Prospect Park is lose by.

Interested? Email [email protected] with “The Cedars” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details.

Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/The-Cedars

Natalie Eagle and her partner David Mais were renting a two-bedroom

flat when they decided the time was right to take their first steps onto the property ladder. And with the help of Help to Buy, they were able to move into a two-bedroom coach house at Taylor Wimpey’s Maple Park in Liphook.

Natalie, 24, an accounts assistant for a power electrical supplies company, says: ‘We are really pleased with our new house

– it is everything we had imagined it would be and more! We had our hearts set on Maple Park because it’s just a 10-15 minute drive away from Bordon which is where my family live and also where I work.

She continues, ‘The development is really good for commuting too which is important for us because David works in London as a statistician for the Department for Transport in Westminster. Our new home is within walking distance of the

railway station so David can get into London in just over an hour.’

When the couple first heard about Help to Buy they had reservations and doubts because (adds Natalie), ‘We didn’t know enough about it’. But we wouldn’t have been able to afford our property without Help to Buy. The thought of buying our first place was quite daunting, but everyone has been so friendly, helpful and approachable through the process!’


‘We wouldn’t have been able to afford our property without Help to Buy’

Natalie and David


Scheme: Help to Buy

Location: Liphook

Provider: Taylor Wimpey

Help to Buy Agent: www.helptobuysouth.co.uk


STRAWBERRY FIELDSSouthampton from £144,000 for 80%

WATERLOO HOUSEWalton-on-Thames from £118,500 for 50%

Taylor Wimpey is making Help to Buy available on a new collection of two-bedroom apartments at the popular Strawberry Fields development.

Each apartment features a spacious open-plan kitchen/living/dining room, well-proportioned bedrooms, a bathroom and a handy storage closet off the internal entrance hallway. Selected plots boast attractive private balconies off the living area, while all properties benefit from either allocated parking or a car port outside.

Within walking distance is the Lockswood Centre, which offers a host of amenities for day-to-day living, including a Waitrose supermarket, shops, a library, a medical centre and a community centre, while the charming village of Warsash is close by.

Two-bedroom apartment: Full value: £180,000 • Minimum equity: 80%Cost of equity: £144,000 • 5% deposit: £9,000 • Mortgage on 80% equity*: £789 Total costs: £789***

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with

“Strawberry Fields” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details.

Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Strawberry- Fields

Thames Valley Housing is offering shared ownership at Waterloo House, a collection of 26 one and two-bedroom-apartments in Walton-on-Thames.

The homes are just over a mile from the town centre and a short stroll from Walton-on-Thames train station, giving commuters an easy journey to London Waterloo.

Sited on Mayfield Road, Waterloo House is an attractive four-storey building characterised by soft red brick and cream render, and set in landscaped grounds.

Each home features an open-plan living/dining/kitchen area that maximises the space. The smart kitchen is very well equipped with fully integrated appliances including a hob, oven, fridge/freezer and washer/dryer.

One-bedroom apartment (without parking): Full value: £237,500Minimum share: 50% • Cost of share: £118,750 • 5% deposit: £5,938Mortgage on share*: £693 • Rent on remaining share**: £272 • Total costs: £965

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Waterloo House” in the

subject. Remember to include your contact details.

Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Waterloo-House


South Properties









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Address ____________________________

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East & South East

At High Oaks Grove in Ware, Hightown Homes is offering 2 two-bedroom and 4 three-bedroom homes for shared ownership.

Ware is only 20 miles outside of London, with quaint villages on the doorstep. It’s full of heritage with several listed buildings, and is designated a centre of ‘outstanding archaeological and historical interest’. So it’s a good place to live for commuters who want countryside, local interest and family homes.

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying in the east and south east be more cost effective than renting or commuting? Then take a look at this selection of low cost home ownership (LCHO) homes. There are more listed on pages 56 & 57 and East & South East homefinder on pages 60 & 61. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you.

HIGH OAKS GROVE Ware prices and shares tbc


www.homefocus.co.uk/High-Oaks-Grove

Shoppers will find well-known shops in the High Street and for entertainment, there are numerous restaurants, pubs and wine bars.

There are currently eight primary schools in Ware plus many preschools and nurseries. The town’s secondary schools include Presdales School for girls, a former grammar school, which is now a successful language college and The Chauncy School - a thriving education centre.

There is plenty of picturesque scenery, with a good network of footpaths, cycle paths and bridleways to fully appreciate the stunning surroundings. Open countryside, ancient woodland, nature reserves and pretty gardens combine to create a sense of tranquility and freedom.

Ware train station is a just over a mile away from the development and junction 25 of the M25 is less than a 20 minute drive.


East & South East Properties

MILLER WAY Wainscott from £76,125 for 35%

Heart of Medway is offering eight three bedroom houses at Miller Way, Wainscott.

These elegant terraced homes enjoy large, spacious windows and contemporary, neutral interiors to provide an airy and light feel throughout. And each home incorporates integrated appliances, carpeted living areas and modern white tiles in the bathroom.

Wainscott is a peaceful village with its own range of local amenities and if you

KEMPSTON Bedford from £70,000 for 50%

Lea Valley Homes is offering shared ownership on a range of homes to the west of Bedford Town Centre.

One-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom houses will be available in Kempston, an established small town with local amenities such as supermarkets, pubs, local shops and schools. Nearby, alongside the River Great Ouse, is a 200 acre Country Park with children’s play areas and there’s a golf course at Great Denham.

Bedford itself is only 3 miles away and has several more shopping outlets, bars,

The A421 is less than a mile away which provides easy access to the M1 and A1. Bedford Train Station is only 3 miles from these properties making transport to London or the North quick and easy.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £140,000Minimum share: 50% • Cost of share: £70,0005% deposit: £3,500 • Mortgage on share*: £389Rent on remaining share**: £160 • Total costs: £549


with “Kempston” in the subject. Remember to


Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Kempston

restaurants, supermarkets and cafes. The Interchange Retail Park is also on the doorstep.

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year. *** Help to Buy property, interest on the equity loan starts in year 6. Please note: monthly outgoings do not include service charges

commute for work, you’ll find Strood station under a mile and a half away where you can reach London St Pancras in just over 30 minutes. You’re also just a 25 minute drive from Bluewater, Europe’s largest shopping and leisure venue.

There is also a wide range of both primary and secondary schools in the local area.

Three-bedroom house: Full value: £217,500Minimum share: 35% • Cost of share: £76,1255% deposit: £3,806 • Mortgage on share*: £423Rent on remaining share**: £324 • Total costs: £747


with “Miller Way” in the subject. Remember to


Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Miller-Way

MARCONI EVOLUTION Chelmsford £155,996 for 80%

Bellway Homes has launched a new phase of one and two-bedroom apartments in the centre of Chelmsford.

These new homes enjoy open plan kitchen/living/dining areas with fitted kitchen units, and integrated appliances. Bedrooms are spacious, with built-in wardrobes and en suite shower rooms to master suites. Many of the apartments have a private balcony or terrace.

Marconi Evolution is only a short walk from Chelmsford mainline train station and is only one stop from Shenfield, which will have Crossrail connections from 2018.

The development is also within walking distance of two of the UK’s top grammar schools - Chelmsford County High School for Girls and the King Edward VI Grammar School.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £194,995Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £155,9965% deposit: £9,750 Mortgage on 80% equity*: £855 Total costs: £855**


with “Marconi Evolution” in the subject. Remember

to include your contact details.

Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Marconi-Evolution


Owen Smith, a 31 year old secondary school teacher rented a house in

Rainham before a promotion at work made it the perfect time to buy his own home. Owen says ‘I wanted to stay close due to my job, and saw Heart of Medway’s Cozenton Point development on my way home from work. It was affordable and modern too.

He continues, ‘Now I’ve moved in it is

brilliant to have my own space; I spend all day speaking to people and working with my students so having my own place to come back to is fantastic. It is very peaceful. The best thing about having a new build is that everything is finished to a high standard, and when I moved in it was shiny and clean, I didn’t have to do anything.

I think given the way the housing market

is at the moment, shared ownership is a good way to get onto the housing ladder, especially for young professionals or couples buying their first home. Shared ownership is a brilliant scheme; rather than having to save up a huge deposit and cripple yourself paying the mortgage, you can do it at an affordable rate.

I’m much happier than when I was renting.’

Will this story inspire you to become a homeowner? See the list of low cost home ownership (LCHO) properties on pages 56-57. Or go to www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you. Or you could call 0845 474 4734

Owen Smith


Scheme: Shared ownership

Location: Rainham

Provider: Heart of Medway

Help to Buy Agent: Helptobuyese.org.uk ‘I’m much happier than when I was renting’


East & South East Properties

THE SWITCH Great Chesterford, near Saffron Walden from £65,000 for 25%


PRINCE’S GATEWelwyn from £86,000 for 40%

Colne Housing is offering shared ownership on a range of two and three-bedroom homes in the picturesque village of Great Chesterford.

The Switch (so named because the affordability of these homes will encourage renters to ‘switch’ into affordable home ownership) is situated between the market town of Saffron Walden and Cambridge city centre.

Each home comes with fitted carpets to the landing and bedrooms and vinyl flooring to the hall, lounge, kitchen and bathroom. High quality fitted kitchens and worktops have been chosen and designed to make the best use of space. Allocated parking, lawn to the front and rear garden and a lockable shed come as standard.

Priority for The Switch will be given to those living or working in the Uttlesford district.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £260,000 • Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £65,000 • 5% deposit: £3,250 • Mortgage on share*: £36 Rent on remaining share**: £447 • Total costs: £808

Email [email protected] with “The Switch” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/The-Switch

Prince’s Gate comprises 13 newly built homes; 9 two-bedroom apartments, 2, two-bedroom houses and 2 three-bedroom houses. And right now, Affinity Sutton is offering shared ownership on the two-bedroom apartments.

These homes are situated in the traditional village of Welwyn in Hertfordshire, which is set around the Parish Church and boasts plenty of local pubs and specialist shops and is just one mile north of Welwyn Garden City, famous for its wealth of shops, restaurants and other leisure activities.

