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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

WAYS TO HELP YOU

BUYShared ownership

and Help to Buy

It’s time to take off

on your own

FLY THE

NESTANTHEA TURNER‘I think the saddest thing is property vacant and not being used’

‘The house is fabulous and it’s changed our lives’says Sabrina

TV personality

MADE MORE AFFORDABLE

ONE OF SIX £50 NATIONAL GARDEN

GIFT VOUCHERS

SEPT/OCT 2014

WIN

You’d like a smaller deposit and lower mortgage payments?

Be realistic. But find a way!A short while ago The Times quoted research showing that more homes on sale than ever before, are now unaffordable for first time buyers.

‘The property boom is spreading out of London and the south east with hotspots in York, Exeter, Cambridge, South Lakeland, Herefordshire and Christchuch in Dorset. In more than half of the country fewer than one in ten homes on the market is affordable for a young family trying to buy their first home.’

It’s not the role of homefocus Magazine to consider why the problem exists or how it can be resolved in the longer term, but it is our view that those of you aspiring to become homeowners should be persistent and creative in pursuing your dream. And we hope that the information and the success stories you find on the following pages will inspire and help you to do just that.

At the same time, be realistic! Just a 5% deposit will make it much more likely that you’ll be able to consider the first step onto the ladder. But it will also mean that you’ll need to accept higher monthly mortgage repayments. Buying a share of a shared ownership home will mean paying a rent (albeit subsidised) as well as paying your mortgage. And buying with a flat-mate has implications that could take practical decisions out of your control. You’ll find some differences between buying a share and ‘sharing to buy’ outlined on pages 48 & 49 of the issue. But don’t lose heart. One of the schemes outlined in homefocus might just get you the home you want, in a way you can afford.

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 John McManus GLA

Yvette Ruggins AFFINITY SUTTON GROUP

Isabel Saville CONCORDIA HOUSING CONSULTANCY

Simon Scott ORIGIN HOUSING

Sharon Shaw EAST THAMES GROUP

Jo Short HOMES IN HANTS

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

Publisher’sComment

Building quality new homes and services across London, Essex & Su� olk to enable our customers to build better futures.

PRIVATE SALE - MARKET RENT - SHARED OWNERSHIP

WHO KNEW THERE WAS SO MUCHCHOICE?

At Genesis, we o� er more homes for more people, than ever before, in a wide range of styles, to suit all budgets.

We provide more ways to get the home you want, including shared ownership, open-market renting and outright purchase.

Our new and refurbished homes are exceptionally well designed and

carefully located.

The choice is all yours.

0800 954 0147genesishahomes.org.uk

homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014 3

homefocus

From house hunting

to house warming

3226 16

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

16 London Some from the London boroughs

20 Midlands Properties in the east & west midlands

24 South west And some from the south west

28 East & south eastAnd finally, properties in the east & south east

Just for you 3 Publisher’s

comment Be creative and

persistent and become a homeowner

ContentsSEPT/OCT 2014

Buyers’ Guide 8 Fly the nest Now could be the time to branch out on your own

10 Compare the schemesWhich scheme works best for you?

34 Spot the differenceCan you find the differences between a shared ownership and Help to Buy house?

38 Ready to spread your wings?Do some research before going out on your own

44 Be part of something new!Living alone doesn’t mean being alone. Shared ownership for ‘seniors’ means more than an affordable home

46 Buying more sharesYou can start with a share, but then buy more!

Celebrity Status 32 In Conversation withTV’s Anthea Turner

‘I’m a big fan of knocking down walls and making things quite open plan’

Where next? Homefinder DirectoriesYour search for an affordable first home can start here or at www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you

54 Introduction

55 Shows and Events

56 Property listings

59 East and south east

61 South west

62 London 64 Midlands 65 South 66 Legal and financial directory


Lo nd on

HAMPSHIRE

HERTS

BUCKS

BERKSHIRE

EASTSUSSEX

Southwark

Southampton

Haywards Heath

Yapton

SURREY Croydon

KingstonLewisham

Chichester

Caterham

Cranleigh

IslingtonChiswick

WEST SUSSEXMidhurst

Barnet Kensington

Ealing

BromleyBracknellOrpington

Barnham

GodalmingGuildford

Lewes

Hurstpierpoint

Crawley DownOxted

Hailsham

Eastleigh

Welwyn

GREATER LONDON

Brighton

Hassocks

Fulham

LLLLS

Littlehampton

Your next step:Email [email protected] 100 0303

www.affinitysutton.com

Follow us on Twitter

Join us on Facebook

Location of homes currently available

Fabulous apartments and houses for saleacross London and thesouth east.

Shared ownership: the affordable way to get on the property ladder.

Terms and conditions apply and a mortgage from a 3rd party is required. You will alsoneed to fund stamp duty, legal costs and other costs associated with purchasing a home.Availability of this product is subject to eligibility and affordability assessments and criteria. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with repayments on yourmortgage or rent/service charges. Affinity Sutton is one of the largest affordable housingproviders in England. It is not allowed to sell mortgages or give financial advice. Independent financial advice should be sought. The value of your home can go down as well as up.

*

ONLY

5%*

DEPOSIT

H.Focus SE Map ad.qxp_Layout 1 06/08/2014 15:14 Page 1

WIN

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

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

Great Advice 40 Budget Buster Our most requested guide: it’ll help you get control of your finances

48 Ask the ExpertsWhat’s the difference between buying a share and sharing to buy?

50 Moving checklistWho to tell you’re on your way

Competition 52 Win a £50 National Garden Gift Voucher In our easy to enter competition

homefocus

36

ContentsSEPT/OCT 2014

Lifestyle 36 Store in styleAffordable ways to keep everything in its place

42 Let there be lightLighting to make the most of every room

To find out more call:

0845 600 3674 or email: [email protected] www.orbithomes.org.uk Terms and conditions. Percentage shares offered vary by development and are subject to personal financial circumstances. Following a full financial review applicants will be offered the maximum share they can afford. Full details are available from Orbit Homes.

With Help to Buy Shared Ownership

you purchase a share in a brand new

home and pay a subsidised rent on

the part you don’t own.

Orbit Homes has developments of

new homes right across the South

East, Midlands, and East of England.

So whether you’re looking for a one

bedroom apartment, a two bedroom

house or a three bedroom family

home we’re here to help you get

your feet on the property ladder.

Do you need help to buy a new home?


LIVE THE HIGH LIFE

100 HOMES FOR SHARED OWNERSHIP SALE IN TOTTENHAM

Tel: 0800 058 2544

Priority will go to those living or working in the London Borough of Haringey

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST NOWwww.riversapartments.co.uk

8 homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014

Buyer’sGuide

Let’s face it, if you’ve got ambitions to buy a home of your own, then nothing else will be quite good

enough. Maybe you’re still living at home with your family or sharing with friends, dreaming of the time when you can finally have that house-warming party and say ‘Right, all back to mine!’

Or perhaps you’ve already got a family but are renting, stuck paying someone else’s mortgage and living with someone else’s décor. Wouldn’t it be great if you could buy a home of your own? Somewhere you can make an investment in your future? Well, there IS a way?

Are we out of our tree?Nope. We know all about high deposits and difficulties getting a mortgage, but there really are ways. There are schemes available that allow you to come up with just a percentage of the cost of your home. Collectively, these deals are known as Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO), and because they’re designed to make home ownership affordable, they’ll leave you a little over to ‘feather your nest.’

LCHO gives you wings!Don’t believe us? Take a look at the comparative figures on page 39 for buying or renting homes around the country. And when you’re checking out some of the properties available through LCHO from page 12 onwards, you’ll see we give a guide for monthly costs, and the deposit you might need.

The key to getting off the ground through LCHO is to

where your landlord could decide not to renew your tenancy, LCHO means your home will always be there for you (as long as you pay the bills, of course!).

Nest buildingMaking home ownership truly affordable starts at the beginning – with the deposit. For many people, saving enough to put down is the real stumbling block. The good news is that in almost every case, you’ll need a smaller deposit when buying through LCHO.

Once you’ve found your home through LCHO, the schemes are flexible enough to suit you as your circumstances alter. You can buy more of your home until in most cases you own it outright – this is called staircasing. And when you come to sell, your Help to Buy Agent will have a ready-made list of potential buyers in your area. People who are in the same position you’re in now – keen to become home owners for the first time.

Two strong branchesThere are two basic types of LCHO scheme – shared ownership and equity loans. Both will help you get a place of your own, and the scheme to go for depends on your personal 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 on the same development and even on the same property. There are more details of the specific 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 there is ‘afford’, so you’ll be able to discuss what share is right for you.

Equity loansYou own 100% of your home, but only have to cover a percentage of the cost initially with your mortgage and deposit. You can defer the rest for a while as it’s covered by an equity loan. There’s nothing to pay on the equity loan for a few years, and the scheme you choose will determine whether you pay any interest after this and when you have to pay the loan back.

As the crow flies?Maybe you’ve already heard of LCHO but thought ‘it’s not going to be a straight road. It’ll be 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.

Ticking the right boxes…For shared ownership, the eligibility criteria is pretty wide. And for the Help to Buy equity loan scheme, it’s even wider. For shared ownership, if you’re a first time buyer 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.

You COULD be eligible 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 if…• You already own a home that you’re living in and it’s adequate for your needs, or you own one but are renting it out• You can already afford to buy a suitable home of your own in your area• 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

contact your local Help to Buy Agent. In London, things are slightly different, but in the rest of the country Help to Buy Agents are organisations appointed by the government to promote and co-ordinate LCHO in a particular area. Think of them as the LCHO ‘one stop shop’ - there’s a list of Help to Buy agents and the areas they cover on page 54.

The Help to Buy Agent will have the details of every new LCHO home on their patch and will deal with your application in the first instance. They will check that you’re eligible for the LCHO schemes, and give you a basic affordability check to see just how much you could afford. Once you’ve found a home you want, you’ll have a more detailed affordability check through the housing association or developer you want to buy from.

Cockney sparrowsLondon is slightly different, because the responsibility for LCHO in the capital comes under the umbrella of the Mayor. There’s still a one-stop-shop website to go to, but once you find a property on there, you contact the relevant housing association or developer to take you through the process. To take into account the high house prices in London, there are different income thresholds for the first time buyer schemes - see ‘Ticking the right boxes’ on these pages.

A soft landingThe 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 term. And unlike renting privately,

Now could be the time to branch out on your own!

FLY THE NEST


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

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

Finding the right LCHO scheme can be a bit daunting, but don’t worry, homefocus will help get you on the right flight path.

Buyer’sGuide

There’s more than one way to get yourself on the housing ladder, and building your nest through Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO), opens up your options. This guide gives you an outline of all of the schemes on offer...

WAYS TO BUILD YOUR

NESTScheme type Shared ownership Equity loans Try before you buy Mortgage Guarantee

Scheme name New Build Resales Help to Buy Equity Loan Developers’ own schemes

Rent to Buy NewBuy Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee

FLIGHT PLAN 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. There’s more info on pages 40-41.

Many private housing developers have their own equity loan scheme, and the details vary but in general you pay for between 70% and 90% of the value of your property, and the rest is covered by an equity loan. There’s often nothing to pay for this loan, but you’re expected to buy the remaining equity within ten years.

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.

NewBuy allows you to buy a newly-built home with just a 5% deposit. The initiative is run through many of the larger housing developers, so you’ll find it available at some new developments.

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.

FLYING HIGH 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. There’s more about resales on pages 38-39.

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.

Good for anyone who is confident of their ability to buy the remaining equity within the timescale they need to. In addition, the eligibility criteria might be less strict.

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.

It’s perfect for you if you can afford the mortgage for 95% of your home, but don’t have more than a 5% deposit. So you can get on the housing ladder without having to save for ages to boost your deposit. If you earn too much for some of the other LCHO schemes you might be able to buy through NewBuy.

Like NewBuy, 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.

NOT QUITE AIRBOURNE

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 have to approach each developer individually as they don’t need to advertise their homes through the Help to Buy Agent. But if there’s a new development going up in your area that takes your fancy, it’s always worth asking about an equity loan scheme.

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.

Not available in conjunction with other LCHO schemes. Generally only available from the larger property developers.

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 a very expensive area.

BUY FROM JUST 25% WITH A SMALL DEPOSIT

WIDE CHOICE NOT JUST FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS

ASK THE DEVELOPER SAVE TO BUY YOUR HOME FOR HIGHER WAGE EARNERS

NOT JUST FOR NEW PROPERTIES

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

Buyer’sGuide

homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014 1110 homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014

Lovell has made available a new selection of homes under the Help to Buy scheme at its Mayflowers Mews development in Sholing, Southampton.

