Last week local MP for Dartford, Gareth Johnson, attended an event to celebrate the 1000th homebuyer to purchase a property with local housebuilder Barratt Homes in Kent using the Government’s Help to Buy equity loan scheme. Barratt Kent was delighted that the milestone homebuyer used Help to Buy to help them purchase a family home at its Phoenix Quarter development in Temple Hill, Dartford.
On the day, Barratt Homes welcomed the 1000th customers, Charles and John Hudson-Beddows, to celebrate their purchase. As well as the MP, the housebuilder also hosted the Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Rosanna Currans, alongside internal representatives. During the event, attendees heard how important Help to Buy is and why it has been particularly successful in the region.
Help to Buy has enabled tens of thousands of homebuyers across the country to purchase a property. The scheme is available to all homebuyers buying a brand new home up to the value of £600,000; whether for first-time buyers or for those further up the property ladder. A 20% equity loan from the government and a 5% deposit requirement means that a 75% loan to value mortgage rate can be accessed.
Gareth Johnson MP comments: “It is excellent that 1000 customers have used Help to Buy to purchase a home with Barratt Homes in Kent, and I hope that this number continues to grow. More people than ever are now able to own a property as a direct result of Help to Buy, and it is something that all those eligible for should take advantage of. I congratulate Barratt Homes on their unique design that sees the development divided into four different character areas.”
Homeowner, Charles Hudson-Beddows comments: “Using Help to Buy has allowed us to purchase a three-bedroom home at Phoenix Quarter. We had been saving as much as we could for around five years to try to get on the property ladder, so we were delighted to discover ‘Help to Buy’ which meant we could finally afford to buy our own home.
“Living nearby we were able to watch it being built whenever we walked past. You could keep an eye on progress and we were able to shape the finishing touches.”
Help to Buy is expected to last until the end of 2020 and so homebuyers hoping to benefit from the scheme still have two years to do so.
Natalie Perry, Director of Sales and Marketing for Barratt Kent, comments: “Help to Buy is a fantastic scheme, and Kent in particular has certainly benefited from it. To reach 1000 Help-to-Buy customers is a real achievement and we are thrilled that this purchase happened at our Phoenix Quarter development. We expect Help to Buy’s popularity to continue to grow as savvy homebuyers look to take advantage of the scheme while they still can.”
Phoenix Quarter is a highly popular development with over half the homes now occupied. The final phase has been released and current availability consists of two, three and four-bedroom homes, with prices starting at £268,995 for a two-bedroom apartment. With Help to Buy, this property could be secured with a deposit of just under £13,500. The development is conveniently located next to Dartford Station, offering a journey time of 40 minutes into the City.
For further details about Help to Buy or Phoenix Quarter, visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or call 0844 470 0565.