First-time buyers get ready to grab Redrow’s lifeline

Fri, Oct 13th 2006, 11:00

First-time buyers in the south east of England have been quick off the mark to register their interest in Redrow’s award winning Debut range at Sittingbourne, Kent.

Redrow’s £70,000 lifeline for first-time buyers is set to launch this weekend (October 22nd) and excitement has been gathering momentum since those on the lookout were invited to sign up and be counted at the launch.

The smallest of the Debut homes at Sittingbourne requires an initial outlay of just £62,995*, making them one of the most desirable and achievable properties in the south east.

Since announcing the scheme Redrow has been taking registrations from potential home owners and processing these people for their eligibility to buy and also their financial ability to proceed.

The interest has been phenomenal, from a wide range of people mostly in their 20s and 30s, and from a broad range of occupations including young professionals, health workers and tradespeople. The majority of interest has been from Sittingbourne, Maidstone and the Medway towns, with a few enquiries from other Kent towns, including Tonbridge, Ashford and Sheerness

Those people who have been through the pre-qualifying process will be given priority at Sunday’s launch, being held at the Hilton Hotel, in Maidstone, but other would-be purchasers can still turn up and take their chances.

Caron Hutchins, area sales manager for Redrow Homes (Eastern), says: "So far Debut has been a big hit with home buyers looking to get onto the property ladder with a quality new home at a price they can afford. The Sittingbourne development has generated an overwhelming amount of attention and everyone who has signed up and graduated through the pre-qualifying process has secured their place in the queue this Sunday. We’re expecting a great turnout."

Buy-to-let investors are specifically excluded from snapping up the Debut properties, making them exclusive to would-be owner occupiers who have rushed in to register in time for the launch. But it isn’t too late for those who have not registered yet.

Caron explains: "While we are expecting a lot of buyers who already have their place in the queue, that doesn’t meant that everyone else has missed the boat as there may still be the opportunity for those who have not yet registered their interest to do so at the launch.

"Each potential buyer must go through a process of financial qualification, where assessments will be made to establish people’s eligibility and ability to buy, after which reservations will be taken on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. It’s important that people are there early and have with them proof of identity and their earnings or financial status."

 Debut @ Sittingbourne will feature 70 private sale one and two-bedroom homes, with customers able to defer up to 10% of the purchase price for up to 10 years through Redrow’s ‘Easi-buy’ option.

Prices will start from £69,995 for a single-storey one-bedroom home, requiring an initial outlay of just £62,995 for those choosing to use Easi-buy. Even the largest two-storey, two-bedroom home with additional workspace will be priced at £119,995 (an initial outlay of £109,995 with Easi-buy) – which is well below the stamp duty threshold.

This comes at a time when the average house in Sittingbourne is said to cost upwards of £172,000 and the average flat or terrace – the typical domain of first time buyers – will set someone back £119,000 or £133,000 respectively in the town.

 The Debut range features a combination of traditional and modern materials to give a contemporary look that’s visually appealing as well as practical. The overall result is a home that first time buyers can aspire to – brand new, contemporary, built to high quality standards and easy to maintain, as well as affordable.

Debut takes an unconventional approach to modern apartment living by turning things upside down - literally. Areas such as the open plan lounge and kitchen are located upstairs in two-storey properties, while bedrooms and bathrooms are at entrance level, giving a fresh twist to apartment living. High vaulted ceilings and tall windows with Juliet balconies in the living areas of two-bedroom designs allow for natural light to pour in, creating a further dimension of space.

Debut @ Sittingbourne will be located off Jacinth Drive, about one-and-a-half miles from Sittingbourne’s railway station, from where trains to London Victoria or Cannon Street take a little over an hour. There are also easy commuter links to the M25.

Redrow’s Debut homes will launch this Sunday, October 22nd at the Hilton Hotel, Maidstone.Doors open at 10am and those who don’t want to miss out on their dream home at a great price should get there early. For more information call 0845 676 0333 or visit www.debutbyredrow.co.uk.