The first available properties at the development were reserved very early on, but now Lovell has released a further range of homes, to include one and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom houses, so there could be something for first time

buyers and those looking to move up the ladder with Help to Buy.

All of the homes benefit from an exclusive gated courtyard setting and ‘early reservers’will get a choice over fixtures and fittings, with Lovell’s Inspirations range.

A main attraction of Mayflower Mews is the location, offering easy access to the M27

and to Southampton city centre. It’s also an opportunity to live in a brand-new home in an established residential neighbourhood with plenty of green space, including Mayfield Park and the Miller’s Pond nature reserve.

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying in the south 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 58 and our south directory on page 65. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you.

MAYFLOWERS MEWSApartments and three-bedroom houses in Southampton from £119,996 for 80%

South

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 call 0845 474 4734.

One-bedroom apartment: £149,995 • Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £119,996 • 5% deposit: £7,500Mortgage on 80% equity*: £691 • Total costs: £691***

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%. **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

Visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Mayflowers-Mews

THE CLOISTERS Southampton from £50,000 for 40%

QUEENSWAYSouthampton from £66,000 for 40%

Situated in a leafy residential area, just two miles north of Southampton’s bustling city centre, is a new development comprising 10 two and three-bedroom houses and 8 one and two-bedroom apartments. This selection of contemporary houses and apartments has been designed to suit a wide range of buyers.

Not only are these houses and apartments at The Cloisters in a fabulous location, (once the setting for Poor Clares Convent) but they are affordable for any first time buyers or professionals – they’re being offered for shared ownership via Affinity Sutton.

Each home comprises a high-specification kitchen with integrated appliances including a fridge/freezer and washing machine/tumble dryer, fitted carpets and an allocated parking space.

One-bedroom apartments: Full value: £125,000 • Minimum share: 40% • Cost of share: £50,000 • 5% deposit: £2,500 • Mortgage on share*: £292Rent on remaining share**: £172 • Total costs: £464

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “The Cloisters” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details.

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

Forming part of the major regeneration of Southampton City centre, Queensway will provide 10 apartments and 2 contemporary styled mews houses to the market – all available for shared ownership from Raglan

These new homes will be finished to a high standard and will enjoy a modern, stylish ambience. There is choice of one, two and three-bedroom apartments (all but one with balconies/terraces) and just 2 mews houses with roof terraces.

Southampton City centre is just moments away and includes West Quay with a huge array of shops and eateries and a soon to be developed leisure area. The mainline rail station is within easy reach and the waterfront, ferry terminal and Ocean Village are close by.

One-bedroom apartments: Full value: £165,000 • Minimum share: 40% • Cost of share: £66,0005% deposit: £3,300 • Mortgage on share*: £385 • Rent on remaining share**: £227 • Total costs: £612

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Queensway” in the subject.

Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Queensway


SOUTHSIDE EMBANKMENTKings Worthy from £94,000 for 40%

Located in the pretty Hampshire village of Kings Worthy, just two miles from historic Winchester, Southside Embankment is a collection of 10 brand new homes, specifically designed for first time buyers. Southside Embankment is available on a shared ownership basis from Hyde New Homes.

The village of Kings Worthy, set in the Itchen Valley, is a traditional Hampshire village which provides the perfect backdrop for family life. Living here, you won’t have to travel far to meet your daily needs. The village is home to a good selection of shops and services including a Tesco Express, doctor’s surgery and a good primary school.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £235,000 • Minimum share: 40% • Cost of share: £94,0005% deposit: £4,700 • Mortgage on share*: £548 • Rent on remaining share**: £323 • Total costs: £871

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Southside Embankment”

in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Suthside

-Embankment

South Properties

12 homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014 homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014 13

Pan MeadowsIsle of Wight

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A fter splitting up from her partner, Sabrina Cooke and her daughter

had to move back in with Sabrina’s parents whilst she saved up for place of her own. More recently, housing association, Sentinel, handed them the keys to the first shared ownership home at New Horizons, part of a £20 million regeneration project to transform a corner of Basingstoke into a vibrant new community with play areas, open space and parking. There’s even a new centre piece of public art being specially created for the development and Sabrina and other new residents will get a chance to work on its design with artist Helena Roden.

‘It’s wonderful to be here! The house is fabulous and it’s changed our lives’ said Sabrina. ‘I saw this house in February, the shared ownership process was really quick and easy and I got the keys on 9 July. I’ve already met some of my new neighbours, who are really nice. And we’re so excited about creating our new community. I can’t wait to see the development finished – especially the children’s play areas’

The first phase at New Horizons is due to be finished by March 2015 and the second in the spring of 2016. In total there’ll be 67 two and three-bedroom homes for low cost home ownership.

Will this story inspire you to become a homeowner? See the list of low cost home ownership (LCHO) properties on pages 56-58. Or go to www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you. Or you could call 0845 474 4734

‘The house is fabulous and it’s changed our lives’

Sabrina Cooke and her daughter

Previous situation: Back at home with parents

Scheme: Shared ownership

Location: Basingstoke

Provider: Sentinel

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

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5% ** 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

WILDWOOD Downend from £76,000 for 40%

LODDON PARKWoodley from £316,000 for 80%

Looking for a family home near Bristol? These two and three-bedroom homes are located in the desirable area of Downend, less than ten miles outside of the city.

Built by Cotswold Homes for Merlin Housing Society, these two high-quality shared ownership homes are part of an exclusive development of 31 homes on the site of the former Blackhorse Day centre. All properties benefit from off-street parking, a fully fitted kitchen with built-in oven, hob, extractor, washer/dryer and fridge freezer, gas central heating, lovely gardens, and are fully carpeted.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £190,000 • Minimum share: 40%Cost of share: £76,000 • 5% deposit: £3,800 • Mortgage on share*: £443Rent on remaining share**: £261 • Total costs: £704

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

“Wildwood” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit

www.homefocus.co.uk/Wildwood

Taylor Wimpey is offering three and four-bedroom detached houses at Loddon Park under the Help to Buy equity loan scheme.

Each property offers a generous interior layout, the larger homes featuring a kitchen/breakfast/family room opening through French doors to the private rear garden. There’s also a spacious living room with French doors to the garden, a dining room and a guest cloakroom off the entrance hallway.

Loddon Park is located at Sandford Farm, off Mohawk Way, Woodley, where picturesque waterways border the development and a large area of public parkland provides open space.

Three-bedroom house: Full value: £395,000 • Minimum equity: 80%Cost of equity: £316,000 • 5% deposit: £19,750 • Mortgage on 80% equity*: £443 Rent on remaining share**: £261 • Total costs: £1,819***


“Loddon Park” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit

www.homefocus.co.uk/Loddon-Park

South Properties

AD

.903

HF

(8.1

4)

Openthe

doorAffordable housing open day 2014

23 October, 2-8pm

Genesis has launched new homes in the heart of Shoreditch. The first phase at Mondrian is made up of 14 one and two-bedroom apartments, all available under the shared ownership scheme.

The development is located on the site of the former Mildmay Mission Hospital, off Shoreditch High Street, and has taken account of the historical surroundings.

Mondrian apartments are designed to a high specification, with wood flooring, white gloss walls and private balconies to all apartments. Kitchens boast granite worktops, chrome fittings and integrated

through to Liverpool Street, Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Waterloo, Holborn and Battersea, it’s great for commuting. Mondrian is only seconds from a Boris Bikes docking station, and the area is part of the London Cycle Network.

One-bedroom apartments are available from £110,000 for a 25% share and priority for all the homes will be given to those living or working in Tower Hamlets.

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 our London directory on pages 62 & 63. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you.

London

MONDRIAN One and two-bedroom apartments in Shoreditch from £110,000



One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £440,000 • Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £110,0005% deposit: £5,500 • Mortgage on share*: £642 • Rent on remaining share**: £756 • Total costs: £1,747

London Properties


Visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Mondrian

Bosch appliances. The homes are built with a Fabric First heating system, triple glazed windows and denser walls, making Mondrian affordable to run, as well as buy.

With a buzzing nightlife, Brick Lane, Spitalfields and Columbia Road Flower Markets all only minutes from the development, it’s a vibrant area. And with Hoxton and Shoreditch High Street Overground stations less than a 10 minute walk away and multiple bus routes running from adjacent to the development

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5% ** 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

CHISWICK POINT Chiswick from £95,550 for 25%

RATHBONE MARKET Newham, prices and shares tbc

KINGS HIGHWAY Plumstead, prices and shares tbc

A collection of apartments are now available at Chiswick Point – offered by Affinity Sutton under the shared ownership scheme.

Chiswick Point comprises 23 one and two-bedroom apartments and each home within the seven-storey apartment building comprises a high-specification kitchen with integrated appliances, including a fridge/freezer and washing machine/tumble dryer, fitted carpets and private balcony.

The development is just 150 metres from Chiswick High Road with its eclectic mix of shops, bars and eateries and is also just a few minutes’ walk from Chiswick Park Gunnersbury Station tube stations on the District Line providing excellent access to Hampstead Heath and Highbury & Islington.

One-bedroom apartments: Full value: £382,000 • Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £95,5005% deposit: £4,775 • Mortgage on share*: £557 • Rent on remaining share**: £656 • Total costs: £1,213

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Chiswick Point” in the subject.

Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Chiswick-Point

Notting Hill Home Ownership is offering one and two-bedroom apartments through shared ownership in the second phase of Rathbone Market (formerly known as Millennium Horizon).

Located on Barking Road in Newham, this development is part of a major redevelopment scheme that includes around 650 new homes and approximately 35,000 sq ft of new shops and cafés wrapped around the ground floors of the site, bordering a new, central market square.

Perfectly placed for travel across the city and beyond, the development enjoys a zone 2 location, served by the Jubilee and DLR lines from nearby Canning Town station.

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Rathbone St” in the subject.

Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Rathbone St

Hyde New Homes are offering a selection of three bedroom houses at Kings Highway, available for sale through the Shared Ownership scheme and a further phase of one, two and three-bedroom apartments will launch winter 2014.

Kings Highway is conveniently located for local amenities and there are plenty of green open spaces at Plumstead Common and Winn’s Common, and at nearby Bostall Woods.

Applicants must live or work in Greenwich, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley or Bromley to be eligible to purchase at Kings Highway.

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Kings Highway” in the subject.

Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Kings-Highway



London Properties

For Kenneth, who has both cerebral palsy and enduring mental health

issues, life was becoming increasingly difficult in his old home, a privately rented flat in a block where the lift was out of order more often than it was working and the glass wall and gaps in the floor of his balcony terrified him.

With the breakdown of the lift becoming a frequent event, his carers were forced to physically carry him up and down 4 flights of stairs. What’s more he had to pay a ‘top up’ fee of £150 per month in addition to his Housing Benefit (which was insufficient to cover his rent) to remain there.

So, Kenneth’s Care Manager at London Borough of Hackney suggested that they

contact MySafeHome to see if Kenneth was eligible to buy a shared ownership home using the HOLD (Home Ownership for people with a Long-term Disability) model.

Having completed a simple one page form he did indeed qualify and, encouraged by this news, his mum applied to the Court of Protection so that she could help him secure a home that finally suited his needs. This process took four months to complete during which time they found the perfect two-bedroom property (the extra bedroom’s for an overnight carer) on the site of the Olympic Village. It was closer to mum too, meaning she could visit him more often and contribute towards his ongoing care and support too.

As Kenneth had no savings of his own

mum paid the initial start up costs and deposit (around £15,000) to secure a 25% stake in his new home and he now pays rent on the remaining share to housing association, Triathlon Homes.

Now that he’s in his new home the change in Kenneth’s health and wellbeing has been remarkable. ‘Kenneth is more settled now – not so nervous and he even uses his balcony!’ observes his mum. But the benefits don’t end there ‘We don’t have to worry every year about signing another tenancy agreement. That was really worrying, not knowing if the new rent was going to be affordable or even whether the contract would be renewed’.


Kenneth’s special story

Previous situation: Privately renting

Scheme: Shared ownership

Location: East Village

Provider: Triathlon Homes – with support from MySafe Home

‘Kenneth is actually £35 per month better off now than he was in his old flat!’

PADDINGTON HOUSE Alperton from £110,000 for 40%

ROSEBERRY STREETSouth Bermondsey from £163,500 for 30%

A new development of apartments has just been launched in Alperton, West London. Homes at Paddington House are available from Network Living via shared ownership scheme.

It’s the latest phase in a £520 million regeneration, a joint venture between Network Living and Hill, to build 441 apartments alongside the Grand Union Canal.