Currently available at Prince’s Gate are the two-bedroom apartments, where prices start at £86,000 for a 40% share (full market value £215,000), with a £4,300 deposit required.

Two-bedroom apartment: Full value: £215,000 • Minimum share: 40% • Cost of share: £86,0005% deposit: £4,300 • Mortgage on share*: £478 • Rent on remaining share**: £296 • Total costs: £774

Email [email protected] with “Prince’s Gate” in the subject. Remember to include your contact

details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Prince’s-Gate

STOKE QUAYIpswich from £29,375 for 25%

Genesis is offering shared ownership on modern homes in a historical setting at Stoke Quay on the River Orwell Marina. A collection of one and two-bedroom apartments is available as part of the regeneration of Ipswich docks.

These waterfront homes are designed to a contemporary specification for spacious living. Most apartments have balconies, many of which enjoy riverside views. Kitchens in all properties boast fitted units including integrated appliances such as an oven/hob and washing machine.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £117,500 • Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £29,3755% deposit: £1,469 • Mortgage on share*: £171 • Rent on remaining share**: £202 Total costs: £373

Email [email protected] with “Stoke Quay” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Stoke-Quay


* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year.; *** Help to Buy property, interest on the equity loan starts in year 6

With the majority of properties already reserved, Raglan Housing is able to offer just two mid-terrace three-bedroom homes for shared ownership at The Old Coal Yard in Sparkford, one of the most popular and picturesque villages in South Somerset.

These are traditionally designed houses with their own private garden and parking, and will appeal to first time buyers and families looking for an affordable property in this sought-after village.

The new homes feature stylish kitchens with integrated oven, hob and

chimney-style extractor hoods along with attractively designed bathroom suites and fitted carpets throughout. A unique design feature is an opened-up roof-space providing extra accommodation with a Velux roof window to allow more natural light into the house. The properties will also have Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 efficiency-ratings meaning that energy bills will be kept down and the

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying in the south west be more cost effective than renting? Then take a look at this selection of low cost home ownership (LCHO) homes. There are more listed on page 59 and in our South West directory, also on page 59. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you.

THE OLD COAL YARD Two and three-bedroom houses in Sparkford from £74,000 for 40%

South West


forget to include your contact details. Or you can call 0845 474 4734.

Three-bedroom house: Full value: £185,000 • Minimum share: 40% • Cost of share: £74,000 • 5% deposit: £3,700 Mortgage on share*: £411 • Rent on remaining share**:£254 • Total costs: £665

house will be affordable to run as well as to buy.

Set within stunning rural countryside with good road and rail transport links, The Old Coal Yard is close to the bustling market town of Yeovil which offers excellent schools, healthcare, shopping, business and leisure facilities.

www.homefocus.co.uk/The-Old-Coal-House


With a selection of three, four and five-bedroom properties, Taylor Wimpey is making Help to Buy available at Parc Hendrawna in Perranporth, Cornwall.

The Parc Hendrawna development is a collection of 120 properties off Liskey Hill which enjoys a fabulous location on the north coast of Cornwall, seven miles away from Truro.

The town benefits from a selection of shops, pubs and restaurants, and the local Perranporth Community Primary School, which neighbours the development, was rated good in its latest Ofsted inspection.

For commuters, there is easy access to the A30 and Truro railway station offers services to Plymouth, Exeter and London.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £209,995 • Minimum equity: 80%Cost of equity: £167,996 • 5% deposit: £10,500Mortgage on 80% equity*: £921 • Total costs: £921***

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Parc Hendrawna” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Parc-Hendrawna

PARC HENDRAWNA Perranporth from £167,996 for 80%

South West Properties

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5% ** Assuming rent at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year *** Help to Buy property. Interest on equity loan starts after 6 years

QUAY WEST Poole from £124,000 for 80%

Burton Property has one and two-bedroom apartments at Quay West in the heart of Poole – available with Help to Buy.

The four-storey building is stylish and each home has an open-plan layout of the living/dining/kitchen area to create a light, airy space. The designer kitchen is well equipped with integrated appliances, including a hob, oven, microwave, fridge/freezer and washer-dryer.

All of the homes above the ground floor have balconies and, even though Quay West is in the heart of the town, some of the upper floor apartments have sea views. There is allocated car parking for all of the apartments, together with additional visitor spaces.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £155,000 • Minimum equity: 80%Cost of equity: £124,000 • 5% deposit: £7,750 • Mortgage on 80% equity*: £680Total costs: £680***

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Quay West” in the subjectRemember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Quay-West


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In the five years that Richard and Zowie Parker have been married they’ve

lived in six houses. Now with two young children, Poppy-Mai aged four and Dylan aged one, they were looking forward to settling closer to Richard’s work.

Richard said, ‘I am in the royal electrical mechanical engineers in the British Army and work initially brought us to the area, but the fact that I could potentially commute even if posted to Bristol or

Tidworth in the future made David Wilson’s, Lakeside View development the perfect location’

Zowie added ‘As I am now a full time mother, without the Help To Buy scheme we would not have been able to secure a mortgage for the house we wanted. We fell in love with a three bedroom home at Lakeside View, and she continued, ‘The Westbury area is ideal as it’s less than an hour from major towns and the rural

feel to the development makes it a great location for walking our two dogs Simba and Hunny!’

Thanks to Help to Buy, Richard, Zowie, Poppy-Mai and Dylan bought a three-bedroom home with a fitted kitchen, and a master bedroom that benefits from its own en suite and walk-in wardrobe.

Lakeside View is well served by good roads and is just a 30 minute train journey to Bath.

Richard & Zowie Previous situation: Renting

Scheme: Help to Buy

Location: Westbury

Provider: David Wilson Homes

Help to Buy Agent: www.helptobuysw.org.uk ‘without Help To Buy we would not have been able to secure a mortgage’


Taylor Wimpey is making a range of family homes available under the Help to Buy scheme at their Kitley Place development in Yealmpton.

The illustration is of the four-bedroom ‘Bawden’ style and boasts a large kitchen/breakfast room and spacious living room – both opening through French doors to the private rear garden – with a utility room, a dining room and a guest cloakroom completing the ground-floor layout.

Upstairs, there’s an en-suite master bedroom, three further bedrooms (one with a shower room) plus a main bathroom.

Outside, the property benefits from driveway parking for two cars and a garage.

Four-bedroom house: Full value: £354,995 • Minimum equity: 80%Cost of equity: £283,996 • 5% deposit: £17,750 Mortgage on 80% equity*: £1,556 • Total costs: £1,556***

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Kitley-Place” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Kitley-Place

KITLEY PLACE Yealmpton from £283,996 for 80%

South West Properties

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5% ** Assuming rent at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year *** Help to Buy property. Interest on equity loan starts after 6 years

DUKES RISE Shepton Mallet from £131,160 for 80%

Bloor Homes is offering a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes under the Help to Buy scheme in Cannard’s Grave Road, Shepton Mallet.

The properties all boast large open-plan living areas, high quality fitted kitchens and spacious double bedrooms. Each of the homes has a landscaped garden at the front and a single/double garage, carport or driveway.

Shepton Mallet is full of history, with a variety of listed buildings, a beautiful Parish Church and evidence of a Roman settlement. The town centre provides a mix of shops, restaurants and cafes, with an excellent selection of well performing schools, supermarkets and health services. The M4 and M5 are within easy reach.

Four-bedroom house: Full value: £163,950 • Minimum equity: 80%Cost of equity: £131,160 • 5% deposit: £8,198 Mortgage on 80% equity*: £719 • Total costs: £719

Interested? Email [email protected] with “Dukes Rise” in the subjectRemember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Dukes-Rise










Name ______________________________

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Shared ownership homes are just tiny starter flats…Some of them may be starter homes, but they’re not tiny… In fact, they have to meet higher standards of space, storage and eco-efficiency than typical new builds, so you’re actually getting more home for your money.

You have to earn a lot.Well, buying a home does cost... but then so does renting. If you look at the comparisons on page 11, you’ll see that buying through shared ownership should work out less than if you were buying the full cost of the home or renting privately.

But you can’t earn too much!Shared ownership is designed for first time buyers, specifically those that can’t stretch to buying the home they need without a little leg up on the ladder. So you’ll need to earn enough to sustain a mortgage and other household outgoings, but earn less than £60,000 per year. You can earn more in London and still qualify, reflecting London’s higher prices.

You have to have savings.You’ll need to have enough to cover removal costs, setting up home costs and of course, you need your deposit. That’s the case when buying any home. But here’s something. With shared ownership you only need 5% of the price of the share you’ll be buying – not of the full price of the home. Now doesn’t that change things?

NEVER MIND THE

B* * * *CKsHERE’S SHARED OWNERSHIP...Have you ever been put off from doing something you wanted to do, or worse, stopped yourself from doing something that might have worked out well for you, because of what others might say? Well, here’s some of the things we’ve heard about shared ownership… and how we see them.

With apologies to the designers of the Album of the same name by the Sex Pistols


Myths & misunderstandings

They tell you how much you can afford and what share to buy! Housing associations have always given their buyers an affordability check to make sure they don’t over-stretch themselves financially and try to borrow more than they can pay back.

Time was when mortgage companies would lend people huge amounts, and we all know the results of that! And it led to the Mortgage Market Review to make sure that everyone, not just shared owners, undertake a sensible assessment of what someone can pay back.

You have to live or work in the same borough as the property you want.A new-build property is quite often available first to local people. But after quite a short period of time, it is opened up to others. And anyone may apply for an existing or resale shared ownership property.

Housing associations won’t allow me to have a pet.That’s the case for most leasehold properties, shared ownership or not! In some circumstances, if the property is a house or a ground floor property with a garden/patio a small pet would be allowed.

Is buying shared ownership more complicated?Buying any property isn’t easy. That’s why there’s a whole industry of conveyancing solicitors and independent mortgage advisors (IFAs). And some specialise in shared ownership transactions. Use a specialist who not only understands the process of buying a shared ownership property but has done it so often that they can explain it to you in layman’s terms.

