Young couple Kara and Alex Jeffery from Waterlooville couldn’t believe their luck when they were told the house they dreamed of owning was within reach, thanks to the Government-backed Help to Buy Scheme.
Alex, a pub manager, and Kara, a primary school teacher (both 31), spent two years living together above the pub that Alex manages. The couple found themselves under increasing pressure – with Alex struggling to switch off from his work when living right above it, and Kara struggling to unwind after a long day at school, the couple knew they had to make a change.
Seeking the perfect balance between work and home, finally their search came to a head when fate handed them their dream home – a four-bedroom Kenilworth on Redrow Homes (Southern Counties) Yew Gardens development in Waterlooville.
Both Alex and Kara grew up in the local area and were keen to stay close to both of their workplaces, as well as their friends and families. What they were not expecting was to find their dream home within budget and on the first viewing.
Commenting on their new home, Alex said: “We fell in love with the four-bedroom Kenilworth the moment we saw it – and it just so happened to be very first home we looked at. However, we never for a moment thought it would be within our price range, especially when we were originally looking for a three bed – we thought we had been given the wrong price when we found it was within our budget thanks to the Help to Buy Scheme. From there, we were sold – we didn’t look at a single other home or development, and within four days of first seeing the Kenilworth, we had made a reservation. It truly was love at first sight!”
Help to Buy is a Government-backed scheme that helps house hunters move with as little as 5% deposit. The Help to Buy Equity Loan is available to everyone, whether a first-time buyer or an existing homeowner looking to move up the property ladder. The Government will lend up to 20% of the value of the new home, up to the value of £600,000 through an interest free equity loan for five years. This means a mortgage of 75% will be required with a 5% deposit.
Alex added: “After years of waiting, we finally found our ‘forever home’ – a home where we can settle down and start a family. We couldn’t have dreamt of a more perfect set-up – it’s like it was meant to be, particularly as we adore the kitchen and were also given the option to choose the flooring and edging around the home.”
Recent research from Redrow Homes highlights that the main emotional driver for those buying a home is that it ‘had to feel right’ and over a third of those polled said that they wanted a home where they could imagine ‘making memories’.
Alex added: “The team on site at Yew Gardens were brilliant from start to finish. With the both of us working very demanding jobs, the time we had to spend on the admin involved in buying a new home was very lean. The team understood and respected this – the whole process was seamless and the team were there to support us throughout the purchase, which we were able to do using the Help to Buy Scheme. Every last detail and query we had was considered and thought of before we even had to ask – right down to the doorstops and grouting!”
Yew Gardens is a collection of two, three and four-bedroom homes in the semi-rural location of Waterlooville. Drawn from Redrow Homes’ Heritage collection of Arts and Crafts-inspired house styles, all of the homes have traditional architecture and benefit from modern interior to suit modern life.
Part of the wider Berewood development which also includes a new school, parks and amenities, Yew Gardens enjoys a town-and-country location that matches the high quality of its homes.
The development is in a picturesque location with surrounding countryside views and South Downs National Park just a short drive away. Yet with cities Portsmouth and Southampton both on hand and walking distance to a major supermarket and Waterlooville’s bustling town centre.
Mark Vanson, Redrow Homes (Southern Counties) Sales and Marketing Director, said: “We are thrilled to hear that Alex and Kara had such a positive experience whilst buying their first Redrow Home and wish them every happiness. Our Yew Gardens development is the perfect place for young couples hoping to start a family, with excellent local schools and amenities in a close proximity, and the busy towns of Portsmouth and Southampton both within 30 minutes’ drive.”
Prices at Yew Gardens start at £274,950 for a two bedroom home. To find out more, call 023 8008 3932 or visit to www.redrow.co.uk/yewgardens