There’s a choice of spacious one, two and three-bedroom apartments and each home benefits from under-floor heating, custom designed fitted kitchens and boutique hotel-style bathrooms.

Paddington House is within 200 metres of Alperton Piccadilly Line station; for motorists, the Hanger Lane gyratory system is less than a mile away and there are also 240 underground parking spaces available to purchase.

One-bedroom apartments: Full value: £275,000 • Minimum share: 40% • Cost of share: £110,0005% deposit: £5,500 • Mortgage on share*: £642 • Rent on remaining share**: £378 • Total costs: £1,020

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Paddington House” in the subject.

Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Paddington-House

We’ve said elsewhere in the magazine, that it’s unusual for homefocus to report four-bedroom homes for offer under the shared ownership scheme. But here’s some more. And they’re in London! Metropolitan has a development of three and four-bedroom homes at Roseberry St in Southwark

Ideal for families, or friends looking to buy together rather than rent, these homes have been built to a high quality specification. Roseberry Street is in a convenient central location just a few minutes walk from South Bermondsey station. With London Bridge one stop away by train, journeys to central London are both quick and easy. To the west, buyers can enjoy the emerging arts and café culture in bustling Bermondsey Spa – and to the north, the River Thames, Butler’s Wharf and the City are all within easy reach.

Three-bedroom apartments: Full value: £545,000 • Minimum share: 30% • Cost of share: £163,5005% deposit: £8,175 • Mortgage on share*: £954 • Rent on remaining share**: £874 • Total costs: £1,828

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Roseberry St” in the subject.

Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Roseberry-St


RIVERS APARTMENTSTottenham, prices and shares tbc

Sections of an ambitious Tottenham project with hundreds of high-quality homes, much-needed school places for children, and support for entrepreneurs who want to create jobs for local people are moving closer to completion.

And a tower of 100 apartments to be available for shared ownership by Newlon on the site of the old Cannon Rubber factory is being offered now. The tower will be close to White Hart Lane station and part of the regeneration area around Spurs’ new stadium.

All of the homes at Rivers Apartments flats will have a balcony, access to a rooftop garden, as well as 268 cycle spaces.

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

Apartments” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details.

Or visit www.riversapartments.co.uk


20 homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014 homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014 21homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014 11

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £150,000 • Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £37,500 • 5% deposit: £1,875Mortgage on share*: £219 • Rent on remaining share**: £258 • Total costs: £477

Midlands



Compendium Living is working together with Riverside Home Ownership in the launch of Derby’s £100 million Castleward development. Compendium offers Help to Buy on a range of apartments and houses and Riverside is offering shared ownership on some two and three-bedroom houses. Between them there’s a range of homes for first time buyers and families.

All homes feature a spacious open-plan

design and a first class specification with the three-bedroom houses benefitting from an en-suite to the master bedroom.

Castleward sits on the edge of the city centre, right on the doorstep of the Intu shopping centre, bars, restaurants and much more. And when finished, residents

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying 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 58 and our Midlands directory on page 64. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you.

CASTLEWARD Two and three-bedroom houses in Derby from £37,500 for 25%.

Midlands Properties


HARDY’S YARD Cosby, price of 80% equity to be advised

CENTRAL PLAZA Birmingham City Centre from £103,200

Westleigh has begun construction work on its latest development of 22 brand new homes in the Leicestershire village of Cosby. And when ready, they’ll all be offered under the Help to Buy scheme.

The development, which is situated in the heart of the picturesque village, will combine rural living with the convenience of local amenities including pubs and shops located just two to three minutes walk away. Nearby are the larger villages and towns of Whetstone and Blaby. And there are good public transportation links with Leicester.

There are two two schools, Cosby Primary School and Brooke House Day School and football, rugby and cricket teams which all participate in Leicestershire sporting leagues.

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Hardy’s Yard” in the subject.

Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Hardy’s-Yard

Crest Nicholson announce the central phase at the development, Central Plaza – which is made up of two 13 storey ‘eye-shaped’ buildings. However, most of the properties have been sold off-plan and just a few remain under the Help to Buy scheme.

Crest Nicholson currently has available a selection of one and two bedroom apartments offering city centre accommodation with views right across Birmingham and leafy Edgbaston.

All the apartments have been built with high quality fixtures and fittings, including designer kitchens and contemporary bathrooms. Additionally, each apartment benefits from a large balcony or spacious terrace and the majority come with an allocated parking space.

One-bedroom apartments: Full value: £129,000 • Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £103,2005% deposit: £6,450 • Mortgage on 80% equity*: £594 • Total costs: £594***

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Senwick Rd” in the subject.

Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Central-Plaza

UPLANDS MILLBiddulph, Staffordshire Moorlands from £66,250 for 50%

Staffordshire Housing Association is selling two and three-bedroom houses in the first phase of a new development at Uplands Mill in Biddulph in Staffordshire Moorlands. More houses will be available later in the year and all of the properties are available, on a shared ownership basis.

Each home has a modern kitchen with integrated white goods and the lounge in the three-bedroom homes is large enough to incorporate a dining table – great for those of you who enjoy entertaining in their new home. There is a downstairs toilet and family bathroom on the 1st floor and each property has a drive or 2 allocated parking spaces.

Uplands Mill is located on the north side of Biddulph but close to the town, local amenities schools and leisure activities.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £132,500 • Minimum share: 50% • Cost of share: £66,250 • 5% deposit: £3,313 • Mortgage on share*: £386 • Rent on remaining share**: £152 • Total costs: £1,004***

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Uplands Mill” in the subject.

Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Uplands-Mill

www.homefocus.co.uk/Castleward


will enjoy a tree-lined boulevard, linking the city centre with Derby railway station.

Midlands Properties

After many years of renting, Philip and Lauren Wright from

Northamptonshire together with Digby, their Miniature Schnauzer wanted to get their foot onto the property ladder. But soaring rental costs meant they had little money left at the end of the month to save enough for a deposit. ‘We wanted to start saving, but the rent we paid out made it just unrealistic for us to save anything like the amount we needed’ said Philip.

Being together for over seven years and

not long married, they really wanted to have a home they could call their own. This is where Help to Buy came in. They did some research and after talking to a mortgage advisor, applied for the Help to Buy equity loan scheme. After their initial paperwork was sent in, they were able to start the process of buying a home. And after a 10 mile trip down the road to a new development being built by Persimmon Homes, they were able to pick their new house.

Without the help of the scheme they would have been saving for at least another five years. Additionally, they now find they are paying less in mortgage payments than they were when they were previously renting.

‘We’d love to have a family in the future and now we have better financial security and our own family home, ready for when that time comes’ said the couple. So now Phil and Lauren are able to think of what the future holds and have peace of mind.


Phil & Lauren Wright

Previous situation: Renting

Scheme: Help to Buy

Location: Northampton

Provider: Persimmons Homes

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

‘the rent we paid out made it just unrealistic for us to save anything like the amount we needed’


GOLDEN PARK West Bromwich from £131,996 for 80%Kier Partnership Homes is offering three-bedroom properties with single garage at Golden Park, off Claypit Lane, West Bromwich with the Help to Buy equity loan option.

Homes come in a range of styles and the three-bedroom ‘Bluebell’ features a contemporary kitchen, which includes integrated dishwasher, fridge-freezer, oven, hob and hood. The master bedroom benefits from fitted wardrobes and en suite. The driveway is block paved and the garden is turfed.

Three- bedroom houses: Full value: £164,995 • Minimum equity: 80%Cost of equity: £131,996 • 5% deposit: £8,250 Mortgage on 80% equity*: £760 • Total costs: £760***


“Golden Park” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit

www.homefocus.co.uk/Golden-Park

CITRUS GROVEKegworth from £28,750 for 25% Citrus Grove is

a development

of spacious

two-bedroom

apartments

in Kegworth,

available for shared

ownership from

Hello Homes. The apartments feature an open plan living,

dining and kitchen area which makes for excellent, flexible

living space.A thriving village, Kegworth has its own primary

school, library, chemist and supermarket. The village is well

connected to locations throughout the east Midlands. so homes

at Citrus Grove are perfect for commuters.

Two-bedroom apartments: Full value: £115,000 • Minimum share: 25%Cost of share: £28,750 • 5% deposit: £1,438 • Mortgage on share*: £170Rent on remaining share**: £198 • Total costs: £368


“Citrus Grove” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or

visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Citrus-Grove

With energy bills on the rise, call us free on 0800 0014 706 or visit www.myhomeenergyswitch.org.uk today to find the best price for your gas and electricity.

It’s free, fast and simple to switch and we’ll take care of all the paperwork.

Do you want to pay less for your energy

Billscutter is part of the group


Raglan Housing is due to release 6 stylish two and three-bedroom homes for shared ownership at The 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, due for completion

in November this year, 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.

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

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 our South West directory on page 61. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you.

COAL YARD Two and three-bedroom houses in Sparkford from £66,000 for 40%

South West



South West Properties

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year. *** Help to Buy property. Interest on equity loan starts in year 6

www.homefocus.co.uk/Coal-Yard

DUKES RISE Shepton Mallet from £123,960

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.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £154,950Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £123,9605% deposit: £7,748 • Mortgage on 80% equity*: £714 • Total costs: £714***

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email [email protected] with “Dukes Rise” in the

subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Dukes-Rise

TRAFALGAR COURT Theale, prices and shares to be advised

Work has got under way to build 30 new affordable homes for older people in Theale.

Sovereign Housing Association is building a new development of one and two-bedroom apartments, specifically for older people and three of the homes will be offered under shared ownership scheme.

The apartments will be ideal for older people wanting to downsize and the development will incorporate a communal lounge and garden.

Sovereign has been working closely with West Berkshire Council to meet the needs of older people on the area and The Homes and Communities Agency is investing almost £640,000 in this development.

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

Court” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit www.

homefocus.co.uk/Trafalgar-Court

TREGORRICK VIEW Three bedroom houses in St Austell from £199,996 for 80%

Help to Buy is ensuring great value homes at Tregorrick View, Taylor Wimpey’s development in St Austell.

A new selection of homes has just been released for sale, each ideally suited to contemporary family lifestyles, with plenty of space for day-to-day living as well as for entertaining or working from home.

The ‘Danbury’ features an open-plan ground-floor layout, including a large living/dining room opening through French doors to the private rear garden, a kitchen/breakfast room and a guest cloakroom.

Upstairs, the first-floor landing leads to a spacious family room with attractive Juliet balcony overlooking the garden, plus

a well-proportioned guest bedroom and a bathroom. An en-suite master bedroom, two further bedrooms and a shower room occupy the top floor, while outside, the property benefits from two allocated parking spaces.

The new homes at Tregorrick View occupy a convenient location just to the north of the town centre.

Four-bedroom houses: Full value: £249,995 Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £199,9965% deposit: £12,500 Mortgage on 80% equity*: £1,151 Total costs: £1,151***

Interested? Call 0845 4744734 or email

[email protected] with “Tregorrick View”

in the subject. Remember to include your contact

details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Tregorrick-

View


Two-bedroom house: Full value: £165,000 • Minimum share: 40% • Cost of share: £66,000 • 5% deposit: £3,300Mortgage on share*: £385Rent on remaining share**: £227 • Total costs: £612



South West Properties

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5% ** 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

WHITLEY COURT Paignton from £103,125 for 75%

Sanctuary Group has built an extra care scheme for the over 55s, in Hayes Road, Paignton and is making homes available there, through the shared ownership scheme.

Whitley Court is made up of individual self-contained apartments, some with sea views, plus bungalows and they’re all designed to give residents maximum independence with care and support on site as needed. Living in an age exclusive development means that alongside the benefits of continuing to live on your own.

And even though you’re able to buy a 75% share at Whitley Court on a shared ownership basis, under the terms of this extra care scheme, there’s no rent to pay each month. As with all leasehold properties, service charges will be applied.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £137,500 • Minimum share: 75% Cost of share: £103,125 • Rent on remaining share: n/a on this scheme


“Whitley Court” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or

visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Whitley-Court

Thanks to Help to Buy, Ryan, 24, a paralegal and Nadine, 18, a jeweller’s

assistant, are moving into their very own house at Taylor Wimpey’s Cherry Tree Gardens development in Plymouth.

Ryan says: ‘we’re both really looking forward to moving in as we’re currently living between our parents’ houses in Plympton and Mannamead. We had been looking at 50/50 shared ownership, so it was nice to find out that we would be able

to own a two-bedroom house outright.’The couple had been saving up for a

deposit and were delighted that their financial position meant that both buying options were available to them. ‘We didn’t initially realise we would qualify for Help to Buy and thought we would have to wait longer, and save up harder, before we could afford to buy our own place.’

