We really wanted to take our first steps onto the property ladder
Following the end of his rental contract, Miles, Head of Technology, moved back in with his parents in Peterborough as he prepared to secure a property of his own. Discussing his ambitions with colleague, Katya, the pair decided to switch Cambridgeshire for life in the capital and purchase a 25% share together at Peabody New Homes’ Willow Walk development in Wandsworth.
“We really wanted to take our first steps onto the property ladder and with the cost-of-living crisis a reality we could not ignore, it raised the question of how achievable it is to buy on your own in London. With the IT company we work for expanding, and a large number of our clients now based in the South West, moving to London and being able to enjoy the unrivaled transport connections means that we now have better opportunities to provide them with on-site services.”
The area around Willow Walk just felt like home, right from the first visit
“We are located right between Wandsworth and Putney, so the area is lovely. During my free time, I enjoy popping into Wandsworth as there are independent coffee shops and friendly, local bakeries. During my lunch breaks, I often wander down to Wandsworth Park which is right on the river. There are lots of rail links nearby, which also means that I can easily get into the centre of London if I want more to explore.”
“We’ve got two bedrooms and are using another area as a home office for ourselves, it is the perfect space that allows us to work from home. The living area is a big open-plan space with a nice view out from our windows and the balcony. Our cat, Goose, loves pottering about the place and enjoys looking out on the balcony and watching the birds.”
Sustainability was a key consideration
"We have a utility room, which hosts the washing machine as well as lots of storage and built-in shelving. When I’ve rented previously, space to store things out of sight is always one of those things that you seem to forget about, but it is really handy to have. Sustainability was a consideration for us when we were looking, and it’s clear that the insulation here is really good because we haven’t had to have the heating on, even when it’s been freezing outside!”
“We had inherited a bit of money for a deposit, but I always knew that we were going to need to use some sort of homebuying scheme. Shared Ownership had come up a few times when I had been searching back in Peterborough, and when I searched for Shared Ownership homes in London, Peabody New Homes kept coming up.
We recommend mortgage advisors that specialise in Shared Ownership
"We went through the process with a few different developers and Peabody New Homes’ communication and explanation seemed to be the clearest. They made the process straightforward and even recommended solicitors and mortgage advisors that specialise in Shared Ownership."
"The Peabody New Homes sales team was very helpful. Our main contact, Ilona, was very friendly and we always felt that she was on our side and trying to help us get things over the line. We wanted to see the place before it was finished and Ilona was more than accommodating. Since buying at Willow Walk, I have already recommended Shared Ownership and Peabody New Homes to a colleague whose son was looking to buy their first home.”