Buying is ok, but what happens when you come to sell. Shared ownership reflects the market. When the market is good, it’s good for all properties - when it’s bad, then it will be bad for shared ownership too. The one difference is that your housing association will have first opportunity to find you a buyer. When the market is good, they’ll have a ready-made list of those people wanting to apply and in difficult times, they are still honour-bound to try to find you a buyer in a few (usually 8) weeks.

B* * * *CKs Mortgages are hard to getIt’s no harder to get a mortgage for a shared ownership property than it is any other. Especially since the recent Mortgage Market Review has laid down guidelines for anybody getting any sort of mortgage.

Housing Associations and specialist mortgage advisors have been working hard to make sure that mortgages are available and the result is that shared ownership buyers are far MORE likely to be able to get a 95% mortgage than other first time buyers.

Rent AND mortgage – isn’t that more expensive?Not really, that’s why we refer to it as Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO)! If you buy through shared ownership you’ll have a mortgage on the share you buy, and pay a subsidised rent on the share you don’t, so it generally works out less per month than renting privately, and definitely less than buying the full 100% of your home.

Shared ownership? Does that mean sharing with someone else?No! Although you can, if you want to!

You’re sharing the ownership of your home with the housing association, and you’ll pay them rent on the share you don’t own. Plenty of people buy their shared ownership home with a friend or sibling though. But no one from the housing association will move in with you, and they won’t move another family in either! It’s the ownership you share, not the living space.

Isn’t there more form filling to do? Probably not and the result is being able to find a home of your own. Outside of London, you will have to register with a Help to Buy Agent and what this means is that you don’t have to track down and register with every housing association in your area. You just fill in ONE set of initial registration forms, undergo ONE basic affordability and eligibility check, not the same thing over and over for every organisation.

In London, things are a bit different, less centralised. But it’s perfectly usual to register with Rightmove and Zoopla and then give your details to every estate agent they redirect you to. So if you’re in the market to buy, you’ll be used to form filling.


BARKERINTERIOR DESIGNER

LINDA


Inconversationwith...

Interior designer Linda Barker is probably best known for role in the BBC’s pioneering home design show, Changing Rooms, where she became one of the most recognised designers in the UK. Since then Linda has continued to be at the forefront of interior design publishing books on the subject as well as participating in television shows such as 60 Minute Makeover. We caught up with Linda to ask about her work and what she loves the most about a home.

What attracted you to becoming a designer and what do you like most about what you do?Right from an early age I loved drawing, sewing and craft activities. I spent a lot of time reading design books, and when I left school I went on to study fine art. I fell into interior design almost by accident, and soon realised that it was the perfect career choice for me. I get a huge buzz from what I do, and am very fortunate in that through my work I get to see some incredible interiors and new products before they have even reached the shops. I love working on the television show, 60 Minute Makeover. We have to design and create rooms so quickly, it is unlike anything that you would experience in a normal design situation, but really exciting seeing what can be achieved.

When did you buy your first home, what was it like, and what made you choose it?The first home I owned was a garden flat in Battersea, London. I bought it with my then boyfriend (now husband). We decided to buy a property with a garden as we really wanted to be able to open the door onto our own outside space. It only had one tiny bedroom, but I loved being able to experiment with my interior design ideas.

What do you believe are the most important aspects of a home?Home is a nurturing place where we should feel loved and cherished. It doesn’t matter if it is small or large, or how smart it is, it should be a place where you can surround yourself with the people and friends that you love.

What is your vision/opinion on the lack of affordable housing in the UK?I believe that housebuilders should be encouraged to build more affordable homes, but these need to be created with integrity, not just by adding a few into a standard development. In the long term, a more thought out, intelligent, ethical approach would be beneficial. Renting is another area that I think should be looked at. If rents were to become more affordable then renting a property is a great transition between leaving a family home and buying your own. Taking on a mortgage and the costs of owning your own home are a huge commitment, and renting provides the opportunity to experience these things prior to doing so.

What advice/design tips would you give to those looking to purchase their first home? Be creative, there are so many ideas for small space living you can find inspiration from interiors magazines and online. You don’t need a large number of rooms to make a home, just embrace the space you have and make it secure for you in an emotional way. In terms of furniture, I would recommend investing in a good quality bed as this is an item that you will want to last for years, but other than that just decorate in a way that makes feel comfortable and surround yourself with personal items such as photographs.

Tell us about what you are currently working on and what’s next for you?It’s a very exciting time at the moment as in addition to my television work I am in the early stages of creating the ‘Linda Barker Collection At Wren’. This will be a new, affordable range of fully fitted kitchens and accessories that will look great in any home.


Selection of cushions and throws from

www.lauraashley.com

Totally Tropical36 homefocus • MAY/JUNE 2015


HomeStyle

1 Tropical metal bucket £8 www.tesco.com

2 Xian orchid rug £179 www.kelaty.com

3 Majestic macaw tablemats £30 www.marthaandhepsie.com

4 Fern leaf candle £7.50 www.marksandspencer.com

5 Good pineapple night light £80 www.berryred.co.uk

6 Miho Aurora Borealis decorative flower £43.50 www.cotswoldtrading.com

7 Pineapple serveware £8 www.houseoffraser.co.uk

8 Tropical leaf salad servers and bowl £6 and £12 www.lauraashley.com

9 Palm tree jug £12.50 www.marksandspencer.com

10 Matthew Williamson storage boxes £32 www.debenhams.com

Feel as if you’re always on holiday by decorating your home with a tropical feel. Inspired by nature’s natural beauty, and created by bringing the outdoors in with a mix of vibrant colours and textures, tropical style furnishings can help inspire a casual but vibrant holiday resort atmosphere.

Start by choosing the base colour for your room and

then add tropical patterns and motifs to give some lush detailing. You don’t need a large budget you can create the theme with a few carefully chosen accessories such as cushions, rugs, and candles. Many species of tropical plants also make good house plants, so if you don’t mind watering them, you could include delicate ferns, rubber plants, or for a splash of colour, an orchid.

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Finally, after all the searching and dealing

with mortgage advisors and solicitors, you’ve

exchanged contracts and have been given a

date to move in!

And then you get to thinking… ‘Who do I

need to tell? What do I need to find out? What

about moving all my stuff?’

Supposedly, moving home is one of the

most stressful things you can do. But the actual

process doesn’t have to leave you sitting up in

bed at night, eyeballs out, panicking because

you haven’t told the library your new address!

So take a deep breath, make yourself a cup

of tea and have a quick browse through our

moving checklist. We’ve come up with all the

people you generally need to inform about your

move – if you have extra people we haven’t

thought of, we hope you remember to tell them!

Consider yourself reminded by homefocus…

Pack it in!It’s a fact of life that you ALWAYS have more

‘stuff’ than you ever believed possible! Now is

a good time to weed out things you don’t want

any more – if you think you might be able to

sell them put them all in a separate box marked

‘Sell’ so you don’t unpack it and put it all away

again when you get to your new place!

It goes without saying that you should use

strong boxes – and don’t make them too heavy

to lift! Use smaller boxes for books, photo

albums and other heavy items or they might as

well be bolted to the floor – and mark on top

that they’re heavy to stop you doing yourself an

injury when you try to pick them up. Label each

box clearly with the contents and which room

it’s to go in. Surprises are lovely, but unpacking

nineteen boxes the day you move in just to find

the TV remote is beyond the pale…

The MoveFirst of all, have a look at how much you have

in the way of possessions. If you’re in furnished

rented accommodation, or live with family and

aren’t taking much in the way of furniture it can

be cheaper to move everything yourself. Just

enlist anyone you can find to help, particularly

if they’ve got transport. A friend with a van is a

very good friend indeed when you’re moving. If

you don’t have this luxury, then renting a van is

likely to work out cheaper than a removal firm.

If you’ve got lots of furniture to move, then

professional movers are essential. Look for ones

that are members of the British Association of

Removers (BAR) which has a code of practice

that protects you and your possessions. Get at

least three quotes and make sure your contents

insurance covers moving – get it set up for your

new place to cover it if need be.

If you’ve got children or pets it can be less

stressful to have them looked after by someone

else on the day. Keep all the essentials (we’ve

called it your ‘First Night Kit’) in one box and

make sure you know where it is! If you make

sure your bed is one of the first things you put

together when you get to your new home you

can just collapse on it, exhausted, at the end of

the day – and leave all the unpacking until the

next morning!

CHECKLISTMOVINGPRACTICAL PLANNING FOR MOVING DAY


4 WEEKS BEFORE…n Complete a change of address form at the Post Office to re-route mail (www.royalmail.com)

n Inform magazine subscriptions and clubs of your new address and moving date

n Decide which items you’re keeping and which you can chuck or donate to charity

n Notify water, gas and electricity suppliers to have your services turned off at your present address

n Arrange for utility connections at your new home

n Contact your new local authority about schools and colleges in the area

n Notify schools, churches etc of your impending move

n Notify your own and research alternative doctors, dentists in your area and liaise with your hospital if you’re undergoing any regular treatment

n Check parking arrangements at your new home and apply for permits if necessary

n Get to know your new area and work out the best routes to work and school. Check out www.upmystreet.com to find out more

n Book removals company or arrange help from friends, van rental etc

3 WEEKS BEFORE…n Request packing materials from your removals company, or buy some if you’re doing it yourself

n Return things you’ve borrowed from friends

n Start to run down the contents of your freezer

n Arrange to transfer home insurance, or set up new policies to begin the day you move in. Arrange transit insurance if necessary

n Research car boot sales to get rid of stuff you’re not taking with you

2 WEEKS BEFORE…n Discontinue regular services such as newspapers, window cleaners etc

n Arrange to have your satellite dish moved to your new property if necessary

n Arrange to discontinue your phone service and broadband and have it installed at your new address

n Arrange to transfer your TV licence to your new address (www.tvlicensing.co.uk/moving)

n Complete the relevant section on your car registration document and licence and send them to the DVLA (more info at www.dvla.gov.uk)

n Call your vehicle insurance to keep cover valid. The price may change due to the new area, new parking arrangements and type of home you’re moving into

1 WEEK BEFORE…n Arrange to transfer bank and savings accounts

n Tell credit and store card companies your new address

n Finish up your frozen food supply or give it away

n PACK!