The ‘Canford’ style house they bought, features a spacious living/dining room

opening through French doors to the private rear garden, with a kitchen and a guest cloakroom off the entrance hallway.

Upstairs, the landing leads to two double bedrooms and a main bathroom, while outside, the property has allocated parking and solar panels.

The couple bought off-plan, ‘which was great’ explains Ryan, ‘we could pick our favourite plot, which was an end-terrace with a south-facing garden’.

Ryan May and Nadine Gray Previous situation: Living with parents

Scheme: Help to Buy

Location: Plymouth

Provider: Taylor Wimpey

Help to Buy Agent: www.helptobuysw.org.uk

‘We would have to wait longer, and save up harder, before we could afford to buy our own place’

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HEATHFIELD GARDENS Taunton from £87,500 for 50%

Heathfield Gardens in the village of Monkton Heathfield, has a range of two and three-bedroom homes available via shared ownership from Yarlington Homes. Monkton Heathfield has good road links, being close to the A38 and M5 and the main station at Taunton is on the London-Penzance line.

The village is fine for local shopping and enjoys a real community feel and for more serious shopping and entertainment, Taunton is ‘on the doorstep’. And to make sure that Heathfield Gardens fits nicely into the community feel, careful attention has been paid to architectural features and building materials, to make sure that the new homes complement their surroundings.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £175,000 • Minimum share: 50% Cost of share: £87,500 • 5% deposit: £4,375 • Mortgage on share*: £511Rent on remaining share**: £200 • Total costs: £711


“Heathfield Gardens” in the subject. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Heathffield-

Gardens




East & South East

Everyone loves Brighton. The Pier, the Royal Pavilion, the beach, the quirky little shops and alleyways in The Lanes; but can anyone afford to buy their first home there? Well Hyde New Homes is making it affordable, by offering one, two and three-bedroom properties at the brand new Super B development in New England Square, available through the shared ownership scheme.

It’s a superB location, just a stone’s throw away from Brighton Rail Station in the recently developed New England Quarter. It’s walking distance to North

Laine, less than a mile away and full of independent boutiques and artisan cafes. And all the famous landmarks are close by.

It’s superBly stylish too, with many of the well appointed apartments featuring a private balcony or terrace. Wheelchair accessible apartments are available with parking and there is a car club for all Super B residents.

You’re likely to need a household income of over £38,000 to be considered

for the one-bedrooms, and more than £50,000 for the two-bedroom apartments. But if that means that you’ll have to work in London to earn that kind of salary, take heart! The £6.5 billion Thameslink rail scheme which will modernise services between Brighton and London, will be up and running in the next three years. And that might take Brighton house prices prices even higher.

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying in east and south east areas of the country 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 pages 56 & 57 and our East & south east directory on pages 59 & 60. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Low-cost-homes-near-you.

SUPER B One, two and three-bedroom apartments in Brighton, from £81,000 for 30%

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £270,000 • Minimum share: 30% • Cost of share: £81,000 5% deposit: £4,050 • Mortgage on share*: £473 • Rent on remaining share**: £464 • Total costs: £937


Visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Super-B

East & South East Properties

COZENTON POINT Rainham from £40,250 for 25%

STOKE QUAYIpswich from £47,500 for 25%

One and two-bedroom apartments are up for sale on this site of the former police station at Rainham in Kent. But mhs homes are making sure that first time buyers won’t be handcuffed to their mortgages. They are offering them on a shared ownership basis!

The development, built by mhs homes in partnership with Chartway Group, has 12 one and two bedroom apartments available.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £161,000 • Minimum share: 25%Cost of share: £40,250 • 5% deposit: £2,013 • Mortgage on share*: £235Rent on remaining share**: £277 • Total costs: £512


“Cozenton Point” in the subject. Remember to include your contact details. Or visit

www.homefocus.co.uk/Cozenton-Point

Wow. Four-bedroom houses on a shared ownership basis! We don’t often talk about them in homefocus.

The houses form part of the Stoke Quay development in Ipswich built by Genesis, located in a prime position overlooking the River Orwell and situated mere minutes from the town centre. With an abundance of leisure facilities just a stone’s throw away, Stoke Quay should attract families looking to find spacious and affordable homes.

Family needs are considered throughout, with a spacious layout over three floors including a kitchen/diner and separate


living room as well as car parking and bike storage. The specification at Stoke Quay shows integrated appliances, downlighters and luxurious bathrooms.

Upon completion residents at Stoke Quay will enjoy trees and landscaped green areas to encourage a real sense of community where children can play together.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £190,000Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £47,5005% deposit: £2,375 • Mortgage on share*: £227Rent on remaining share**: £327Total costs: £554


[email protected] with “Stoke Quay”


details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Stoke Quay

RUSSELL SQUAREHorley from £83,250 for 45%

Russell Square, a new apartment scheme close to the town centre in Horley provides 75 one and two-bedroom homes for shared ownership, from Thames Valley Housing.

At the heart of the development is a beautifully landscaped courtyard including lawns where residents can relax. Below the courtyard is undercroft parking and each home has been allocated a dedicated car parking space, as well as room in the secure cycle store.

Designed for a great lifestyle, each apartment has its own private balcony

Zanussi appliances including a fan oven, hob, integrated washer/dryer and fridge/freezer. Cool white bathroom suites by Roca are fitted with ceramic wall tiles. Some apartments include a second bathroom en suite to the master bedroom.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £185,000Minimum share: 45% • Cost of share: £83,2505% deposit: £4,163 • Mortgage on share*: £486Rent on remaining share**: £233Total costs: £719


[email protected] with “Russell Square”


details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Russell-

Square

and the large penthouse apartments on the top floor, feature a roof terrace.

Russell Square is built to high standards with light and airy interiors. The designer kitchens come with


East & South East Properties

BUCHANS MEAD Crawley from £200,000 for 80%

AMHERST HEIGHTSChatham £77,000 for 35%


KINGS COPSEHemel Hempstead. Prices and shares to be advised

Young dad Andy Wells thought that buying a two-bedroom house in

Whitstable might never happen.‘I had been registered with the Help

to Buy agent for nearly a year, as I knew shared ownership was the only way I was ever going to have a house of my own on my salary,’ explains Andy, 28, who is a service engineer. ‘I work hard, but my home town, Whitstable, has become so fashionable that home ownership in the area was becoming out of reach for anyone on a lower income. I was living with my parents, but always dreamt of a house of my own.’

‘When Grace arrived it made it even more important to have my own place, with space for her to play as she grows up and for her to have her own room. So, it was perfect timing when Orbit Homes’ development at Aurum Way came up. I had almost given up hope of finding something I could afford, in the right area for my work and to be near my daughter.’

Andy is impressed with amount of space he has in his new home, ‘I love my lounge and diner’ he enthuses, ‘I’ve got plenty of room to relax and it’s my house and my rules. But I have to do my own housework now and realise I just might have been a bit

lazy when my Mum cleared up after me!’As well as the inside space, Andy is

pleased with the outside space at Aurum Way.

‘I’d thought about flats as a cheaper way to get on the property ladder’ he explains, ‘but I kept coming back to the fact that I would desperately miss having a garden and that matters even more now that I have Grace to consider. My own garden is another benefit that buying a house through shared ownership has given me.’

Andy has bought a 30% share of his house and can buy more shares as his income increases.


Andy Wells & daughter Grace

Previous situation: Living with Parents

Scheme: Shared Ownership

Location: Whitstable

Provider: Orbit

Help to Buy Agent: www.helptobuyese.org.uk

‘shared ownership was the only way I was ever going to have a house of my own’

Buchans Mead is Countryside’s brand new development in Crawley, where there is a range of two and three-bedroom properties, ideal for young families or professionals.

The homes are located near the vibrant town centre, which has a great range of local amenities, a 45 minute train service to London and stunning countryside just minutes away.

The three-bedroom houses boast spacious living accommodation, comprising an open plan kitchen/living/dining room with French doors opening

Nestled next to the pretty village of Leverstock Green, Kings Copse enjoys all the advantages of town and country living. There are beautiful views of open countryside to the south and easy access to the village, with its village green, school, library and a selection of shops including a delicatessen, butchers and pharmacy. Leverstock Green also boasts sports clubs, a lovely primary school, parish church, and numerous local

Overlooking the iconic Fort Amherst, this development from Heart of Medway Housing Association offers a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses for shared ownership in Brompton, Kent.

The homes have excellent transport links to the surrounding towns, with Chatham Dockside shopping and leisure complex a five minute drive away. Bluewater, the largest shopping centre in Kent, can be reached in 20 minutes. There are a number of direct train lines to popular London stations.

Local educational establishments include nurseries and primary schools, as well as the multi-million pound Mid Kent

with handleless driftwood effect units and come equipped with the full range of integrated appliances, including microwave, electric oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and dryer. Bathrooms have quality white sanitaryware, chrome accessories and ceramic tiling.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £250,000Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £200,0005% deposit: £12,5000 Mortgage on 80% equity*: £1,151Total costs: £719




details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Russell-

Square

scheme by Hightown Homes and are less than one mile from the local shops. The area is popular for commuters, being close to the M1 and M25. Each new home has been carefully designed to reflect traditional village life, with pitched roofs and slate tiling. Yet each also benefits from the best of modern design to bring a light and airy feel and minimise energy use.


[email protected] with “Kings Copse”


details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/St-Andrews-

Park

builders, Charles Church. All kitchens are fitted to an exceptionally high standard and include integrated appliances. Homes are carpeted and decorated neutrally throughout and each has a garden.

Allocated parking is available with one space for the two bedroom houses and two spaces for the larger homes.

Two-bedroom houses: Full value: £220,000 Minimum share: 35% • Cost of share: £77,0005% deposit: £3,850 • Mortgage on share: £449 Rent on remaining share: £328Total costs: £777




details. Or visit www.homefocus.co.uk/Amherst-

Heights

onto the rear garden and a cloakroom on the ground floor. Upstairs there are two double bedrooms, a single bedroom and a family bathroom.

Contemporary kitchens are fitted

gastro-pubs and restaurants.The new two-bedroom apartments are

being offered under the shared ownership

College, opened in 2009, and campuses for the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Greenwich.

The family-friendly homes have been developed by one of the UK’s top house


Inconversationwith...

What attracted you to becoming a TV presenter and what do you like most about what you do?It was all a bit of an accident really, I came down to London to work for a record company, and whilst at a company party, I met someone who was looking for a girl to do some Video-Jocking (A video jockey is an announcer who introduces videos on commercial music television stations). This was during the eighties when it was all the rage. Just for a bit of a laugh I went along for the audition and got the job, and the rest, as they say, is history. I never really set out to be a television presenter, I actually trained as a dancer, and then by another fluke ended up working in press and public relations. My work has enabled me to meet some great people and visit some amazing places. I love the communication aspect of my work, and when you’re doing something like Blue Peter, you know, it’s been a blast, it’s been really good, and there has never been a dull moment.

When did you buy your first home, what was it like, and what made you choose it?My very first home, it’s a strange one really, but the first home I actually bought and didn’t rent, was one that I had built. I bought a plot of land with some plans already drawn up, which sounded like a bright idea at the time, but it was a lot of stress! It was a beautiful house in the end and I’m glad I went through it because I now know an awful lot about building houses and it is something I would do again.

What do you believe are the most important aspects of a home?Space, open space, I’m a big fan of knocking down walls and making things quite open plan, but do appreciate that this isn’t always possible or practical. Whatever space you have the most important thing to consider is that all the different areas have their own unique style which will help to differentiate between them.

What is your vision/opinion on the lack of affordable housing in the UK? I think the saddest thing is when you see property that is vacant and isn’t being used. Many local authorities have a lot of vacant properties, but they can’t afford to refurbish them. I’m working

for a charity at the moment called ‘Oasis’, who would happily take some of those properties and attempt to refurbish them as homes for those who need them the most. Oasis helps to create homes largely for teenagers who are too old to be in foster care, but too young to live on their own.

What advice/design tips would you give to those looking to purchase their first home? New builds are a great buy as you know that essentials such as your boiler and electrics are all in pristine condition leaving you to focus on the interior décor that helps make a house feel like a home. Keep all your basics such as walls, curtains, and floors plain, and have fun with accessorising. That way the majority or things you spend money on can be taken with you should you choose to move. I’m a big fan of American shutters, and the clean New England costal look, it works really well in new houses and looks homely, whilst being easy to create on a budget by shopping around. My last word will always be to de-clutter, remember less is more, and a crammed house is not relaxing to be in and a nightmare to clean!

