Nicky finds a secure family home through Shared Ownership

Nicky began searching online for Shared Ownership homes available in Cambridgeshire. This led her to a new development being offered by Homemade Homes. Although she initially knew very little about Shared Ownership, she took time to understand how it worked. She spoke to colleagues and friends who had bought through the scheme, consulted a mortgage adviser and researched the information available online. She found Homemade Homes’ online guide particularly helpful. “The guide gave actual examples of the breakdown of rent, mortgage and service charge, and explained how staircasing worked,” Nicky said.

Shared Ownership allows eligible buyers to purchase a percentage of a home and pay rent on the remaining share. And for those wanting to increase their ownership they may be able to purchase further shares through a process known as staircasing.

For Nicky, it offered a more achievable step between renting and buying a home outright. “I really didn’t want to continue renting and wanted to get onto the property ladder,” she said. “I wanted a home we could call our own, without worrying about the rent regularly increasing or the landlord deciding to sell. “Moving from renting to purchasing a property was a big financial step. Shared Ownership made buying more achievable, and we were able to find a lovely home that suited our needs as a family.”

Staying in the area was important to Nicky because of the family’s local connections and commitments. The location and layout of the new development immediately appealed to them.

The family has now reserved a new home in Cambridgeshire with plenty of space inside and outside. The room sizes, practical layout and garden made it feel like the right choice. One feature stands out in particular. “We are excited about the beautiful kitchen,” Nicky said. “It provides a lovely space for socialising and leads nicely into the garden.”

Receiving confirmation that she could pay the reservation fee was a memorable point in the journey. “It was a big moment in the process. I couldn’t wait to share the news with my children.”

Nicky is looking forward to the family having more space, especially the larger bedrooms for her children. She is also excited to cook and spend time together in the kitchen, overlooking a garden they can design and make their own.

For the family, the new home will provide more than additional space. It will offer the security and freedom to settle without the uncertainty they experienced while renting privately. “Life in our new home will be all about family and it being a relaxed place to be,” Nicky said. “It will be somewhere I feel proud to invite family and friends to visit and stay.

“I’m looking forward to meeting our new neighbours, and I hope we can build some great memories here.”

Although buying a home has involved learning about several unfamiliar stages, Nicky has felt supported throughout the reservation and sales process. “Homemade Homes have been very helpful through telephone calls and emails, guiding me through the process.”

Nicky understands why people may initially feel unsure about Shared Ownership. Her advice is to research the scheme carefully and find out whether it could work for their circumstances. “I wasn’t sure about Shared Ownership when I started looking at purchasing a property, but after doing the research and going ahead, it feels absolutely the right decision. “If anyone is considering Shared Ownership, I would suggest reading through how it works and going for it. It’s a great opportunity to get onto the property ladder and potentially purchase additional shares in your home in the future.”