n Find and label keys

n Send out change of address cards, text messages and Facebook or MySpace alerts

n Notify relevant authorities in your old and new areas regarding council tax and electoral registration

1 DAY BEFORE…n Defrost and thoroughly clean the fridge and freezer

n Take down pictures, mirrors, non-essential curtains and blinds

n Disconnect your cooker, washing machine and dishwasher

n Confirm minders for children and pets

ON MOVING DAY…n Make sure you personally take cash and jewellery with you

n Lock all windows and doors when you leave

When you’re due to move there always seems like an endless list of things to do, people to inform, boxes to pack and things to organise, so here’s a helpful guide to make sure you don’t forget anything…

People to telln Friends and family

n Post Office

n Inland Revenue

n Schools and colleges

n Local councils

n House insurance company

n Electricity and gas suppliers

n Water and sewerage companies

n Telephone company

n Internet supplier

n Satellite/cable TV provider

n TV Licensing

n Banks and building societies

n Credit card/store cards

n Doctor

n Dentist

n Car insurance company

n DVLA

n Car breakdown company

n Library

n Milkman

n Newsagent/magazine subscriptions

n Sports and social clubs

n Church/place of worship

n Children’s clubs

First night kitn Kettle

n Mugs, cutlery, plates, glasses

n Coffee, tea, milk, sugar, water

n Washing-up bowl and liquid

n Rubber gloves

n Map

n Vacuum cleaner/dustpan and brush

n Tea towels and cloths

n Toilet roll

n Bin liners

n Towels/soap/shampoo

n Lightbulbs

n Candles and matches

n Fuses

n Screwdriver

n Local takeaway menus!

n Bottle of champagne

OnTheMove

If you’d like a copy of our moving checklist to help you tick off the organisations you’ll need to tell you’re moving, go to www.homefocusmagazine.co.uk/Moving_Checklist and download a copy to print off and stick on your fridge!



50% of this one-bedroom apartment in Welwyn Garden City, from Moat for £77,500

50% of this two-bedroom

apartment in Hemel

Hempstead, from Hightown

Homes for £87,500

Pre-owned and creating more choiceYou’re looking for the right home at the right location, at a price you can afford. Nobody says that it has to be new-build.

30% of this two-bedroom coach house in Gosport, from Affinity Sutton for £40,500

50% of this two-bedroom apartment in Bengeo from Hightown Homes for £122,500

Just a taste

owned cars ‘used’, we call pre-owned clothes ‘retro’ and we call pre-owned furniture ‘distressed’. Or sometimes we just say second hand! But we don’t seem to have a name for pre-owned homes. Second hand doesn’t fit at all. So in shared ownership, we call them resales.

Your Local Help to Buy Agent will have details of many of the resales properties available in their area or you can visit www.homefocus.co.uk/resales. You can also check out individual housing association websites for information on any resales they have. In fact, if you’re looking to move onto a particular development, it’s worth finding out who the relevant housing association is and getting in touch to let them know you’d be interested in a resale if one comes up.

More choice…Resales add to the choice of homes you could buy. Of course, a lot of the resale homes will be nearly new, simply because most shared ownership homes were new build at the time of their first purchase. But there are other kinds of property available too – including

When you’re looking to buy a home through shared ownership, you might be forgiven for

thinking that the only properties available are brand new ones. You see advertising in local papers, information at housing events, even hoardings alongside new developments being built.

But what if you want to stay living in the area you know and it hasn’t seen any new development for a while? What if staying close to family and friends is a key factor in your life? What if your children have issues about schools that make moving away a real problem? And what if you’re already a home owner but have outgrown your home? Well maybe looking at a ‘resale’ shared ownership property could increase your chances of finding what you want!

Pre-ownedA ‘resale’ is an existing shared ownership property that’s already been bought through a shared ownership scheme, and now the owners are looking to sell their share and move on. So it’s been pre-owned. We call pre-

Here’s just a sample of the kind ofproperties you could find as a resale...


25% of this one-bedroom apartment in Carshalton, from Affinity Sutton for £48,750

Unable to afford to buy a home of his own, Paul Beverley, a 39

year old IT specialist had been renting for a long time. But one

day he started to think about how much he had given to others

to help them pay their mortgage! He says, ‘I realised I’d paid

£100,000 in rent over the last ten years and had no equity to

show for it.’

Determined to buy, he contacted a mortgage broker and

worked through the costings. ‘It was clear that I couldn’t

borrow enough to buy a home – so I was in trouble!’ said Paul.

Then Paul had spotted some resale shared ownership

properties being offered locally by Thames Valley Housing

and found out more. The result was that Paul bought a two-

bedroom mid-terrace house in Church Crookham, where he

grew up. The full market price was £205,000 and Paul bought a

50% share from the current owner who was ready to move on.

Paul continues, ‘I was told that it would take six months

from enquiry to exchange, but in fact it was all dealt with

incredibly fast and was completed within four months.’

Paul’s mortgage costs £568 per month, and the rent and

service charges he pays on Thames Valley Housing’s half

share of the home come to a further £356. He says: ‘In total,

I’m paying £924 each month, which is only £149 more than I

was paying at in rent. What’s more, it’s my own home and I’m

building equity.’

‘it’s my own home and I’m building equity’

MoreChoice

older properties that have been refurbished and sold through shared ownership in the past. So if you’ve got your heart set on an older property, check out the resales available in your area.

More places…Buying a resale property might also give you a bit more choice in the area you live in. For a start, you’re not restricted to places where there’s development going on right now. Perhaps you already know the development, have friends or family in the area, and fancied buying a home there yourself but weren’t ready when the homes were being sold new. In fact, a resale property might not be part of a development at all, because early low cost home ownership schemes did allow people to buy homes other than new builds.

Share and share alike…With most resale properties you buy the share that the sellers own – so if they’ve bought 35%, you buy 35%. But if you want to buy more, you can. Let’s say you can afford 50% of the home you want, but the sellers only own 35%. In that case, you buy their 35% plus a further 15% from the housing association. It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t, and your specialist solicitor (there’s a list of them on pages 66 & 67 of the magazine) will be ideally placed to advise you.

So, don’t restrict yourself to just looking at new properties – you could get more choice, more opportunities, and maybe a better fit for you and your family if you check out the resales too!

Get in touchIf you want more information about resale homes or any of the properties featured in homefocus, visit www.homefocus.co.uk/resales.


WHERE TO LOOK...Conventional wisdom says, look for the places where coffee shops are being planned, or boutique shops that’ll bring in a new trendy audience of shoppers, workers and residents. In other words, a regeneration area!

We are all familiar with the local estate or area that has been neglected or is simply no longer fit for the demands of today’s modern living. The aim of regeneration is to give areas like this a facelift or even a wholescale refurbishment, depending on the job to be done. And if you can spot the up and coming areas and are prepared to be first in (which of course is a bit of a gamble) then you could do well for yourself.

PACK AHEAD

Depending on the scale of the regeneration, there may be an aim to attract inward investment, create more of a community, enhance transport, build a new school or a Doctors’ surgery and possibly create new places of work or retail areas.

Larger regeneration projects offer something for everyone: so new places to live with a high level of affordable homes, meaning that there are often great opportunities to buy a brand new quality home with shared ownership or Help to Buy alongside rent and sale. As some of these schemes are phased over many years, early buyers can often secure a great value property, although they may have to put up the inconvenience of being close to a building site for a while.

OF THE

Investors like to buy at the lowest possible price

and sell at the top, they often refer to it as ‘getting

in on the ground floor’ – wonder where they got

that expression from? Well if you want to get ahead

of the pack and get in before property prices rise

dramatically, then need to keep a keen eye out!

Park Central – BirminghamPark Central is one of the largest residential regeneration schemes in Birmingham city centre. At one time, the area epitomised Birmingham’s image as a concrete jungle, a real no-go zone. Now, Park Central is a desirable place to live, home to more than 1,000 people, including professionals and families.


Regeneration

PACK 29 year old Kimberley Whitehead, who works for the NHS, saw what was ‘going on’ in Tottenham when she rented an apartment from Newlon Housing. She saw the positive side of regeneration for herself and decided that she ‘wanted to stick around’. But she also wanted to own her own home.

Her chance came up when Newlon offered shared ownership in another of their blocks, right behind the Town Hall, and Kimberley was able to change from renting to home ownership.

TottenhamThe regeneration of Tottenham which will continue until 2025 will incorporate a new primary school, new community facilities, great new transport links and a new stadium for Tottenham Hotspur: thousands of new jobs will be created and thousands of affordable new homes will be built for its new residents to live in.

One first time buyer who used the Help to Buy option to buy a one-bedroom apartment at Park Central from Crest Nicholson is Chris Bayliss, aged 27. Having previously rented for two years, Chris moved back into his parent’s home to save money for a deposit and then took the plunge and stepped into home ownership.

Chris said: ‘At first I was looking for a place to rent in the city centre which was within easy walking distance to work but, when I realised that I could purchase my own home with a deposit of just 5%, I discovered that I could actually afford to purchase my own home instead.

Outdoor living accessories

www.george.com

PerfectPicnics

As summer approaches and hopefully the good weather with it take the opportunity to plan some great days out with a picnic. Whether it’s a walk to the local park, a visit to the seaside or a trip into the countryside there are plenty of great places to enjoying eating alfresco. We’ve taken a look at the latest picnic accessories and chosen a few of our favourites here.



HomeStyle

1 Antique floral drinks dispenser £17.50 www.marksandspencer.com

2 Wilko duffle cooler £12 www.wilko.com

3 Turquoise blue vacuum flask £15.95 www.berryred.co.uk

4 Set of 4 assorted melamine cups £12 www.bhs.co.uk

5 Wicker picnic hamper £55www.marksandspencer.com

6 Pop-up wine glass £5.95 www.red5.co.uk

7 Fruit print and lime melamine plates and bowls from £4 www.houseoffraser.co.uk

8 Stripe picnic blanket £15 www.next.co.uk

9 Feeling fruity cool bag £15 www.next.co.uk

10 Small charcoal bucket BBQ £10www.tesco.com

11 Easy Camp Toulouse picnic table £44.99 www.johnlewis.com

12 Pink folding picnic chair £8 www.tesco.com

3

11

12

2

1

5

6

8

9

10

4

7


MONEYMONEYMONEYThe budget planner on the right hand page will help you work out your income and outgoings each month so you’ll know how much you can afford to pay in mortgage (or mortgage and rent on a shared ownership property). And if you need to build up a deposit, it will also help you work out how much you can save to put towards it. But the rest of this page will help you get the best mortgage deal available by making sure your credit rating is as high as possible.