Tell us about what you have been working on?My most recent project has been working on a storage collection with Ideal World, it launched in the summer, and is called NEAT. It’s designed for solving every day dilemmas of not having enough space. And for me, at home, I’m always struggling to find storage so that’s why I decided to work with the team at Ideal World, and create the range. It’s very stylish and simply helps remove clutter in a practical way. I really loved creating it.

More information about Anthea’s NEAT storage collection can be found at www.idealworld.tv

Inconversationwith...

AN

TH

EA

TU

RN

ER

Anthea Turner has been in the TV spotlight for

over twenty years. Whilst best known for her two

year role as a presenter of the BBC children’s

programme Blue Peter, she has also starred in

many other television hits including the highly

acclaimed Perfect Housewife series. With the

expertise and passion for keeping an organised,

tidy home, Anthea has recently turned her hand to

designing a range of home storage products, so

we thought this would be the perfect time to catch

up with her and ask about her first home and how

she likes to live.

TV

PE

RSO

NA

LIT

Y


SmartBuyer

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

THE REAL DIFFERENCE

(with apologies to all puzzle and puzzler type magazines)

Of course the pictures are the same, you can’t spot any differences! And that’s one of the great things about low cost home ownership (LCHO). From the outside, no one can tell. There might be some subtle differences, like the view from the traditional sale home may be better. Or regulations may insist that

there is extra storage space in the shared ownership home. But essentially, the properties are the same. Please note that some developments offer all buying options. Others may not run the Help to Buy equity loan or shared ownership schemes or only make them available on some of the properties.

You should have no trouble spotting the difference now. It’s the amount of deposit you need and how much you have to pay out each month. But take advice! An experienced mortgage advisor will advise on how much you can afford, what sort of mortgage you’re likely to get and the

implications of buying in different ways.

The figures above are examples only for illustrative purposes. *We have assumed the interest rate on an 80% mortgage to be 4.3% ** We have assumed the interest rate on a shared ownership or Help to Buy mortgage to be 5.5% ***Assumes rent to at 2.75% of the share not owned, per year.

For sale New home – traditional transaction£230,000Typical 20% deposit: £46,000Mortgage: £184,000Cost of mortgage*: £1,002

Likely household income required £41,000

For sale New home using the Help to Buy equity loan scheme£230,000Typical 5% deposit: £11,500Equity loan provided by the Government: £46,000Mortgage: £172,500Cost of mortgage**: £1059

Likely household income required: £38,350

For sale New home using a Help to Buy mortgage £230,000Typical 5% deposit: £11,500Mortgage: £218,500Cost of mortgage**: £1,342

Likely household income required: £52,000

For sale New home through the shared ownership scheme£69,000 for a 30% share of this home valued at 230,000Typical 5% deposit on share: £3,450Mortgage: £65,550Cost of mortgage**: £403Cost of rent on the share not owned***: £369Total monthly outgoing: £772Likely household income required: £19,000


HomeStyle

If keeping your home

tidy with everything in

its place can sometimes

appear an endless task,

then a few simple storage

solutions might be just

what you need to help

create a neat, stylish home.

If you start by considering

the storage space available

and then think about how

it can be best put to use,

this will help maximise

your efforts. Remember,

good storage doesn’t have

to be hidden away, with

the minimum of effort you

can even create a feature

with it. We searched the

high street for some smart

ideas that not only look

great but won’t break the

bank, here’s a few of our

fab finds.

StyleSTORE IT IN

1 PS 2014 storage table £50 www.ikea.com

2 Orange iron storage shelf £60 www.oliverbonas.com

3 Butterfly by Matthew Williamson storage cases from £35 www.debenhams.com

4 Industrial magazine rack £55 www.vincentandbarn.co.uk

5 Dutch house cupboard £135 www.clareloves.co.uk

6 PS 2014 wall rail with mirror £35 www.ikea.com

7 Wire basket set £24 www.sainsburys.co.uk

8 Castor box £20 www.aspace.co.uk

9 House shape storage £16 www.next.co.uk

10 Kitchen storage baskets set of three £10 www.next.co.uk

Slatted bathroom storage shelf £35, storage cupboard £40, and mirror unit £30

www.matalan.co.uk

1

3

2

4

6

8

9

10

5

7


SmartBuyer

Deposit Mortgage Mortgage pcm

Rent pcm Total monthly costs

25% share £4,222 £80,204 £493 £580 £1,073

50% share £8,445 £62,700 £985 £387 £1,372

80% Help to Buy equity loan £16,885 £253,275 £1,555 £0 £1,555*

100% buy £16,885 £320,625 £1,969 £0 £1,969

Private rent - - - £610 £1,086



25% share £2,668 £50,683 £311 £367 £678

50% share £5,335 £101,365 £622 £246 £868

80% Help to Buy equity loan £10,670 £160,050 £983 £0 £983*

100% buy £10,670 £202,730 £1,245 £0 £1,245

Private rent - - - £680 £680



25% share £5,473 £103,978 £639 £752 £1,391

50% share £10,945 £207,955 £1,277 £502 £1,779

80% Help to Buy equity loan £21,890 £328,350 £2,016 £0 £2,016*

100% buy £21,890 £415,910 £2,554 £0 £2,554

Private rent - - - £1,656 £1,656



25% share £1,388 £26,262 £162 £189 £351

50% share £2,775 £52,725 £324 £126 £450

80% Help to Buy equity loan £5,500 £83,250 £511 £0 £511

100% buy £5,500 £105,450 £642 £0 £648

Private rent - - - £592 £592



25% share £2,688 £51,062 £317 £370 £687

50% share £5,375 £102,105 £634 £246 £880

80% Help to Buy equity loan £10,750 £161,250 £1,002 £0 £1002*

100% buy £10,750 £204,250 £1,269 £0 £1,269

Private rent - - - £895 £895

Cambridge £337,700

Newquay £213,400

Surrey Quays £437,800

Rugby £111,000

Reading £215,000

The small printWe’ve used an average repayment mortgage over 25 years at 5.5% 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.

‘Compared to renting privately we will probably save £300 per month’Daniel Coleman, aged 25, is buying a two-bedroom apartment at the award winning Kings Park, Harold Wood in Havering with his fiancé Kerry.

Daniel and Kerry currently live with his parents, and plan to get married later this year. They had been in search of their perfect home to start off their married life. ‘I came across shared ownership at Kings Park on the East Thames website, liked what I saw and went along to the show home launch event’ said Daniel.

Having a home to start off their married life was really important for Daniel and Kerry, but Kings Park offered so much more ‘It’s a great location, with lots of greenery, a balcony to spend time on a sunny day, close to the mainline station and a big supermarket’. The development is convenient for both of them to travel to their jobs, they like all the space that it offers and thanks to fitted kitchens with integrated appliances, the couple can move in quickly and easily.

Buying shared ownership was the perfect option for the couple. They have bought a 30% share of a £222,500 two-bedroom property for £66,750. Daniel said, ‘it means that we can afford to get on the property ladder, and have our own space. Compared to renting privately we will probably save £300 per month, it’s really affordable’.

CHECK THE FIGURES IN YOUR AREAWe’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 what works for you.

Going out on your own can be scary. So do some research to make sure you’re taking the best financial option.

READY TO SPREAD YOUR

WINGS?We all reach the point when we’re

ready to go out on our own. But let’s not pretend it’s easy! None of us likes getting it wrong, do we? Or looking back and thinking, we should have done it differently. So if your decision is, when I leave home do I live in someone else’s property and pay them rent, you might want to do a bit of research?

The figures on the next page suggest that if you can come up with that all important deposit, then the financially sensible thing might be NOT to rent at all. Which may come as a bit of a surprise. And if you have trouble finding the full amount of deposit and repaying a huge mortgage, then low cost home ownership (LCHO) may give you the courage and the opportunity to fly towards becoming a homeowner.

With LCHO, you’ll be able to afford to live, as well as own the place where you can live it from. The affordability checks that housing associations insist on before offering you LCHO mean that rather than paying every penny you earn in housing costs, you can have a life too. No, you won’t be able to be out every night, but the housing association will make sure you can get through the month and reach payday intact!

If you’ve got plans to buy your own place eventually, renting somewhere as a stop-gap might mean delaying your

dreams. After forking out everything you can afford to pay someone else’s mortgage, you’re often left with nothing at the end of the month to save for a deposit. So home ownership slips further and further away. And that’s the wrong flight path.

Look into all of your options and decide what works best for you. With LCHO you’ll need a far

smaller deposit than you might think - in fact, you may have enough saved already! And if you haven’t, don’t flap, start saving now.

You will see from the breakdowns on page 39, LCHO means you’ll need

a smaller mortgage too – one you can actually afford! In fact,

LCHO gives you lower monthly costs in almost

every case than renting privately or buying

outright.


BUDGETPLANNERIf you’re trying to get to grips with your finances, you must do a budget – it’s so easy to miss

off important expenses. Remember to budget everything on a monthly basis, even if you only get and pay the bill once a year! So we’ve come up with a handy sheet to help. Our advice? Photocopy it a few times so you’ll have something to fill in as your budget changes. Or go to www.homefocus.co.uk/Budget_Planner to download an electronic version and print off as

many times as you need.

MoneyMaestro

BUDGET BUSTER

Are you a spender or a saver? Do you feel like your money trickles through your fingers? Are you always struggling at the end of the month? We can’t give you more income to play with, but if you follow our simple steps, we can help you get your finances under control. And that’s important when you’re saving for that vital deposit, and the fees you’ll need to buy your home. Keep it up once you’ve bought your home, though, and you could still manage to fund the things that make life fun, whether that’s a spot of retail therapy or a week in the sun. Don’t know where to start? Read on…

At the beginning…Get to grips with your budget right from the start. Not only will it make saving for your deposit and moving costs easier, it’ll also make life much more relaxing once you move. If you have your money sorted, that’s one less thing to panic about.

First and most importantly, know yourself. Think about your money management history. Have you always been able to make ends meet or save for a special purchase? Ask friends and family what they think you’re like with money, too (and tell them to be honest, not kind!) and then plan your budget plan accordingly.

Make sure you’re not spending on anything you don’t have to. If you’re already responsible for utility bills, head off to a price comparison site and switch to the cheapest. Same for broadband, phones and car insurance.

Plan of action...Make a plan of what you have coming in each month and what you spend. If you’re a serial fritterer then keep a money diary for at least a month. Write down everything – and we mean EVERYTHING – you spend. This will give you a good idea of what you spend on and where you could save.

Secondly, think about what to do with your

savings so you’ve got them available for your deposit. If you’ve worked out how much you can save each month, make sure you transfer that out of your account as soon as you get paid – a standing order is ideal. Don’t pay tax on your savings if you don’t have to – take up your full ISA allowance and choose your savings account carefully to receive as much interest as possible.

Next, clear your debts. It might seem tempting to put any spare money you have straight into a savings account so it can go towards your deposit, but it’s a false economy if you’ve got credit cards, loans and store cards to pay off. No savings account will bring you the rate of interest you’ll be paying on your cards. Transfer your existing credit card balances to new ones with zero percent on balance transfers, and pay it off as soon as you can. Then start saving. That way, when you do move into your new home, you won’t be taking your debts with you.

Finally, make sure your credit rating is as good as possible. That could be the difference between you getting a mortgage for your dream home or not, or influence the rate you have to pay. Check your rating online in case your records are not correct. Make sure you don’t miss payments on loans, cards or bills, as that’s the biggest influence on your credit rating. If you’re having problems, it’s always better to contact the organisations concerned and sort out a manageable payment plan.

Get moving…If you’ve followed our advice, got your finance under control and saved for your deposit, now’s the time to make the scary decision to go ahead and buy a home. The first step is to find an independent financial advisor (IFA) who specialises in Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO) and they will be able to get you’re the best mortgage and know the industry inside out.The affordability assessment carried out through your Help to Buy Agent or housing

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) £

association will make sure that you don’t sign up to pay out more than you can afford on your home, which is reassuring. Keep it up…Once you’ve bought your home, it’s very easy to go out and splurge on things for it – after all, you don’t have to save for that deposit any more! Don’t be tempted spending or borrowing more than you can afford, no matter how nice the sofa and how good the deal.

By now, you’ll have plenty of experience in setting yourself a budget and keeping to it, as well as making sure you’re getting all the best deals. So make a new home owner’s budget – and be realistic. Don’t scrimp on the amount you set aside for bills. If you have no idea what your bills are likely to be, ask your new neighbours – it’s a great way of introducing yourself!

