When a change in circumstances meant busy, working mum Lucy had to sell her previous home, she wasn't sure if she could afford to stay in Didcot. We sat down with her to hear how finding Shared Ownership changed everything for her and her two children, helping them to stay on the property ladder in the area they love, without needing to downsize.
Being an existing homeowner on the open-market at the nearby Ladygrove Estate; circumstances meant Lucy had to sell up and through this discovered the option of Shared Ownership.
"I’ve worked in banking for over 15 years and hadn’t heard of a part-rent, part-buy concept. It was only when I was house hunting online in the Didcot area that Willowbrook Park appeared. After doing some research, I discovered I was eligible to apply after doing an affordability assessment through the recommended Mortgage Broker through SNG."
Things moved quickly from there for Lucy with a three-bedroom detached property soon being offered to her ‘off-plan’.
"When I took the call from Jasmine my Sales Consultant, I just couldn’t believe it! She explained the whole process and said she’d let me know the moment I could go and view my new home." Having previously gone through the sales process with her first home; Lucy mentioned that the Shared Ownership buying journey didn’t differ much at all and took a similar amount of time to go through the mortgage and legal detail.
Family life
"Moving into our new home has meant we have kept our standard of living with each of my girls having their own bedroom. Being a busy working mum, the open-plan kitchen/diner has to be my favourite space. It just means I can cook dinner, talk to my girls whilst overseeing homework time and even keep an eye on them if they go over to the play park opposite our home - I just feel so lucky!"
With having two school aged children, Lucy explained to us the importance of being able to stay in the area she herself has grown up in. "I’m able to walk my daughters to school each morning and we still remain in the catchment area for the secondary school I plan to apply for them."
"At the weekends we’ll make use of the great travel links from nearby Didcot Parkway Station where we’ll often hop on a train for a day out shopping in Oxford or London which the girls just love!"
Why Shared Ownership
We asked Lucy if she could share any tips or advice to anyone considering Shared Ownership through SNG. "Do your research", she remarks. "If I hadn’t explored the possibility of Shared Ownership then I would never have found my dream home. It also means flexibility for in the future if I consider Staircasing and buying more share in my home."
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