Having outgrown their small flat in Hampshire, Holly Ramdharry, 30, and her husband Ketan, 31, started searching for their forever home.
By using Help to Buy, they were able to afford a three-bed house at Berkeley Homes’s Edenbrook Village development in Fleet.
‘One of the biggest things for us was the cost of upsizing from a one-bed flat to a three-bed detached house, so the scheme really helped us to achieve our dream for a home to start our family,’ says Holly, an events manager.
‘The sales team was amazing and sat us down with the options we could afford, and explained Help to Buy. The whole process went smoothly and it was so easy to use – I would really recommend it to those looking to move up the property ladder.’
The pair reserved their home off-plan last August and set up an Instagram account to chart its build.
‘When I started the account (@edenbrookvillagelife), I didn’t think it would take off, but we’ve actually met quite a few neighbours through it,’ she continues.
‘Before visiting any new-build show homes I used to try to search for hashtags on Instagram to see what other people’s houses were like, but was disappointed to find that no one had posted anything in the area.
‘So when we reserved our house I decided I would start documenting our progress to help future prospective residents who would like to buy here.
‘I’ve got a massive passion for interior design, so now I’m enjoying posting about the items I’ve found for the house and tagging the local suppliers we’ve used.’
They moved in at the end of April, in the middle of lockdown, and found that Instagram was a great way of connecting with their new neighbours, making them feel less isolated.
‘We wanted to help people who were house-hunting by showing them what it’s like to live here, and what’s around locally,’ says Ketan, who works in IT sales for Dell.
‘We’ve met two couples on Instagram that turned out to be our neighbours as they reserved around the same time as us.
‘Another couple who moved down from London found us when they were scrolling to find out more about the local area, and Holly spoke to them for a couple of months.
‘They ended up purchasing here, and we’ve become close friends.’
He’s full of praise for Berkeley’s sales team. ‘They have been really accommodating, and even adapted our garden during the build to accommodate the basketball hoop I wanted to put up.
‘I asked them to extend the patio all the way along to the side wall so that I could put the hoop at the opposite end of the garden and practice. This was done with no questions asked – amazing!’
A mix of two, three, four and five-bed houses, Edenbrook Village is a few miles from the centre of Fleet and adjacent to a country park.
Two-beds with Help to Buy and four-beds are currently available, from £380,000, and a new phase is being launched soon.
Insta-ready London Help to buy homes
The Dye Factory, Plaistow E13, from £275,000
There are 23 one and two-bed apartments offered for sale in a converted warehouse, providing top-end industrial style at an affordable price. They feature high ceilings, steel windows and exposed brickwork, and some include mezzanine levels. thedyefactory.com via dexters.co.uk
Trent Park, Enfield EN4, from £565,000
These properties are located in a secure setting, and are surrounded by the greenery of Trent Country Park, yet within easy reach of the Piccadilly line. These homes also benefit from elegant, open-plan living spaces with Shaker-style kitchens and private valuable outside space. trent-park.co.uk
Do the math
Price (for a two-bed): £380,000
5% deposit: £19,000
20% Help to Buy loan: £76,000
Mortgage: approx £1,152
Estate charge: approx. £20pcm Monthly spend approx. £1,172
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