You’ll find that your budget changes now that you’ve got your own space. Instead of going out, you might want to entertain at home more. Or perhaps your travel expenses are less if you’ve moved closer to work and don’t have to pay to commute.

It’s a good idea to keep the savings habit going to create a bit of a cushion. Paying your deposit is likely to have wiped your savings out, so create a fall-back fund so your bills are covered for at least three months. And make sure that things like your mortgage and even your income are covered by insurances should the worse happen and you lose your job. It might seem like wasted money, but it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

If it all sounds too simple, that’s because it really is – your money makeover doesn’t have to be difficult, time-consuming or stressful. It’s just a matter of organisation and being realistic, and getting to grips with your budget could just put you in a great position to finally buy a home of your own. Now that HAS to be worth a go…



HomeStyle

Soyuz 3 spotlight ceiling plate £35 www.johnlewis.com

Rex table lamp £35 www.next.co.uk

Kiki bamboo shade £25 www.sainsburys.co.uk

Amara Fishing lamp in charcoal £75 www.amara.com

Macey floor lamp £39 www.very.co.uk

Austin table lamp £49 www.made.com

Mitford three shade ceiling light £39 www.tesco.com

Gyllen wall lamp £58 www.ikea.com

Chandelier in smoke with teal £60 www.wilko.com

3D FX Basketball wall light £24.95 www.glow.co.uk

Tesco Cologne table lamp in copper metallic £35 www.tesco.com

Zella floor lamp in antique brass and steel £85 www.johnlewis.com


Whilst usually treated as an afterthought, lighting can help make the most of every room in

your home. We often spend many hours choosing how we decorate a space, but forget that

it’s actually the light that will show it off to its best advantage. Each room in your home has its

own role to play in your daily life so you need to take this into account when thinking about

lighting, and find a good balance between being functional and decorative. The best lighting

schemes are those that are made up of several layers so we’ve gathered together a few

examples here of what’s available on the high street to give you a helping hand.

LIGHTLET THERE BE


BE PART OF SOMETHING NEWLiving alone shouldn’t mean being aloneAccording to a survey by the NHS, 51% of all people over 75 live alone and 5 million older people say the television is their main form of company. Now shared ownership is designed to help people find an affordable home of their own. But in many situations, it can provide much more! Like independent living in a caring environment where you can live as part of like-minded community.

Some developments are being designed exclusively for an older age group, and some apartments are being offered under the shared ownership scheme. An example is The Liberty at Royal Arsenal Riverside where the focus is on high quality communal facilities that include a restaurant and licensed bar. Also on site is a GP, a dentist’s

surgery and pharmacy. And of course, due to the location, it’s got great views over The Thames.

Close by Woolwich Arsenal station gives access to National Rail and DLR, and Crossrail is due to connect to Woolwich in 2018. A Thames Clipper River Ferry Pier is actually onsite and for car owners, parking space can be rented in the secure underground car park.

Viridian Housing is offering shared ownership at The Liberty and it works here as anywhere else. You buy a share in the property and pay a rent to Viridian of the share you don’t own. You’re able to buy more shares (and reduce the rent element) if you choose – but applicants at The Liberty must be over 55.

MaturePeopleArticle sponsored by - a leading provider of homes for the over 55swww.viridianhousing.org.uk Tel: 0800 012 1442

For Dorothy Cameron, downsizing to Viridian Housing’s Halton Court has not only given her beautiful green views from her balcony but it has provided a much happier social life.

Before buying her two bedroom apartment at Halton Court Dorothy, 84, was living in Honour Oak, Lewisham. All her neighbours and relatives were working full time, so she spent most of her day sitting alone. Speaking about her move, Dorothy said ‘when my daughter suggested downsizing I was unsure, but when we heard about Halton Court my mind was put completely at rest, in fact my only worry was the thought of not purchasing quick enough’.

All the residents have access to a 24 hour concierge service, village hall, cafe bar, hair salon, internet area, spa bath, restaurant, gardening room and residents’ library. Dorothy comments, ‘It’s like living in a hotel, I have the

pleasure of sitting on my balcony and looking out at all the greenery, but there is plenty to do outside of my apartment, including sewing sessions, dance classes and good old fashioned entertainment. I don’t leave the development much, but when I

do everything is so close by. It takes me less than ten minutes to walk to the doctors or local shops and at my age that proves how close the local amenities really are. I feel that moving to this development has given me my life back.

Mr and Mrs Wilson were living in a house in Romford with their daughter who suffers with a mental health illness. Mrs Wilson’s health deteriorated and Mr Wilson was left to provide support for both his wife and daughter. ‘I was looking after my wife and daughter by myself and cooking their meals for them. My days in the army as a chef helped me, but I was struggling with everything’.

Unfortunately, Mr Wilson then suffered a heart attack, leaving the family in desperate need of care. It was then that the Wilsons were introduced to Dreywood Gardens, an East Thames shared ownership development for the over 55’s. ‘I was surprised by Dreywood Gardens and interested in what it could offer us. The on-site restaurant was one of the main things for us’ says Mr Wilson.

The Wilsons sold their house and had enough to buy a 70% share at Dreywood Gardens. ‘We needed a two bedroom home, so our daughter could live with us as we were very concerned about her well-

being’ continues Mr Wilson. Another benefit is that the service charge covers hot water and heating, so we are left without the worry of high bills.

The homes at Dreywood Gardens are adaptable to meet the Wilson’s future needs, with access to on-site care,

communal facilities and a hive of social activities; it’s the perfect setting for the family. ‘We are happy in our home, enjoy sitting in the communal lounge areas and have been to some of the activities. We have already recommended Dreywood Gardens to our friends’.

The LibertyRoyal Arsenal Riverside are exclusively for the over 55’s. It’s close to riverside walks and open spaces, and there’s an on-site Tesco Express, a pub, cafe and bistro.

Dorothy Cameron ‘at home’ at Viridian’s Halton Court, Kidbrooke Village, Blackheath

Mr & Mrs Wilson on their balcony at East Thames’ Dreywood Gardens, Gidea Park

‘I feel that moving to this development has given me my life back’

‘We needed a two bedroom home, so our daughter could live with us as we were very concerned about her well-being’.

Dianne Holtshausen and her husband, Brian, not only bought their first

home thanks to Affinity Sutton’s shared ownership scheme but it provided them with a platform to go on and buy the place outright.

After moving to the UK from South Africa a decade ago and renting a house in Borehamwood, Dianne, 32, and Brian, 35, were desperate to get on the property ladder and start a family. However, their deposit was turned down by mortgage lenders when the interest rates changed. ‘We were really tired of paying out money

to other people through renting and wanted to actually put our wages towards something of our own,’ explained Dianne. ‘But without a bigger deposit, we couldn’t afford to get a mortgage on the entire value of a property.’ And that’s when the couple, who now have a six-month-old daughter called Harper, came across shared ownership and staircasing.

Dianne and Brian originally bought a 60 per cent share of an apartment in Manor Way, Borehamwood, in 2010 for £84,000 but within two years were able to purchase the remaining share costing

them £47,000. This was one of those examples where property prices had gone down and as a result, the couple were able to buy the property outright, meaning no more rent to pay, all for around £35 week more than they were paying in the first place.

Dianne said: “We would never have been able to afford to buy a home on the open market because the banks just wouldn’t accept our deposit. We had always planned on buying 100 per cent of the property and this has given us the tools to be able to do that’.

‘without a bigger deposit, we couldn’t afford to get a mortgage on the entire value of a property’

Get in touch If you want to know more about how staircasing works, contact your housing association, a mortgage advisor or solicitor (a number of specialists appear on pages 66 & 67), email [email protected] or call 0845 4744734.

ABiggerShare

You’ve bought your first share...what next?

BUYING MORE

SHARESFor many people, shared ownership is simply the

first step. It’s the road to bigger homes, different locations – maybe following a career path that will give you more money and take you to different areas of the country, or perhaps motivated by the demands of a growing family

But if staying right where you are in your first shared ownership home is the right thing for you to do, then shared ownership will carry on working just as long as you want it to. Why move away from friends, family, your local network, the places you know and the home you’ve made your own? And just like owning any other home, with shared ownership there’s no obligation to move on and no obligation to increase your stake in the property.

Changing circumstances But what if you do want to increase your stake? Suppose you start earning more and can afford to buy a bigger share and would prefer to pay less out each month in rent to the housing association. Well, you can do that too, in a process called ‘staircasing’.

Your housing association can best advise you on this, as can your shared ownership experienced solicitor and mortgage advisor, but the idea is that as your financial situation changes, you’ll be able to take new financial decisions that will work in your favour.

Generally speaking housing associations will ask you to ‘staircase’ in reasonable chunks – like 10 or 20% and in most cases you’ll be able to ‘staircase’ until your own the whole 100%, when you won’t pay any more rent at all. But do check all the details – that’s where your solicitor and mortgage advisor will be helpful. You will be asked to pay for your extra share at the current market price – and this, of course, could be higher or lower than when you first bought. So if house prices do continue to go up and down (and who knows?), then clever timing could make it possible for you to buy a bigger share without paying out too much extra!


‘I can’t afford to buy on my own so am thinking about sharing the costs and

mortgage with my flat-mate or

alternatively, looking

into shared ownership. Can you explain the

difference?’.Writes Roz Whitehead

from Palmers Green

Lots of people are uncertain about the difference between

‘sharing ownership’ and shared ownership. So we asked some of our experts to explain the

difference

Can we help?Got a question but don’t know anyone

in the know? Send it to us at [email protected] and we’ll

put it to our panel of experts. Or maybe we’ll find someone who has personal

experience to answer your query. It could be a legal question or a financial issue

or a general query about low cost home ownership. We’ll do our best to find you

some great advice.

I t’s a conundrum facing a growing number of young

people, so let me start by saying that each situation is

different and should be reviewed on its own merits.

Both routes will make you a homeowner, but a key factor

for me is that shared ownership will buy you a share in

a property in your own name, using a tried and trusted

government sponsored scheme. The other is based on

the vagaries of a friendship and a set of circumstances

which may or may not last the test of time.

Buying with a flat-mate will work for some but it’s

essential that all possible outcomes are fully considered

before putting pen to paper.

•Discuss all the possible ‘worst case’ scenarios i.e. what

happens if you fall out, or if one of you is out of work for

a period of time or is ill and unable to make you share of

the repayments?

•What happens if a change of circumstance means that

one of you wants to sell and the other wants to stay?

•Are you both contributing equal sums of money

towards the deposit and purchase costs? If one of you is

contributing more, then how is this accounted for?

All these questions and more need to be discussed and

preferably covered-off in the form of a legal agreement.

With shared ownership, just so long as you pay your rent

and service charge you are largely left to make your

own decisions and the housing association is effectively

a silent partner. The relationship is clearly defined and

documented to last the test of time.

LEGAL LEGALFINANCE

Shared ownership is a scheme which makes

owning a property affordable to people who wish

to live on their own rather than co-own with another

person.

Buying with a flat-mate often means you can afford a

larger place and you will own 100% of the property

between you, but you will need to think about the

legal and practical issues that might arise. Will you

own it 50:50 or would one of you have put in more and

own a bigger share?

What happens if, say, your flat-mate was to die and

their share passed to someone else and you finish

up co-owning with someone you don’t know? And

what happens if your flat-mate can no longer afford

the upkeep of the property, or needs more space to

start a family or has to move to another area for work?

Will you be in a position to buy their share, or will the

property have to be sold? Your conveyancer will help

you agree this formally with a Deed of Trust.

With shared ownership you have the comfort of

having control over your share of the property. When

you’re ready, you can move or increase the size

of your share (this is called staircasing) until you

perhaps finish up owning 100% of the property. This

gives you the ability to adapt to life’s circumstances

without the consent of others.

Whatever route you take, your conveyancer will help

you through the legal formalities.

There are some big differences! If you’re buying a

home outright with a flat-mate, you’ll be tying yourself

into a longer term financial commitment (a 25 year

mortgage) with both your names on the deeds (assuming

an even split on the cost of the mortgage).

You’ll need to make sure that you’ve planned around what

should happen should your individual circumstances

change, what happens if one of you wants to sell up and

move on and the other one doesn’t? What happens if your

flat-mate stops paying their half of the mortgage or if you

fall out with each other or want to move a partner in?

If you buy this way, you’ll also still be in a flat-share, sharing

your bathroom, kitchen and living space.

Shared ownership is a different kind of sharing and it doesn’t

mean waking up in the morning to find that someone else

has used all your milk. Through shared ownership, the home

you buy is all yours to live in and enjoy.