Credit ratingsA below average credit rating will affect the mortgage terms you’re offered or perhaps even lead to your mortgage application being turned down altogether. And there’s no way round it. When you apply for a mortgage, the lender will carry out a credit check which provides them with a breakdown of all historical financial transactions held in your name. This records how much you have borrowed and how you have dealt with each commitment, i.e. are you a good payer and have you paid on time? This check also provides a “credit score” to help the lender make a decision on your application. Unfortunately, the scoring systems aren’t published and differ lender to lender and product to product. But we do know that the higher your score, the better chance you have of obtaining a mortgage and being offered a good interest rate.

Easy steps to maximise your credit score • Obtain a copy of your credit report (the 3 major agencies are Experian, Equifax and Callcredit) and check the content. The reports can occasionally contain mistakes.

• Check with your council to see that you are on the electoral roll. Not being on the electoral roll reduces your chances of being accepted.• Try to pay off existing debts before you apply, or at the very least reduce them by as much as possible.• Don’t miss or make late repayments on any loan, credit card or utility bill. Missed or late payments can stay on your credit file for up to 6 years and can play havoc with your chances of obtaining a mortgage.• Keep within your bank overdraft limit and preferably keep in credit for at least 6 months prior to applying for a mortgage. Lenders will ask to see between 3 and 6 months of your most recent bank statements and if you have overstepped your authorised limit this is likely to lead to an automatic decline.• If you’ve never had credit before, it can be difficult for a lender to assess you. Consider taking out a credit card, make a couple of purchases on it each month and repaying them in full within the prescribed time limit. This will help to build a good credit history.• Having too much credit available can work against you. Close any accounts you don’t need or use anymore. • Lenders want to see a settled financial history so don’t take out any loans or new credit cards shortly before applying for a mortgage.• It’s not always easy, but avoid a job change immediately prior to submitting a mortgage application. Before agreeing to a loan most mortgage providers like a borrower to have held a job for a few months to show that a steady income is being received.

Before you worry about location, location, location, think about money, money money! Money for your deposit, money for your mortgage and money to get through each month.


BUDGETPLANNERGet to grips with your finances and plan to have a little left over each month to build a deposit or to buy those finishing touches for your home. Budget on a monthly basis, even if it’s an annual bill. This handy planner will be useful when your mortgage lender asks you about your outgoings. Go to www.homefocus.co.uk /Budget_Planner and download an electronic version to print off as many as you need.

MoneyMaestro

1 – Income

Wages or salary (net after deductions)

Partner’s wages or salary (net)

Tips, commission or overtime

Other earnings (net)

Maintenance/child support

Working Tax Credit

Children’s Tax Credit

Child Benefit

Any other benefit income

Interest on savings

Other income

TOTAL INCOME (BOX 1) £

2 – Housing and utilities

Mortgage payments

Rent

Other loans on your home

Council tax

Service charge and/or ground rent

Buildings/contents insurance

Life or redundancy insurance

Water and sewerage rates

Gas

Electricity

Other fuel costs

Other housing costs

TOTAL HOUSING COSTS (BOX 2) £

3 – Important expenditure

Telephone and internet (including mobiles)

Credit card payments

Loan repayments

Maintenance payments

Pension

TV licence

HP or rental payments (car, tv etc)

TOTAL IMPORTANT COSTS (BOX 3) £

4 – Everyday expenditure

Food & Drink

Housekeeping

Travel & fares

Car expenses (tax/petrol/servicing etc)

Childcare (nursery/minder/babysitter)

Children (pocket money, activities, events)

School meals

Pets (food, vet’s bills, insurance)

Cigarettes and other ‘vices’

Clothes and shoes

Household items (repairs etc)

Health costs (dentist, optician, prescriptions)

TOTAL EVERYDAY COSTS (BOX 4) £

5 – Other expenditure

Religious and charitable giving

Entertaining, eating out

Holidays

Hobbies (activities, gardening, books etc)

Gifts (eg birthdays)

Christmas or festivals and presents

Courses and professional fees

Catalogue/mail order payments

TOTAL OTHER COSTS (BOX 5) £

6 – Your budget

Total income BOX 1 £

Housing costs BOX 2

Important expenditure BOX 3

Everyday expenditure BOX 4

Other expenditure BOX 5

Total Outgoings

(add boxes 2,3,4,5 & 6) BOX 6 £

MONEY LEFT OVER (BOX 1 – BOX 6) £

Simone Martorina Determined to buy and stay in the same area he was renting inSimone Martorina had been renting a one-bedroom apartment in Wandsworth and decided that it was about time to make his move into the property market. But with property prices in London and current deposit requirements, there was only one way he could get a foot in the door – shared ownership!

Simone, a sales manager, was determined to stay in the area and spent four months looking for an ideal home, defined as being well sized, near to the train station, with a good quality finish where everything was easy and ready to use. And oh yes…affordable.

Notting Hill’s Battersea Reach development ticked all Simone’s boxes and he bought a share of a two-bedroom apartment.

FINDING YOUR PLACE ON THE

LADDERLots of people think that low cost home ownership (LCHO) is a great opportunity but it can’t be for them…can it? Surely it’s only for council tenants? Or keyworkers? Well, you’d be surprised at the different sorts of people who climb onto the home ownership ladder thanks to shared ownership and Help to Buy.

The Golden familyThe Help to Buy option bought them an extrabedroom Kirsty, 28, and Mark Golden, 30, and their two children Emily and Evie have bought their first home together, a brand new three bedroom semi-detached at Barratt Homes’ King Rise development in Kings Norton.

They say, ‘A brand new house was a priority for us as it will save us money in the long term with maintenance and DIY.’ But even more important is the extra bedroom that was possible thanks to the Help to Buy scheme, meaning their daughters now both have their own space and no longer have to share.


Pearl StonelakeFirst time buyers in their 50’s Pearl Stonelake had lived in Torbay all her life, always in rented accommodation. Sovereign Homes’ shared ownership programme in the town gave her and her husband, the chance to change their situation.

Pearl, a 52 year old health-care assistant and husband Nik, both work, but don’t earn enough to have a full mortgage. She says, ‘Shared ownership was our chance to have somewhere of our own, with nobody telling us what to do. Without shared ownership, we would have had nothing’.

Pearl feels that as first-time buyers in their 50’s they were in a situation where they must go for shared ownership or ‘go backwards back to the rental market, where landlords can tell you what to do, put the rents up to whenever they want.’

Laura, Daniel and baby BradenNeeded to be sure of their futureDays after returning home from hospital with their first baby, social worker Laura, 27, and husband Daniel, 29, were given two month’s notice to leave the Bedfordshire home they’d rented for the last five years.

Understandably, the couple were ‘quite panicky’, and felt that their first priority was to give their new son Braden, ‘a stable life’, so they looked to see if they could buy.

Through the Help to Buy scheme, they decided they could and found a three-bedroom home on the Heritage Park site development in Bedfordshire.

They say, ‘Help to Buy has been great for us as without the equity loan we wouldn’t have been able to afford to buy our own home. We were finding it really difficult to pay rent and

BuyerProfile

Will these stories inspire you to become a homeowner? See the list of low cost home ownership (LCHO) properties on

pages 56-59. Or go to www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-

near-you. Or email [email protected]

save up a huge deposit for a conventional mortgage. It’s great to finally have the security of our own home and to know that we won’t be given notice to leave.

Pete and Jo LockleyStarted by buying 50% and then bought more shares Pete Lockley, bought a 50 percent share in an Origin Housing apartment in East London and lived there very happily for 7 years.

His circumstances changed, he married Jo and he moved to a better paid job. So Pete took the decision to buy the remaining 50% (in a process called staircasing), and now owns the property outright.

Pete says ‘We have just had our second child, and we’re outgrowing our two bedroom property, so we are looking to move up the property ladder to somewhere bigger. For me, shared ownership has been a great way to get on the housing ladder.’



WHAT WILL MY MONEY BUY?Ever wondered if we’re looking at

things the wrong way round? When you’re looking to buy a home, it seems

that we take in all of the price information from seller’s point of view. It’s not like buying a new pair of shoes where you know if you want them and whether you can afford them. Or maybe you could until pay day, or miss out on a night out with mates to cover the cost. This is much more serious.

So we’ve turned it on its head and asked our Mortgage expert Richard Stone to give us some examples of what people in different situations can get for their money.

Every mortgage application/loan is different and takes into account all kinds of things including your outgoings and spending pattern as well as your income and savings. So to keep things simple and consistent Richard, in his examples, has said that no more than 45% of your take home pay can be used towards housing costs eg mortgage, rent and service charge. Remember that shared ownership homes always have some level of service charge irrespective of them being a house or an apartment. With Help to Buy, it’s only leasehold properties (apartments for our purposes here) that attract a service charge. Additionally, the total loan amount should not be more than 4.5 times the household income.

Single person on household income of £30,000 (Take home pay around £1,946)

Shared Ownership

Price £250,000 Mortgage payment £371

Rent £390 Service charge £120

Monthly total £881



Monthly total £715

Help to Buy

Price £200,000 (House) Mortgage payment £875


Monthly total £875

Price £175,000 (Apartment) Mortgage payment £764


Monthly total £884

Disclaimer: These calculations have been provided as a general guide and should not be relied upon to support an individual transaction. The interest rates, rents, service charges and net income calculations are simply shown as an indication of costs and do not relate to a specific scheme or situation. For accurate information relating to personal quotes please contact a specialist mortgage advisor with experience in affordable housing.

