“What sold the idea of FirstBuy to me was the 5 per cent deposit and the process was really easy,” says Rebecca Stewart, who recently became the proud owner of a brand new house from Berkeley Homes at Bersted Park.
Helen Boniface, site sales manager at Bersted Park, alerted Rebecca to the idea of FirstBuy, a government initiative which enables eligible buyers to purchase a brand new home with extra assistance from a Homebuy Agency and the house builder of up to 20 per cent of the value of the home.
While there are of course specific criteria to fulfill, such as a maximum purchase price of £280,000, a maximum 80 per cent mortgage and a 5 per cent deposit, the FirstBuy scheme loan will cover the rest. FirstBuy means you are still the legal owner of 100 per cent of your home.
Rebecca Stewart was unaware of the scheme when she originally visited Bersted Park but soon realised the possibilities that it opened up for her:
“I wasn’t deliberately out looking to buy, I just wanted to see what was available but when I spoke to ‘Bonnie’ in the Sales Office I just knew that I wanted to do business with her,” says Rebecca.
“She explained the FirstBuy process which turned out to be very straightforward: I just filled in a form and was given a contact to call with any questions.
“Everything was handled very efficiently.”
The new house at Bersted Park was the first that Rebecca had considered so she had a quick look around at other developments before coming straight back to Berkeley Homes.
“I was fed up with renting flats,” she adds.
“Now I’ve got a house with a garden - and two cats!”
Susan Wadsworth of Henry Adams, estate agents for Berkeley Homes at Bersted Park, comments: “FirstBuy can provide a great opportunity for first time buyers to make that jump to owning their first home rather than renting and there are some outstanding new homes to choose from at Bersted Park.”
Bersted Park is designed in the distinct Arts & Crafts style to provide an extensive choice of 3 and 4 bedroom homes, where 3 bedroom houses currently start from £230,000.
For further details on FirstBuy, or one of the alternative schemes offered at Bersted Park designed to help you move, contact the Sales Suite, Chichester Road, Bersted Park on (01243 210423), visit www.berkeleyhomes.co.uk, or pop into your local branch of Henry Adams.