3rd time lucky for Heidi & Alex at Upwell Meadows

For accounts assistant Heidi and her fiancé Alex, buying a home was about more than reaching a financial milestone. They wanted somewhere they could settle, welcome friends and family, and give their two puppies a garden of their own. The couple were renting privately when they began looking at the options available to them. “We wanted to give the puppies a garden to play in and have somewhere we could start a family,” Heidi explained.

Heidi discovered Upwell Meadows while searching online for Shared Ownership homes nearby. At the time, she knew the basic principle of the scheme but little about how the buying process worked.“I knew it was part mortgage and part rent, but that was about it,” she said. With Shared Ownership, buyers purchase an initial share of a home and pay rent on the remaining share. At Upwell Meadows, eligible buyers can purchase a share of between 10% and 75%.

For Heidi and Alex, the scheme opened the door to a home that would have been beyond their budget if they had tried to buy outright. “Shared Ownership gets us onto the property ladder quicker. It gives us a better budget and means we can have a bigger home than we could afford otherwise.”

The couple also considered a development in Wimblington, but found the homes were more expensive and the site was positioned beside a main road. Upwell Meadows in March offered the combination of space, location and layout they were looking for.

Heidi and Alex reserved a three-bedroom home with a three-storey layout. The additional bathroom, separate kitchen and living room, and spare bedrooms all helped it stand out from the other homes they considered. Practical details mattered too. The home has two side-by-side parking spaces directly outside and is close to the couple’s friends and family. Heidi is particularly looking forward to having a garden and enough room for guests to stay.“I’m looking forward to designing the garden and decorating the bedrooms. It will be lovely to have people stay over and to spend our first Christmas in our new home with the puppies.” She pictures life at Upwell Meadows as “relaxed, spacious and exciting”, with the home giving the couple room to enjoy now and plan for their future.

Securing their reservation was an especially happy moment after the couple had previously applied for two other homes, only to find that other buyers had reached them first.“It was a relief. We had applied for two other properties, but other people got there first. When we knew we had this one, it felt amazing. Third time’s a charm!” Heidi has also found the sales and reservation process clear and easy to follow. “Everyone has been fast at replying and has explained everything clearly. It has been very straightforward and stress-free.”

Her advice to others considering Shared Ownership is simple: research the scheme, look carefully at the mortgage options available for your circumstances and do not be discouraged if the first home does not work out. “Go for it. It’s a great way to get onto the property ladder.”

Upwell Meadows is located on Upwell Road, on the edge of March. The development includes a collection of two, three and four-bedroom homes available through Shared Ownership. All homes include allocated parking, a full flooring package and energy-efficient features. March offers shops, supermarkets, schools and leisure facilities, while its railway station provides direct connections to Ely, Cambridge and London.