You could buy a 25% share of a £250,000 shared ownership home, a £200,00 Help to Buy house or a £175,000 Help to Buy apartment. You will need a £3,125 deposit for the shared ownership home as opposed to £10,000 for the Help to Buy house.


BuyingPower

WHAT WILL MY MONEY BUY?

Couple (no children) on household income of £45,000(Main earner £3,042 with a second income of £15,000. Combined take home pay around £3,042)

Couple + 2 children on household income of £50,000(Main earner £30,000 with a second income of £20,000. Combined take home pay around £3,325)

Shared Ownership



Monthly total £1,328




Shared Ownership







Help to Buy

Price £300,000 (House) Mortgage payment £1,310



Price £260,000 (Apartment) Mortgage payment £1,135

Rent £0

Service charge £150


Help to Buy

Price £230,000 (House) Mortgage payment £1,441



Price £300,000 (Apartment) Mortgage payment £1,310



Terms used in the calculations: The figures have been prepared on the basis of a repayment mortgage over a 25 year term. The rate of interest used in the examples is 5% which is higher than current mortgage rates available. The shared ownership figures have been based on a minimum share of 25%, assuming a 95% mortgage and a 5% personal deposit. The Help to Buy figures have been based on a mortgage equivalent to 75% of the full purchase price and a 5% deposit of the full purchase price with the remaining 20% being provided by the Help to Buy scheme.The shared ownership rent has been based on 2.5% and the service charge is a shown at a typical level. Both these sums will vary on a property specific basis.



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WhereNext

homefinderWHERE NOW? If you’ve got the feeling that affordable or low cost home ownership (LCHO) can help you, then here’s what to do next

Step 1 – Get registeredIf you want to buy through shared ownership or Help to Buy Equity Loan you should register with your local Help to Buy Agent. They’ll process your application to make sure you’re eligible for the scheme and provide you with a list of all the LCHO properties on offer in your area. It’s a little different in London but there’s still an online LCHO portal to point you in the right direction. Or you can go to www.homefocus.co.uk/register and be taken to just the place you need to be. The homefocus website will help minimise the amount of duplication you have to go through and offer all kinds of practical help.

Step 2 – Work out how much you can affordThere’s no point falling in love with a place only to find out that it’s way above your price bracket. Outside London, your Help to Buy Agent will take you through a basic financial check, just to confirm that you’re eligible for shared ownership and/or Help to Buy and will give you an indication of how much you’re likely to afford. The figures will be more closely reviewed later on in the process. In London, your housing association will go over the figures with you once you’ve found a home you like. No matter where you live, we advise that you go to a specialist financial advisor who understands the LCHO market inside out.

Step 3 – Home huntingNow for the fun part. Take a look at some of the affordable homes around, including the ones we feature in our regional property sections from page 12 of the magazine. There’s a fuller list on pages 56-59 or at www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you. Or you can go to www.homefocus.co.uk/Search where you’ll get directions to a full listing of LCHO properties in the region you’re searching.

Step 4 – DetailsGetting down to the nitty- gritty! Once you’ve found the home you want, and whether you live in London or not, you’ll formally apply for your home through the housing association or developer and they’ll give you a more detailed affordability check, often asking an independent financial advisor (IFA) of their choosing to find out how much you can afford.

Step 5 – Check the small printIf all goes ahead, then you’ll need to get in touch with a solicitor to take you through the legal side of buying a home. We advise using one with experience of LCHO transactions and you’ll find a list of them advertising on pages 66-67 of the magazine.

Step 6 – Get movingSorry, but there’s still more practicalities to go through before the excitement of moving into your own home, like telling DVLA to change the details on your driving license or registering with a new doctor, letting the bank know your new address and organising schools for your children. If you’d like a helpful checklist to make sure that you let everyone (who needs to know) that you’re on the move, go to www.homefocus.co.uk/Moving_CheckList and download a printable pdf.

Your steps to making all the right moves…


n London n South n South West n East & South East n Midlands

HERE’S THE KEY To help you on the way to getting the keys to your own door...

We’ve colour coded our development sections on pages 12-31 and our homefinder property listings on pages 56-59, to make finding a property in your area a little easier. The key is as follows:

WANT MORE INFORMATION? Call homefocus on 0845 474 4734 e-mail [email protected] or Facebook us at www.facebook.com/homefocus

LOOK FOR THE LOGO! For most of England, the government-backed schemes will have the Help to Buy logo - so wherever you see it, you’ll know that there are LCHO options available.

In London you should look for the First Steps logo!

Your local HELP TO BUY AGENT will have a comprehensive list of all LCHO properties in your area. That includes shared ownership new build, shared ownership resales and Help to Buy properties. You can visit their website as listed below, or if you’re not sure which is the correct one for you, go to www.homefocus.co.uk/Help_To_Buy_Agents and be redirected. homefocus will help make sure you get to the right place.

LONDON www.sharetobuy.com/firststeps

SOUTH www.helptobuysouth.co.uk

SOUTH WEST www.helptobuysw.org.uk

EAST & SOUTH EAST www.helptobuyese.org.uk

MIDLANDS www.helptobuymidlands.co.uk

REST OF THE COUNTRY Homefocus magazine doesn’t cover the north of England, but if you go to www.homefocus.co.uk/Help_To_Buy_Agents, then you will be redirected to the appropriate website.


ShowDiary

FORTHCOMINGEVENTS

Can we help?

Don’t forget you can contact homefocus if you’ve got a question about low cost home ownership or are interested in any of the properties we’ve featured. Just call us on 0845 474 4734

or e-mail us at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to help!

Until the next issue of homefocus… happy homehunting!

FIND OUT ABOUT EVENTS NEAR YOU!

Buckinghamshire Help to Buy Home ShowThe Gateway, Gatehouse RoadAylesbury HP19 8FFSaturday 6th June 10.30-4.00pm

Norfolk Help to Buy New Home ShowThe Forum, 2 Millennium PlainBethel Street, Norwich NR2 1TFSunday 7th June

Essex’s Help to Buy New Home ShowHylands House, Chelmsford, EssexSaturday 13th June 10.30am-4.00pm

Homematch Property ShowHotel Russel, Russel Square, WC1B 5BE20th June 201511.00am-4.00pmFor tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/homematch-property-show-2015-tickets-16410626626

Hertfordshire’s Help to Buy Home ShowRamada Hotel, St Albans Road WestHatfield AL10 9RHSaturday 16th May 201510.30am-4.00pm

Suffolk Help to Buy New Home ShowIpswich Town Hall, CornhillIpswich IP1 1DH23rd May 201510.30am-4.00pm

National Housing FederationAffordable Home 2015 Ownership ConferenceNo:11 Cavendish SquareLondon3rd June 2015


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Location Name of No of Type of Available Provider Development Units Properties From

EAST & SOUTH EASTwww.helptobuyese.org.uk Ashford Wellesley View 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonAshford Meridian House 1 3 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonAylesbury Oasis at Buckingham Park 1 1 bed flat Now Hightown HomesBasingstoke Swanwick Walk 1 3 bed house Now Affinity SuttonBedford Aspire 9 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesBexhill on Sea The Point Phase 2 8 1 & 2 bed flats Now Orbit HomesBiggleswade Kings Reach, Biggleswade 9 1 & 2 bed flats 2014-2015 AragonBognor Regis Harrington House 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonBrighton Super B 53 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Hyde New Homes Brighton One Hove Park 30 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Hyde New Homes Brighton Alexandra Apartments 1 2 bed wheelchair accessible Now Affinity SuttonBrighton Portside Mews 8 2 & 3 bed houses Winter Affinity SuttonBroadbridge Heath Wickhurst Green 5 2 bed houses Launch 2015 Southern HousingBroadstairs Hereson Place 5 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesBuxted Totease Mews 1 3 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonCanterbury Chantry Club 16 1 & 2 bed flats 2016 Orbit HomesChatham Admirals Place 8 1 & 2 bed flats, 2 bed houses Now Orbit HomesChatham St. Marys Island 24 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 & 4 bed houses Late 2015 Orbit HomesChelmsford City Park West 9 1 & 2 bed flats Now Genesis HousingChelmsford St John’s 1 1 bed flat Now East ThamesChichester Affinity Sutton at Graylingwell Park 22 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses Now Affinity SuttonChichester Bleaches Court 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonChichester St Margarets 14 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonChichester John Rennie Road 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonChigwell Grange Manor 1 2 bed flat Available East ThamesCranleigh The Cranes 12 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses Now Affinity SuttonCringleford Aura, Round House Park 6 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesCrowborough Sherlock Shaw 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonCroydon Hampton Mews 10 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesDover Church Lane - Deal 21 2 & 3 bed Feb-16 Orbit HomesDover Caesar Court 19 2 bed July Orbit HomesEast Grinstead Birch House 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonEast Grinstead Overton Court 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonEastbourne Churchdale Road 1 3 bed house Now Affinity SuttonEastergate Brooks Nursery 4 2 & 3 bed houses Now Affinity SuttonFaygate Kilnwood Vale 10 2, 3, 4 bed houses Launch 2015 Southern HousingGillingham Hayter House 2 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonGuildford Rivett-Drake Close 1 2 bed house Now Affinity SuttonHalling Phase 2 - St Andrews Park 11 3 & 4 bed houses Now Red Loft Halling Phase 3 - St Andrews Park 18 1 & 2 bed flats September Red Loft Halling St Andrews Park Pase 2 31 3 & 4 bed houses June mhs homesHassocks Affinity Sutton at Ockley Grange 2 2 & 3 bed houses Summer Affinity SuttonHastings Sycamore Chase 16 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesHastings Kingswood Gate 11 2 bed flats, 2 bed houses Now Orbit HomesHatfield The Frythe 19 2 & 3 bed houses Winter Affinity SuttonHatfield Princes Gate 13 2 & 3 bed houses, 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonHaywards Heath Butlers Green Road 3 3 bed houses Winter Affinity SuttonHaywards Heath Hardham Close 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonHaywards Heath Sussex Gate 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonHemel Hempstead Matis House 1 2 bed flat Now Hightown HomesHemel Hempstead Bohemia 1 2 bed flat Now Hightown HomesHorsham Novatis 25 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 bed house Jan-18 Orbit HomesHove New Church Road 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonHoveton Meadow View 11 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesIpswich Stoke Quay 59 1 & 2 bed flats Now Genesis HousingKents Hill Bedgebury Place, Kents Hill 2 3 bed houses Now Aragon

AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES

HERE’S JUST A FEW OF THE HOMES IN YOUR AREA

NEAR YOU!