The term ‘shared ownership’ comes from the financial

arrangement where you own a percentage of the home

based on its value (normally between 25% and 75%

depending on what you can afford to buy with savings

and/or a mortgage) and pay a capped rent to the housing

association.

Shared ownership reduces both the amount of money that

you need to save for a deposit (as you only have to pay

a deposit on the share that you buy) and your monthly

housing costs – usually your monthly costs through shared

ownership will equate to around 80% of the costs of

buying an equivalent home or renting it privately.ASK

TH

E EX

PERT

S

ExpertAdvice

Barbara Paul RobertsDirector New Homes Law

Jim MunsonHead of Marketing & Customer Care – Metropolitan Home Ownership

Richard StoneConsultant, Censeo Ltd


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!



homefocusCompetition

ONE OF SIX £50 NATIONAL GARDEN GIFT VOUCHERSWhether it’s a small patch of grass,

window box, hanging basket,

patio, or large garden with a rolling

lawn and endless flower displays,

National Garden Gift Vouchers let

friends and family create their very

own garden haven. Make a stunning

outdoor area to enjoy all year round

by choosing some new containers,

refreshing flower beds or investing

in new garden furniture.

National Garden Gift Vouchers give

your green-fingered loved ones

the freedom to choose the plants

and accessories they really want

and can be bought and redeemed

at over 2,000 retail outlets

around the UK including garden

centres such as Dobbies, Hilliers,

Notcutts, Squire’s and Homebase

and hundreds of independent

garden nurseries. Visit www.

thevouchergarden.co.uk for an easy

to use store locator or to buy online.

National Garden Gift Vouchers are

available in denominations of £5,

£10, £25 and £50.

To be in with a chance of winning one of six £50 vouchers simply answer the question below:At how many retail outlets can you redeem National Garden Gift VouchersA: Over 3,000B: Over 2,000C: Over 5,000

How to enter:

Email your answer, along with your name, address, and confirmation that your are over 18 years of age to:[email protected] don’t forget to include ‘National Garden Gift Vouchers’ in the subject line. Or go to www.homfocus.co.uk/competitions

The six winners will be picked at random from correct entries.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS • The closing date is 10th November 2014• The Editor’s decision is final• No purchase necessary• There is no alternative cash prize• We accept no responsibility for entries not received

WIN

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. You can find one on page 67 of the magazine.

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 14 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…

54 homefocus • SEPT/Oct 2014

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 14-33 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:

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!

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! Help to Buy Show Wiltshire Tuesday 14th October 20143.00pm - 7.00pmOasis Leisure Centre, North Star Ave, Swindon SN2 1EP

Help to Buy Roadshow CheltenhamTuesday 21st October 20143.00pm - 7.00pmCheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 4SH

Wandsworth Affordable Housing DayCivic Suite Wandsworth High Street, SW18 2PU on Thursday 23rd October 2014 from 2pm to 8pm

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.

Help to Buy Show Salisbury Wednesday 10th September 20143.00pm - 7.00pmSalisbury City Hall, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 7TU

Help to Buy Show OxfordshireTuesday 16th September 20143.00pm - 7.00pmThe Kassam Stadium, Grenoble Road, Oxford, OX4 4XP

Help to Buy Show Bristol, Bath and North Somerset Saturday 27th September 201411am - 4.00pmAT-Bristol, Anchor Rd, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5DB

The London Homebuilding & Renovating Home Improvement ShowOlympia, London26-28 September 2014

Help to Buy Roadshow BerkshireSaturday 10th October 201411am - 4.00pmMadejski Stadium, Junction 11, M4, Reading, Berkshire RG2 0FL

PropertySearch

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


PropertySearch

56 homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014homefocus • SEPT/OCT 2014 57

EAST & SOUTH EAST

LONDON

Help to Buy Agent: Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association www.helptobuyese.org.ukLondon Colney Lime Tree Court 1 3 bed flat Now Hightown HomesMiddleton Cheney Waters Lane, Middleton Cheney 6 2 & 3 bed houses 2014 AragonMilton Keynes Felstead 1 1 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonMilton Keynes Yorkshire Close 2 1 & 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonRochester Ruxton Square 1 2 bed flats Now Red Loft Sandy Sunderland Road, Sandy 13 1 & 2 bed flats, 2 & 3 bed houses 2014-2015 AragonShenley Brook End Garthwaite Crescent, Shenley Brook End 1 3 bed house 2015 AragonSt Albans Davy House 1 2 bed flat Now Hightown HomesSt Albans Whitley Court 1 1 bed flat Now Hightown HomesSt Albans Whitley Court 1 2 bed flat Now Hightown HomesSt Albans Lime Tree Court 1 3 bed flat Now Hightown HomesSt Albans Lime Tree Court 1 2 bed flat Now Hightown HomesSt Leonards on Sea Oakwood Rise 11 2 & 3 bed houses Oct & Apr ‘15 Orbit HomesStevenage Stephensons Mews 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonStotfold Beauchamp Mill 5 1 & 2 bed maisonettes Now Hightown HomesStrood De Montford apartments 1 2 bed flats Now Red Loft Thanet Weyburn Place 4 2 & 3 bed houses March Orbit HomesUpper Caldecote Biggleswade Road, Upper Caldecote 4 2 & 3 bed houses, 2 bed bungalow 2015 AragonWymondham Oakfield Green 1 3 bed house Now Orbit HomesYapton Emerald Gardens 4 2 & 3 bed houses December Raglan Housing

Help to Buy Agent: FIRSTSTEPS www.sharetobuy.com/firststeps Barking & Dagenham Academy Central IMR 27 1 bed flats Now L&QBarking & Dagenham Barking Riverside IMR 52 1 & 2 bed flats Late 2014 L&QBexley Ratio 8 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesBexley Erith Park 9 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit Homes Bexleyheath Clock Tower Court 43 1 & 2 bed flats Now Hyde New Homes Bow The View 4 2 bed flats Coming soon East ThamesBow LIVE3 9 1 & 2 bed flats,3 bed duplex house Coming soon Gateway LivingBow Bow Courtyard 1 1 bed flat Coming soon Gateway LivingBrentford Brook Road South 2 3 bed houses Now Red Loft Brentford Lateward Road 1 4 bed house Now Red Loft Bromley Hardwick House 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonBromley Rokewood Apartments 16 1 & 2 bed flats Autumn L&QChingford Mayfield 6 3 bed houses Coming soon East ThamesChiswick Chiswick Point 23 1 & 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonCroydon Scholars Place 12 1 & 2 bed flats Now Orbit HomesCroydon The Deacons 7 2 bed flats Spring Affinity SuttonCroydon Bedford House 35 1 & 2 bed flats Summer Affinity SuttonDagenham Castle Green Place 10 3 bed houses Now Newlon Home Ownersp. Ealing The Garden Court Apartments 19 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonEaling The Garden Court Apartments 4 2 bed flat wheelchair accessible Now Affinity SuttonEast Ham Butterfly Gardens 6 1, 2, & 3 bed flats Coming soon East ThamesElephant & Castle L&Q @ Trafalgar Place 20 1, 2 & 3 bed flats, 3 & 4 bed houses Spring L&QEnfield St Paul’s Court 13 1 & 2 bed flats Now L&QEnfield Watermill Lane 30 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 bed maisonette March Newlon Home Ownersp. Feltham Chichester 2 4 bed houses Now Red Loft Fitzrovia Cleveland Street@Fitzroy Place 14 1 bed flats Late Autumn OctaviaFulham Ashlar Court 8 1 & 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonFulham Fulham Riverside 52 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonGolders Green The Lexington NW11 4 1 & 2 bed flats Winter Affinity SuttonGreenwich L&Q @ Greenwich Square 144 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now L&QHackney The City Mills 116 1, 2 & 3 bed flats, 4 & 5 bed homes January L&QHarrow Essence 12 1 & 2 bed flats Now Origin HousingHarrow Chandos 15 1 & 2 bed flats Now Origin HousingHarrow Pearmaine House 38 1 & 2 bed flats Spring Metropolitan Hornsey Rise Harrington Court 14 2 bed flats, 3 bed maisonettes Spring L&QHounslow Hawker Terrace 2 3 bed house December Red Loft Hounslow Muntz House 3 2 bed flats December Red Loft Hounslow Packwell Place 10 3 bed maisonettes, 2 bed flats February Red Loft Hounslow St Valery Place 1 2 bed house November Red Loft Hounslow Redwood 2 3 bed houses February Red Loft Hounslow Crane Lodge Road 2 3 bed houses Now Red Loft Isle Of Dogs Triangle E14 8 2 bed flats Now Gateway LivingIslington The Fable Apartments at the Lexicon 70 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Summer Affinity SuttonKensington The Baronets 9 1 & 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonKensington The Kells 14 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Winter Affinity SuttonKidbrooke SOKV 61 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Viridian HousingKidbrooke Halton Court 14 2 bed flats - over 55s Now Viridian HousingLambeth Annie McCall 1 1 bed flat Now Metropolitan Lewisham Goldcrest House 29 1 & 2 bed flats Autumn L&QMitcham Lavender Gardens 16 1 & 2 bed flats Now L&QNewham Chobham Manor 8 1 bed flats, 3 bed homes Early 2016 L&Q

Help to Buy Agent: Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association www.helptobuyese.org.uk Bedford St Bede’s Independent Living 53 1 & 2 bed flats - for over 55’s Now Orbit HomesBerkhamsted Old Oak Gardens 1 1 bed flat Now Hightown HomesBiggleswade Kings Reach, Biggleswade 18 1 & 2 bed flats, 2, 3 & 4 bed houses 2014-2015 AragonBognor Regis 4 Harrington House 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonBrackley Normandy Lodge, Brackley 4 2 & 3 bed houses 2014 AragonBracknell Forest The Parks 15 2, 3 & 4 bed houses 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 January Hyde New Homes Brighton Alexandra Apartments 1 2 bed wheelchair chair accessible Now Affinity SuttonBrighton Matthew House 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonBrighton Old Mill Mews 1 3 bed house Now Affinity SuttonBrighton & Hove The Edge 2 2 bed flats Now Southern HousingBrogborough Leeward Point 6 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesBury St Edmunds Vinefields 7 2 & 3 bed houses April Orbit Homes Buxted 3 Totease Mews 1 3 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonCaterham Oakgrove 18 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses Now Affinity SuttonChatham Admirals Place 8 1 & 2 bed flats, 2 bed houses March Orbit HomesChatham Amherst Heights 4 3 & 4 bed houses Now Red Loft Chatham Theatre Royal 9 2 bed flats January Red Loft Chelmsford St John’s 18 1 & 2 bed flats Coming soon East ThamesChichester Canal Walk 13 2 & 3 bed houses Now Affinity SuttonChichester 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 Spring Affinity SuttonChigwell Grange Manor 9 2 bed flats Coming soon East ThamesCocking The Croft 4 2 & 3 bed houses Now Hyde New Homes Cranleigh The Cranes 12 2 & 3 bed houses, 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonCranleigh The Cranes 12 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses Now Affinity SuttonCrawley Haweswater Place 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonCringleford Aura, Round House Park 6 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesEast Wittering Hawthorn Close 2 2 & 4 bed houses Now Hyde New Homes Eastbourne Churchdale Road 1 3 bed house Now Affinity SuttonEastergate Brooks Nursery 4 2 & 3 bed houses Winter Affinity SuttonEpsom Noble Park 16 1 & 2 bed flats Now Orbit HomesGillingham Hayter House 2 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonGillingham, Kent Amherst Heights 9 2, 3 & 4 bed houses Now Heart of MedwayGodalming Riverside 12 2 bed houses, 1 & 2 bed flats Winter Affinity SuttonGreat Blakenham Blakenham Fields PH2 TBC 2 & 3 bed houses 2015-16 Orbit HomesGuildford The Paddocks 9 1 & 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonHadleigh Hadleigh Park 14 2 bed houses Now Orbit HomesHalling St Andrews Park 11 3 & 4 bed houses Spring Red Loft Halling St Andrews Park 18 3 bed houses, 1 & 2 bed flats Autumn 15 Red Loft Hastings Sycamore Chase 16 2 & 3 bed houses March Orbit HomesHastings Kingswood Gate 11 2 bed flats, 2 bed houses December Orbit HomesHatfield Princes Gate 13 2 & 3 bed houses, 2 bed flats Spring Affinity SuttonHellingly Roebuck Park 10 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesHemel Hempstead Matis House 1 2 bed flat Now Hightown HomesHitchin Lavender Place 10 1 & 2 bed flats Now Origin HousingHorsham Kilnwood Vale 4 2 & 3 bed flats Now Southern HousingHove Flat 2, 50 New Church Road 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonHoveton Meadow View 11 2 & 3 bed houses Now Orbit HomesHurstpierpoint Chalkers Vale 6 3 bed houses Spring Affinity SuttonIpswich Scholars Quarter 4 3 bed house Now Orbit Homes Kents Hill Bedgebury Place, Kents Hill 1 3 bed house 2015 AragonLewes Yew Tree Court 10 1 & 2 bed flats Spring Affinity SuttonLewes 4 St Helen’s House 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity Sutton

AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES

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

NEAR YOU!

