How Shared Ownership helped Bridget step back onto the property ladder
After embarking on a new chapter in life, spending four years renting a home, Bridget is now thrilled to have taken a step back onto the property ladder at Honeybrooke by Peabody New Homes, a stunning collection of 24 Shared Ownership homes in a picturesque green setting.
Moving into her brand-new three-bedroom house with her sons, Daniel and Edwin, in the charming village of Stoke Hammond, Buckinghamshire, Bridget feels rejuvenated and ready to embrace new opportunities.
“My rented home was in Leighton Buzzard but all my friends and connections are in and around the village, so it’s fantastic to be back where I feel I belong. I bought a 40% share of the home with a deposit of £80,000 and there’s just no way I could have bought here without Shared Ownership.”
Shared Ownership helped Bridget buy in her ideal location
"I’d lived nearby in Newton Longville for over 20 years and it’s where my children grew up, so I had a real connection to the area. However, with everything happening in the world, I ended up staying there for four years. It just never really felt like home to me; I wanted to be back in a village surrounded by the community that I felt part off.
Stoke Hammond is the next village over from Newton Longville, so it’s an area that I am very familiar with. I couldn’t believe it when I spotted that this plot of land had been purchased for development. It felt like it could be my opportunity to return to village life. I loved watching the transformation unfold and registered my interest in purchasing at the development as soon as I could. Homes at Honeybrooke were very popular and I never thought that I would own a home again, so this is very special to me. I already know that this will be my forever home.”
Exceptional New Builds at Honeybrooke
All Peabody New Build homes are built to the highest standards, with top safety and security measures, and around 80% of new-builds have a top energy efficiency rating of A or B.
“The finish of these homes is so beautiful. I remember my sons were really impressed with the quality - it’s a lot better than other new build homes I’ve seen. There are also some amazing sustainable features, like solar panels, air source heat pumps and underfloor heating, which help to future proof the home.
It’s just so peaceful here, I can’t even hear my neighbours, so I can totally enjoy being in my own space. I also have the most amazing garden. It’s huge so there’s a lot of scope in what I can do to create somewhere that is my own.”
Countryside living with convenient connections
Providing the best of both worlds, Stoke Hammond blends rural village tranquillity with good connectivity.
“Stoke Hammond is a very social place, with a lovely pub and a village shop. It’s very convenient for me too. I work as an Academy Trust Finance Manager and can be at work in around 20 minutes.
Getting into London is also easy from either Bletchley or Leighton Buzzard stations. But at the same time, we’re in the countryside here and we don’t feel like we are particularly close to the hustle and bustle of a city. It’s very idyllic.”
Shared Ownership made homeownership affordable
When buying through Shared Ownership, you can purchase a share of the home, starting at 25%. This makes Shared Ownership a more affordable way to get on the housing ladder.
“I wouldn’t have been able to afford anything like this without Shared Ownership. Through the scheme, I bought a 40% share of my home and know that I will have the opportunity to staircase all the way up to 100% ownership in the future. When I put down my reservation fee, I went to see the show home, and just couldn’t believe that I was going to live here. It’s security for me and for my children that you just don’t get when renting.
The Peabody New Homes team were amazing. The virtual launch was fantastic. I felt really excited about the possibility of living here and then got the process started immediately."
Peabody made the buying process simple
The Shared Ownership purchase process usually takes between 1 to 3 months. This is a lot quicker than the average 6-month timeline for buying a home outright.
"Whilst awaiting allocation the sales team were very responsive and would keep me updated on everything happening. I knew that Peabody New Homes has a lot of experience in delivering Shared Ownership schemes, and they were able to make the process really smooth by recommending the right advisors.
On the day that I moved in, the sales agent Charli even stayed late to make sure that I could get my keys and move in. I met with the after-sales team for the home demonstration to make sure everything was ironed out properly. I never felt like I was on my own, I always knew there was somewhere to go if I had a question or needed any help.
I just feel as though the stars aligned and it was meant to be. This is our home and everyone is happy here. Being able to buy my own home means everything to me and I have to pinch myself and remind myself that I’ve achieved this.”
Homes at Honeybrooke are fully reserved. To explore Peabody New Home’s latest collection of properties, see our home finder page.