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LONDON

www.helptobuyese.org.uk Lewes Yew Tree Court 10 1 & 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonLittlehampton Kingley Gate 8 2 & 3 bed houses Summer Affinity SuttonMilton Keynes Yorkshire Close 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonNewton Leys Dickens Lane, Newton Leys 1 3 bed house Now Hightown HomesOxted Affinity Sutton at Meridan Square 2 2 bed houses Summer Affinity SuttonRamsgate Westwood Cross 78 TBC 2016 Orbit HomesSandy Sunderland Road, Sandy 2 1 & 2 bed flats 2014-2015 AragonSeven Oaks Dunton Meadows 49 1 & 2 bed TBC October Orbit HomesShenley Brook End Garthwaite Crescent 1 3 bed house Late 2015 AragonSt Leonards on Sea Oakwood Rise 11 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesStevenage Hepworth Court 1 2 bed flat Now Hightown HomesStevenage Sharp Court 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonStotfold Beauchamp Mill 1 2 bed flat Now Hightown HomesThanet Weyburn Place 4 2 & 3 bed houses Soon Orbit HomesUpper Caldecote Biggleswade Road, Upper Caldecote 2 3 bed house, 2 bed bungalow 2015 AragonWadhurst Farthing Hill 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonWainscott Miller Way 8 3 bed houses June Red Loft Wainscott Miller Way 8 3 bed houses July mhs homesWestcliff-on-Sea Salisbury Mews 2 3 bed house Now EstuaryWheathampstead Old School Drive 1 2 bed house Now Hightown HomesWhitstable Wicketts End 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonWorthing Frobisher House 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonYapton Emerald Gardens 4 2 & 3 bed houses Now Stonewater Homes

www.sharetobuy.com/firststeps Acton Factory Quarter 27 1 & 2 bed flats Summer Genesis HousingBarnet Axis 6 1 & 2 bed flats Winter Origin HousingBexley Erith Park 9 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit Homes Bow The View 4 2 & 3 bed flats Coming soon East ThamesBromley Archery Lane 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonBromley The Berry Fields 2 4 bed only Now Affinity SuttonBromley Krueger House 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonBromley William Petty Way 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonCanada Water Quebec Quarter 69 1 & 2 bed flats September L&QColindale Zenith 3 2 bed flats Now Genesis Housing Cricklewood Gladstone Village 32 1 & 2 bed flats Autumn OctaviaCroydon The Point 35 1 & 2 bed flats Summer Affinity SuttonCroydon The Deacons 2 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonCroydon Balmoral House 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonCustom House DNA 7 3 & 4 bed houses Coming Soon East ThamesDocklands Jessops at New Providence Wharf 45 1 & 2 bed flats Now Genesis HousingEaling 45 Queens Walk 4 2 bed flats Summer Viridian HousingEaling L&Q@Liberty Quarter 11 1 & 2 bed flats Summer L&QEnfield Bolingbroke Park 50 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Summer L&QEnfield Watermill Lane 30 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 bed maisonette Summer Newlon Home Ownership Fitzrovia Cleveland Street@Fitzroy Place 14 1 bed flats Summer OctaviaForest Hill City Walk 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonFulham Fulham Riverside 3 2 & 3 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonGreenwich Ordnance Place 10 1 & 2 bed flats Autumn L&QGreenwich L&Q @ Greenwich Square 76 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now L&QGreenwich L&Q @ Greenwich Peninsula 34 1 & 2 bed flats Summer L&QGreenwich L&Q @ Platinum Riverside 14 1 & 2 bed flats Summer L&QGreenwich L&Q @ Enderby Wharf 46 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Jun-15 L&QHackney The City Mills Phase 2 116 1, 2, 3 & 4 bed flats Now L&QHackney The NE5T 6 1, 2, & 3 bed flats Launch 2015 Southern HousingHarold Wood Kings Park 24 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses Now East ThamesHarrow Essence 12 1 & 2 bed flats Now Origin HousingHarrow Chandos 15 1 & 2 bed flats Now Origin HousingHarrow Pearmain House 38 1 & 2 bed flats Now Metropolitan Harrow Charter Court 26 1 & 2 flats 2016 MetropolitanIsle Of Dogs Parkland Place 5 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Coming Soon East ThamesIsle Of Dogs Triangle E14 8 2 bed flats Now Gateway LivingIslington Harrington Court 5 2 bed flats, 3 bed maisonettes Now L&QIslington The Fable Apartments at the Lexicon 70 1 & 2 bed flats Winter Affinity SuttonIslington St Luke’s Centre 7 1 & 2 bed flats Winter Affinity SuttonKensal Green Retro Bosworth Road 8 1 & 2 bed flats Now OctaviaKensington Grand Union Centre 22 1 & 2 bed flats Winter Affinity SuttonLewisham Goldcrest House 29 1 & 2 bed flats, 2 bed duplexes Spring L&QLewisham L&Q@Greenland Place 95 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now L&QLewisham Thurston Point 42 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Summer L&QManor House Woodberry Down 7 1 & 2 bed flats Now Genesis Housing New Cross Spark 30 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Hyde New HomesNewham Chobham Manor 8 1 bed flats, 3 bed houses 2016 L&Q


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LONDON

MIDLANDS

SOUTH

www.sharetobuy.com/firststepsOrpington Amethyst Court 4 1 & 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonOrpington Cray View Close 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonOrpington William Petty Way 2 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonPaddington Merchant Square 1 1 & 2 bed flats Now OctaviaPlumstead Kings Highway 30 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Hyde New Homes Putney Plaza Gardens East Putney 34 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Summer OctaviaRedbridge Westview Drive 9 2 bed flats Summer MetropolitanRomford Victoria Road 24 1 & 2 bed flats 2016 EstuarySouthwark L&Q@Trafalgar Place 28 1, 2 & 3 bed flats, Now L&Q 2, 3 & 4 bed dupexesSouthwark Harvard Gardens 27 1 & 2 bed flats Summer L&QSouthwark L&Q@The Arc 15 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Spring L&QSouthwark 169-173 Blackfriars Road 10 1 & 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonStonebridge Spring South 27 1, 2 & 3 bed flats September Hyde New Homes Stratford Stratford Gate 52 1 & 2 bed flats Now L&QStratford East Plaza 22 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Coming soon East ThamesTottenham Rivers Apartments 65 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Newlon Home Ownership Tower Hamlets The Dockyard 17 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now East ThamesWaltham Forest Shernall Street 21 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Summer MetropolitanWalthamstow Stadium Place 99 1, 2 & 4 bed houses, Summer L&Q 1 ,2 & 3 bed flats, 3 bed m’ettesWandsworth Spectra Apartments 2 1 & 2 bed flats Now OctaviaWembley Westside Court Forty Avenue 2 3 bed maisonettes Now OctaviaWoolwich The Liberty 98 2 bed flats - over 55s Summer Viridian HousingWoolwich Cannons Corner 24 1 & 2 bed flats Now Hyde New Homes

www.helptobuymidlands.co.uk Bedworth Milliner Court 10 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit Homes Bidford upon Avon The Waterways 5 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesBirmingham All Saints Square 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonBishops Itching Hendry Place 3 3 bed houses October Orbit HomesBugbrooke The Willows 8 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesBurton Latimer Glade Gardens 8 2 bed houses June Orbit HomesBurton-upon-Trent Steeping Place 18 2 & 3 bed houses Autumn Orbit HomesHenley in Arden Henley Oint 1 2 bed flat Now Orbit HomesKenilworth Abbey End 1 2 bed house Now Orbit HomesKettering Waterside 11 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesKettering Westhill 4 3 bed houses May Orbit HomesLeamington Spa Fieldgate Lane 9 2 & 3 bed 2016 Orbit HomesLeamington Spa The Priors@Chesterton Gardens 17 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesLong Marston Beaufort Mead 29 2 & 3 bed houses, 2 bed m’ettes & flat Now Orbit HomesMiddleton Cheney Waters Lane, Middleton Cheney 6 2 & 3 bed houses Now AragonNorthampton Booth Park 56 2 bed houses Now Orbit Homes Northampton Carey Fields 14 2 & 3 bed houses May-16 Orbit HomesNuneaton Viscount Place 6 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesPineham Butterfly Gardens 37 2 & 3 bed house Now Orbit HomesRadstone Fields Radstone Fields, Brackley 27 2 & 3 bed houses 2015-2016 AragonRugby Lower Street 76 TBC TBC Orbit HomesRushden Woollard Gardens 8 2, 3 & 4 bed houses August Orbit HomesRushden Nightingale Place 4 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesRushdon 17 Lawton Road 1 2 bed house Now Orbit HomesSouth Northants Stonecutters, Roade 10 2 bed houses Early/Mid 2015 Orbit HomesStratford-upon-Avon The Chapelry 15 2, 3 & 4 bed houses Now Orbit HomesThrapston The Sidings 28 1 & 2 bed m’ettes, 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesWarwick London Rd - Shipston on Stour 41 TBC 2015 & 2016 Orbit HomesWarwick Hawkes Meadow 18 2 & 3 bed houses June Orbit HomesWellesbourne Ettington Mews 19 2, 3 & 4 bed houses Now Orbit Homes

www.helptobuysouth.co.ukAldershot The Orchards 10 2 bed maisonettes, 2 & 3 bed houses Now First WessexEastleigh The Hub 9 2 bed flats duplex, 2 & 3 bed houses Now First WessexEmsworth Redlands Grange 1 1 bed flat Now First WessexFreshwater IOW Freshwater Fields 10 2 & 3 bed houses Now Spectrum Housing Glastonbury Chilkwell Street 3 2 & 3 bed houses Now Stonewater HomesGosport Alver Village 9 1 & 2 bed flats Now First WessexGosport Issac House 2 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonGosport 4 Whiston House 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonHavant Nursery Fields & Manor Farm 3 2 & 3 bed houses Now First WessexHavant Nursery Fields & Manor Farm 3 2 & 3 bed houses Now First WessexLee-on-the-Solent Sea Crest Gardens 5 2 bed houses Now First WessexNewport IOW Pan Meadows 9 2 bed houses Now Spectrum Housing Portsmouth Guardians Gate 4 3 bed houses Now First WessexPortsmouth Graduate Court 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonPortsmouth Priory View 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity Sutton