PropertySearch



LONDON

MIDLANDS

homefinderEast &South East

homefinder East & South East

SOUTH WEST

SOUTH

Help to Buy Agent: FIRSTSTEPS www.sharetobuy.com/firststepsNewham Stratford Gate 52 1 & 2 bed flats Late 2014 L&QOrpington Amethyst Court 4 1 & 2 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonOrpington William Petty Way 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonPaddington Merchant Square 20 1 & 2 bed flats Now OctaviaPlumstead Kings Highway 30 3 bed houses, 1, 2, & 3 bed flats Now Hyde New Homes Putney Putney Plaza 24 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 2016 OctaviaRotherhithe The Arc 13 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Affinity SuttonSouth Woodford Chigwwell Road 4 2 & 3 bed flats Now Newlon Home Ownersp. Southwark Old Kent Road 13 2, 3 & 4 bed flats Now L&QSouthwark Roseberry Street 14 3 & 4 bed houses Now Metropolitan St Mary Cray The Ridge BR5 20 1, 2 & 3 bed flats & duplexes. Now Affinity SuttonSt Mary Cray The Ridge BR5 1 2 bed flat wheelchair accessible Now Affinity SuttonSt Mary Cray Cray View Close 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonStonebridge Spring 27 1, 2 & 3 bed flats September ‘15 Hyde New Homes Stratford Stratford Plaza 22 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Coming soon East ThamesTottenham Rivers Apartments 100 1, 2 & 3 bed flats March Newlon Home Ownersp. Tottenham High Road, Tottenham 9 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Now Newlon Home Ownersp. Tower Hamlets The Dockyard 23 1, 2 & 3 bed flats Coming soon East ThamesWalthamstow Abbots House 27 1 & 2 bed flats Now L&QWandsworth Spectra 19 1 & 2 bed flats Now OctaviaWandsworth The Schoolyard 20 1 & 2 bed flats Summer L&QWembley Elizabeth House 7 1 & 2 bed flats Now OctaviaWoodford Green Meadow Gate 4 2 bed houses Coming soon East ThamesWoolwich Cambridge House 24 1 & 2 bed flats January Hyde New Homes Woolwich The Liberty 98 2 bed flats - over 55s Summer Viridian Housing

Help to Buy Agent: Orbit www.helptobuymidlands.co.uk Bidford upon Avon The Waterway 5 2 & 3 bed houses December Orbit HomesBreedon on the Hill Breedon 1 2 bed bungalow Now Hello HomesBugbrooke The Willows 8 2 & 3 bed houses Late 2014 Orbit HomesBurton Latimer Glade Gardens 14 2 bed houses Now Orbit HomesEnderby St Johns 2 3 bed house Now Hello HomesHathern Terracotta Gardens 5 2 & 3 bed houses Now Hello HomesKegworth Citrus Grove 4 2 bed houses & flats Now Hello HomesLeamington Spa Queensway Court 90 1 & 2 bed flats - for over 55’s Now Orbit HomesLong Marston Beaufort Mead 29 2 & 3 bed hse, 2 bed maisonettes Now Orbit HomesNarborough Copt Oak Gardens 1 2 bed house Now Hello HomesNorthampton Booth Park 56 2 bed houses Now Orbit Homes Northampton Chapel Lane, Blisworth 2 2 & 3 bed houses November Orbit HomesNorthamptonshire Paling Close 5 1 & 2 bed flats Now Hello HomesNottingham Southreef 4 1 bed flats Now Metropolitan Pineham Butterly Gardens 37 2 & 3 bed houses Late 2014 Orbit HomesSouth Northants Chaplins Yard, Roade 10 2 bed houses Early/mid 2015 Orbit HomesSouth Northants Chaplins Yard, Roade 10 2 bed houses Early/mid 2015 Orbit HomesSoutham Tithe Lodge 30 1 & 2 bed flats - for over 55’s Now Orbit HomesStratford-upon-Avon The Chapelry 15 2, 3 & 4 bed houses Now Orbit HomesWellesbourne Ettington Mews 19 2, 3 & 4 bed houses Now Orbit Homes

Help to Buy Agent: Radian www.helptobuysouth.co.uk Aldershot The Orchard 1 1 bed flats Now First WessexAndover Locksbridge Park 2 bed flats, 2 & 3 bed houses Now SentinelBanbury Longford Park 7 2 & 3 bed houses Now Raglan HousingBasingstoke Englefield Way 1 1 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonEmsworth Redlands Grange 7 1 & 2 bed flats July First WessexFreshwater IOW Freshwater Fields 14 2 & 3 bed houses Spring Spectrum HousingGlastonbury Chilkwell Street 6 2 & 3 bed houses November Raglan HousingGosport Alver Village 9 1 & 2 bed flats September First WessexHavant Nursery Fields 1 3 bed houses June-October First WessexKingsworthy Southside Embankment 10 2 bed houses Now Hyde New Homes Lee-on-the-Solent Sea Crest Gardens 7 2 & 3 bed houses August First WessexNewport IOW Pan Meadows 9 2 bed houses Autumn Spectrum HousingPortsmouth Guardians Gate 4 3 & 4 bed houses November First WessexReading Kennet House 10 1 & 2 bed flats Now Raglan HousingReading The Cedars 17 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses Coming Soon Southern HousingSouthampton Centenary Quay 4 1 & 2 bed flats Now Spectrum HousingSouthampton The Cloisters 18 1 & 2 bed flats, 2 & 3 bed houses Now Affinity SuttonSouthampton The Compass 1 4 bed mid terrace house Now Affinity SuttonSouthampton Queensway 12 2 bed houses, 1,2 & 3 bed flats December Raglan HousingSouthampton Centenary Quay 8 1 & 2 bed flats Now Spectrum HousingSouthampton Meggeson Ave 11 1 & 2 bed flats October First WessexSouthampton Laxton Close 9 1 & 2 bed flats October First Wessex


Interested in any of the properties listed?

Call 0845 4744734 or email the name of the property to

[email protected] and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

Help to Buy Agent: www.helptobuysw.org.uk Bournemouth Broadway Mews 9 2 & 3 bed houses Autumn Spectrum HousingBristol Maytrees 1 2 bed flat Now Affinity SuttonPlymouth Maple Walk 9 2 & 3 bed houses Spring Spectrum HousingPoundbury South West Quadrant 4 3 bed houses December Raglan HousingShaftesbury Cranbourne Heights 3 3 bed house Autumn Spectrum HousingSparkford The Old Coal Yard 6 2 & 3 bed houses Now Raglan HousingTaunton Monkton Heathfield 4 3 bed houses Now Raglan HousingWeymouth Pemberley 2 2 bed houses Now Raglan Housing

Visit: www.mhs.org.uk

For shared ownership in Kent and Medway

Redlands Grange, Emsworth

Shared Ownership • Discounted Rent

AffordableHyde New Homes

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

Follow us on and

homefinderSouth West

homefinder South Westhomefinder East & South East


INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE PROPERTIES IN

HOMEFOCUS?Call 0845 747 4734

or email the name of the property to [email protected]

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

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






homefinderEast &South EastContinued

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:

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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

4281 Southern Housing HF ad_HR.pdf 1 28/03/2014 16:32

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

0300 100 0303affinitysutton.comemail: [email protected]

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




from Hightown Homesshared ownership

Get on the property ladder with

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

homefinderLondon

homefinder London

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

409-413 Mile End RoadLondon E3 4PB

Providers of quality affordable homes

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

Developing homes in London

octaviaafforDabLe homeownership

feeLs gooD when you finD what you’re Looking for

3998 OH Home Focus Ad_V2.indd 1 10/02/2014 10:44

Homes for sale on a shared ownershipbasis across London

0300 100 0303affinitysutton.comemail: [email protected]




Follow us on and

homefinder London


Call: 0800 068 [email protected]

www.originsales.co.uk

Origin HF directory ad 12.8.11:Layout 1 12/8/11 14:57 Pa

Get on the London property ladder with an Shared Ownership home

www.lqgroup.co.uk/pricedin

Ownership home


Ownership homeOwnership home


LAQ_044_HomeFocus_91x61mm_v3.indd 1 06/02/2014 14:45Developing 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.

Call the sales team now

0800 058 2544

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

www.newlonhomeownershi .org.ukpSALES & MARKETING CONSULTANCY AND AGENCY SERVICES

shared ownership homesin London & the South East

Find out more: 0844 225 3077 · www.redloftsales.co.uk

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 ownership

Just £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 nAdvice 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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homefinderMidlands

homefinder Midlands

CITRUS GROVE, KEGWORTH2 BEDROOM GROUND FLOOR APARTMENT 25% SHARE AVAILABLEFROM £27,312

TERRACOTTA GARDENS, HATHERN3 BEDROOM TERRACED HOUSE 25% SHARE AVAILABLE FROM £37,500

‘hello homes’ throughout the EAST MIDLANDS…

Say ‘hello’ to our dedicated sales team on: 0844 892 2506 / [email protected]: www.hellohomes.org.ukPart Buy / Part Rent / For Sale / For You…‘hello homes’ is part of East Midlands Housing Group Limited.


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




Follow us on and


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Milton Keynes





Milton Keynes




With energy bills on the rise, call us free on 0800 0014 706 or visit www.myhomeenergyswitch.org.uk today to find the best price for your gas and electricity.

It’s free, fast and simple to switch and we’ll take care of all the paperwork.

Do you want to pay less for your energy

Billscutter is part of the group

T: 020 85096800 E: [email protected]

Property Solicitors

Residential Conveyancing

Commercial Conveyancing

Affordable Housing

Housing Association Schemes

Staircasing

Right to Buy

Lease Extensions

Landlord & Tenant

Personal Injury

Family Law

Wills and Probate

(formerly GTCLaw)

legal&financialadvice

Buying a new home requires essential legal and

financial advice…contact a mortgage advisor

or specialist solicitor

homebuyersGUIDE

legal&financialadvice

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

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


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

Please contact our solicitors; Kerry Hicks, Sophie Treszka, Dorothy Johnstone or Rachel Turner on 020 8567 3477, or email [email protected]

• 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

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.

Affordable homesin fantastic locations

Call our sales team now to find out more on

0845 606 1221or email: [email protected]

Hyde New Homes makes the experience of buying your first home easy with new properties available for sale throughthe Shared Ownership scheme. It’s simple, you buy a share of the property and pay a subsidised rent on the remainder.

Clock Tower Court

1 & 2 bedroom apartments for sale throughthe Shared Ownership scheme.Prices start from £75,600 for a 45% share.

Hookpit Farm

Hookpit Farm Lane, Kings Worthy SO23 7NA Kings Highway, Plumstead SE18

1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom housesfor sale through the Shared Ownership scheme.Price to be confirmedContact us now to register your interest.

Terms and conditions apply. Hyde New Homes is part of The Hyde Group. Prices correct at time of going to print.

Kings Highway (Indicative interior)

Albion Road, Bexleyheath DA6

LAST

HOUSES

AVAILABLE50%

UNDER OFFE

R

COMING

SOON

Super B Wyatt ApproachThe Croft

The Croft, Cocking, West Sussex GU29

25%

UNDER OFFER

Final 2 bedroom house and 2 bedroom apartmentsfor sale through the Shared Ownership scheme.Prices start from £72,000 for a 40% share.

New England Square, Brighton BN1

1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments available for salethrough the Shared Ownership scheme.Prices start from £121,500 for a 45% share.Contact us now to register your interest.

Artillery Place, Woolwich SE18

1 & 2 bedroom apartments for sale throughthe Shared Ownership scheme.Prices to be confirmed.Contact us now to register your interest.

AVAILABLE

NOW COMING

SOON

(Indicative interior)

Final 3 two bedroom houses in Kings Worthyavailable through the Shared Ownership scheme.Prices start from £94,000 for a 40% share.

Hyde New Homes properties are also available inBuckinghamshire • Cambridgeshire • East & West Sussex • Essex • Hampshire • Isle of Wight • Kent • Surrey

hf sept 2014 whole issue final

Documents

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