There are a range of useful schemes for first-time buyers and shared equity is one of the key options available for householders earning less than £60,000 a year. With Taylor Wimpey’s Easystart shared equity scheme, buyers are able to get on the ladder with a five percent deposit and only have to pay 85% of their new home despite owning 100%.
Brotton postman Mark Laker has taken advantage of the scheme to get his first home. Convinced that without a massive deposit he’d have no chance of getting a mortgage, Mark had ruled out trying to get on the ladder for another few years. However, one day on his post round he noticed a sign advertising Easystart at the Hunley Manor development in Brotton and went to talk about it with the sales executives.
He says: “I’m a spontaneous person anyway but hearing how easy it would be, I just couldn’t resist and jumped at the chance to buy. The area is beautiful and the site was perfect. I didn't need to look anywhere else, my mind was made up.”
Mark found the whole process straight forward and is delighted he took a de-tour into the sales office. He said: “The whole process was so unbelieveably easy. From having a quick chat in the sales office, to recieving the key in my hand, was just three months.
“Without Easystart I would never have been able to move into my dream home, so I would definitely recommend it to my friends or anyone else in this position.”
Beverley Russell, sales manager for Hunley, is delighted that the Easystart initiative is helping so many first-time buyers to get that all important foot on the property ladder.
She said: “The financial security of owning a home is second to none, yet the prospect of buying a first home can be daunting. We’re thrilled that Easystart is fast becoming the perfect solution. So many young people have already benefitted from the scheme and Mark’s experience is testament to the simplicity of the process; allowing new home-owners to enjoy the transition.”
Prices at Hunley Manor start from £135,960 for a three-bedroom detached ‘Bayford’ house. The North Yorkshire development is located near a range of local amenities and has strong transport links to local towns Saltburn by the Sea, Guisborough and Whitby.
Taylor Wimpey Easystart properties are currently available in Cornwall, Denbighshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Durham, East Lothian, East Sussex, Essex, Fife, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Lancashire, Midlothian, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Tyne and Wear, Warwickshire, West Lothian, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Worcestershire and Wrexham.