Interested in any of the properties listed? Email [email protected]

and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

SOUTH

SOUTH WEST

www.helptobuysouth.co.ukReading The Cedars 3 3 bed houses Now Southern HousingSouthampton Centenary Quay 22 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Spectrum Housing Southampton Montague Place 4 2 bed flats Now First WessexSouthampton Mayflower Mews 9 1 & 2 bed flats Now First WessexSouthampton Mansfield Park 14 1 & 2 bed flats Now First WessexSouthampton Hawke House 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonSouthampton Queensway 12 2 bed houses, 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Coming Soon Stonewater HomesStanford in The Vale Faringdon Road 7 2 & 3 bed houses Coming soon Stonewater Homes

www.helptobuysw.org.ukBristol Maytrees 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonMotcombe The Paddock 5 3 bed houses Now Spectrum Housing Plymouth Maple Walk 9 2 & 3 bed houses Now Spectrum HousingPoundbury South West Quadrant 4 3 bed houses Now Stonewater HomesSparkford The Old Coal Yard 6 2 & 3 bed houses Now Stonewater HomesTaunton Monkton Heathfield 3 3 bed houses Now Stonewater HomesWeymouth Pemberley 2 2 bed houses Now Stonewater Homes

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homefinderSouth West

Need a helping hand to get on the property ladder?

HampshireWiltshireDorset, DevonIsle of Wight

Call Today 0800 316 3316www.getmove-in.com

Affordable propertiesin various locations:

If you want to find out about your government funded housing options, contact your local Help to Buy Agent.

You can find out more details by going to: www.gov.uk/affordable-home-ownership-schemes

homefinder South West

homefinder East & South East


homefinderEast &South East

Redlands Grange, Emsworth

Award winning homes in North London and Hertfordshire

originsales.co.uk l 0800 068 8990

Homes for sale, for rent, for you

0300 303 7333www.east-thames.co.uk

across Essex

THAMES

THAMES

THAMES

Homes for sale on a shared ownership basis across the South East

0300 100 0303affinitysutton.comemail: [email protected]



Visit: www.mhs.org.uk

For shared ownership in Kent and Medway

homefinder East & South East


from Hightown Homesshared ownership

Get on the property ladder with

Call us: 01442 292381Visit us: www.hightownhomes.com

Brand new homes across London and the South East

[email protected]

08456 12 12 71

4608 SH SO Ad h61 x w91mm HFM ad.indd 1 10/11/2014 10:38

Shared Ownership • Discounted Rent

AffordableHyde New Homes

Call our sales team now!Tel: 0845 606 1221Email: [email protected]

Follow us on and

Bedfordshire, South Northants &

Milton Keynes

A home of your own with Shared Ownership

Tel. 01525 844460www.grandunionhousing.co.uk

Grand Union Housing Group comprises: Aragon Housing Association,MacIntyre Housing Association and South Northants Homes


Milton Keynes







homefinderLondon Homes for sale on

a shared ownershipbasis across London

0300 100 0303affinitysutton.comemail: [email protected]

homefinder London


Homes for sale, for rent, for you

0300 303 7333www.east-thames.co.uk

THAMES

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across east London

NEWLON WELCOMES INTEREST FROM ALL FIRST TIME BUYERS EARNINGUP TO £66,000 FOR ALL OF OUR ONE AND TWO BEDROOM HOMES

Call the sales team now

NEWLON WELCOMES INTEREST FROM ALL FIRST TIME BUYERS EARNING

Call the sales team now

0800 058 2544www.newlonhomeownership.org.uk

Telephone: 0208 709 4409Fax: 020 8709 4400Email: [email protected]

409-413 Mile End RoadLondon E3 4PB

Providers of quality affordable homes

SALES & MARKETING CONSULTANCY AND AGENCY SERVICES

shared ownership homesin London & the South East

Find out more: 0844 225 3071 · www.redloftsales.co.uk

homefinder London

www.octavialiving.org.uk020 8354 5601for more information please call

Developing homes in London

octaviaafforDabLe homeownership

feeLs gooD when you finD what you’re Looking for

4745 OH Home Focus Ad.indd 1 20/01/2015 16:41 homefocus • MAY/JUNE 2015 63

Developing where people want to

www.viridianhousing.org.ukTel: 0800 012 1442

Viridian is now a major provider of shared ownership properties across leafy south west London, one of the

most desirable areas for first time buyers.

Award winning homes in North London and Hertfordshire

originsales.co.uk l 0800 068 8990




Follow us on and



Brand new homes across London and the South East

[email protected]

08456 12 12 71

4608 SH SO Ad h61 x w91mm HFM ad.indd 1 10/11/2014 10:38

homefinderMidlands

homefinder Midlands



Milton Keynes





Milton Keynes










homefinder South

Need a helping hand to get on the property ladder?

HampshireWiltshireDorset, DevonIsle of Wight

Call Today 0800 316 3316www.getmove-in.com

Affordable propertiesin various locations:

Don’t miss out...get the next 6 issues of homefocus delivered through your doorPublished every other month to keep you up to date with the latest opportunities in shared and affordable home ownershipJust £12.95 for the next 6 issues

n The latest affordable developments in your region

n Who to ask and where to find an affordable home

n Information about shared ownership, New Build HomeBuy,

FirstBuy, and all low cost home ownership schemes

nAdvice on legal and mortgage matters from specialists






homefinderSouth

Redlands Grange, Emsworth

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Follow us on and

legaladvice

Buying a new home requires essential legal

advice…contact a solicitor who specialisies in shared

ownership transactions

homebuyersGUIDE

Established over 60 years, Wiseman Lee has a dedicated department dealing with all Homebuy schemes, Resales, Staircasing and all Housing Association Schemes.

Please contact one of our team for further information, advice and a quote for costs and disbursements:

Janice Maskell 020 8215 1077 [email protected] Gary Gillespie 020 8215 1062 [email protected] Debra Rose 020 8215 5040 [email protected] Grant 020 8215 5041 [email protected]

9-13 Cambridge Park Wanstead E11 2PU (opposite Wanstead Station on the Central Line)

Tel: 020 8215 1000Web: www.wiseman.co.uk

HOMEBUY / STAIRCASING / RESALES

ALL HOUSING ASSOCIATION SCHEMES

RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL CONVEYANCING


• Shared Ownership

• Shared Equity

• First Buy

• Resales

• Staircasing

• Right to Acquire

Prince Evans has over 25 years experience in all types of housing association and private developer schemes.Our Specialist Team is ready to help you buy your new home.

HomeFocus ad-Shared Ownership_April13.indd 1 10/04/2013 17:00

Visit www.free-conveyancing-guide.co.ukto receive your FREE Guide to Conveyancing.

Please contact; Niki Sims or Sandra Thomas on 020 8567 3477, or email [email protected]

legaladvice


Here at the Advertising Standards Authority, we judge ads on whether they’re harmful, misleading, or offensive. Not on whether they’re funny, clever or they look good. Which is just as well, really.

Telephone 020 7492 2222 www.asa.org.uk

Keeping advertising standards high

We leave good

advertising to theprofessionals.

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Don’t miss out...get the next 6 issues of homefocus delivered through your doorPublished every other month to keep you up to date with the latest opportunities in shared and affordable home ownershipJust £12.95 for the next 6 issues

n The latest affordable developments in your region

n Who to ask and where to find an affordable home

n Information about shared ownership, New Build HomeBuy,

FirstBuy, and all low cost home ownership schemes

nAdvice on legal and mortgage matters from specialists






Put your conveyancing in

experienced hands

� Shared Ownership purchases� FirstBuy � Social HomeBuy � Right to Buy

� Right to Acquire � Staircasing� Shared Ownership resales

� Equity Loan redemption/remortgaging

Contact us for a friendly, no obligation quote:

London Office: 020 7158 0031Kent Office: 01227 812733

[email protected]

www.directionlaw.co.uk

*Starting prices are for a 25% share of the property. Eligibility requirements apply, please call us for more information. Details correct at time of going to press. Images representative only.

FOR MORE DETAILS OR TO VIEW A PROPERTY CALL0800 954 1167genesishahomes.org.uk

THE SMARTER WAY TO HOME OWNERSHIP

Now’s a great time to think about making that first move onto the property ladder – stamp duty changes have made it more affordable, plus there’s a range of competitive mortgage rates.

And then there’s shared ownership. It’s a cost effective way of getting your own property. You buy a 25%-75% share, with a mortgage and deposit, and then pay rent on the remainder. It’s often cheaper than renting the same property, with the bonus of owning part of it.

We’ve got a wide range of homes available for shared ownership, across London and Eastern England to suit all budgets. Not only are those properties affordable, they’re designed to a high standard – so high that we’ve been shortlisted for four First Time Buyer Magazine Awards 2015.

Call us today to find out just how easy and affordable your new move could be.

IN LONDON NEWLY LAUNCHEDJESSOPS AT NEW PROVIDENCE WHARF, DOCKLANDS

SUPERB LOCATION CLOSE TO CANARY WHARF AND THE THAMES

1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS FROM £93,688* BASED ON A FULL MARKET

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1, 2 & 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS, PRICES TO BE CONFIRMED

LAST FEW REMAININGWOODBERRY DOWN, MANOR HOUSE

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1 BEDROOM APARTMENTS STARTING FROM £76,625* BASED ON A FULL

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IMPRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT RIGHT ON THE MARINA, FEATURING HIGH

SPECIFICATION APARTMENTS


VALUE OF £90,000

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