The county of Bedfordshire has the best of town and country. Johnny Turner sees what’s available for buyers.
Bedfordshire is blessed with a number of advantages, including proximity to some of Southern England’s most beautiful scenery, good transport, thriving towns and – importantly – property prices that are much kinder than you will find in the capital and its immediate surroundings.
Recent research by NatWest has shown that many first time buyers now have to wait until they're 35 to get on the property ladder!* In response to this startling revelation Bryant Homes are holding a First Time Buyer weekend at their Mill View development in Stotfold, on 7 and 8 October.
First time buyers struggling to get onto the ladder will be able to visit the development and speak to the homes consultant and a professional mortgage advisor about the financial deals available and the steps they need to take to move into their own home.
Heather Holl, senior sales manager for Bryant Homes, said: ‘It can be extremely difficult for first time buyers to find a deposit for a new home, let alone secure a mortgage to pay for it. This event is intended to provide them with an opportunity to come along and talk to professionals about the different elements involved in buying a first home, and the best ways to go about choosing a suitable property, securing a mortgage, and getting a good deal.’
Mill View is a collection of 96 properties, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to four-bedroom detached homes, situated on the Hertfordshire / Bedfordshire border and surrounded by picturesque countryside.
Ideal for commuters, Mill View is close to the A1(M) and there are good train services to London Kings Cross from stations in nearby Letchworth and Hitchin. The development is also handily placed for the airports at Luton and Stansted.
For more information about the First Time Buyer weekend taking place on October 7th and 8th, or the homes available at Mill View in Stotfold, visit the marketing suite on Queen Street open daily from 9.30am - 5.00pm, call 01462 735 246, or log onto bryant.co.uk/millview.
The Wharf, Redrow’s brand new waterside development near Leighton Buzzard, has been making a splash since it launched.
The flagship development, in Linslade, has been a real success story with home buyers - seven of the stylish two-bedroom apartments were sold within two weeks of the impressive show home opening its doors.
Fashioned by Redrow’s chosen interior design company, Connections in Design, the two-bedroom show home has been individually crafted to fuel the imagination of home buyers who want ideas for their dream home.
Dawn Kitchener, managing director of Connections in Design, said: ‘The look we were going for at The Wharf was ‘hotel chic’. The easy-living promoted by the relaxed canal-side development suggested we needed a neutral organic scheme to emphasise the feeling of tranquillity.
‘Throughout the apartment mirrors and light reflective wallpaper imitate the glassy effect of the water, creating the element of space and adding to the minimalist theme.
‘In the first bedroom, the focal point is provided by an unusual light fitting created from a giant feather, promoting the ‘younger’ aspects of the apartment. This is continued in the lounge, which features a cream corner sofa, African art work and a sheepskin rug.’
The show apartment has been created with young couples in mind. Modern canvases are hung on the walls and the fusion of browns, creams and whites of the décor work together to create a light living space.
Suzanne Irons, sales director for Redrow Homes (South Midlands), says: ‘The popularity of the development is the result of the fantastic waterside location alongside the Grand Union Canal and the wonderful show apartment, which allows buyers to envisage their future at The Wharf in detail. Ideal for young couples seeking the perfect start in their first home or for investors who wish to invest in the best, The Wharf allows for a range of buyers to find their perfect property.’
The Wharf has been traditionally styled to complement its setting. The buildings feature rich red brick with black wood cladding, mirroring the colours of the long boats that pass by the apartments on the canal, creating a warm and welcoming backdrop to water-side living.
Leighton Buzzard is just a 35 minute train journey to Euston, London making it an excellent commuter link for those who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the capital after a hard day’s work.
The area provides fantastic transport links to nearby Dunstable and Milton Keynes. The M1 and M40 are also within easy reach.
Prices for properties at The Wharf start from £168,995 for a two-bedroom home. These include an ensuite to the master bedroom, a free single parking space, a balcony overlooking the area and on ground floor properties feature French doors.
For your chance to sample waterside living, visit the show apartment at The Wharf, on Mentmore Road, or call the sales consultant on 0845 676 0514. Alternatively, you can log on to the Redrow website at redrow.co.uk.
Also in Leighton Buzzard, The trio of show homes at a George Wimpey South Midlands’ Pages Priory development in Leighton Buzzard have won a top award.
Together, the two-bedroom ‘Beaumont’, three-bedroom ‘Dorset’ and three-storey three-bedroom Quainton show homes scooped the regional Showhome of the Year award, in an annual company competition run by the leading housebuilder.
The judges were impressed by the interior design team’s attention to detail and use of eye-catching colours combined with imaginative designs.
The stylish three-bedroom ‘Dorset’ showhome – which features accents of lime green, hot pink and orange to create a contemporary feel - was singled out for special mention.
The George Wimpey award is the second accolade to be won by Pages Priory in recent months – the development also scooped the ‘Best Value for Money’ category in this year’s Hotproperty magazine awards.
And award-winning Pages Priory has proved so popular with purchasers that the first phase of new homes is sold out.
Second phase properties currently available comprise three and four-bedroom designs starting from £224,995.
All properties benefit from a high standard specification including gas central heating, double glazing, and a fitted kitchen with built-in oven, hob and hood.
Pages Priory is ideally located just over a mile from Leighton Buzzard town centre, offering a wide choice of high street and independent stores and leisure amenities.
Schools for children of all ages and health services are also nearby.
For commuters, the A5 and M1 are within easy reach - putting London just over 40 miles away by road - while the town rail station offers regular services to London and the north.
George Wimpey enjoys an excellent reputation for customer satisfaction, having recently received a four star rating in an independent survey by the Home Builders Federation and the National House Building Council.
The housebuilder’s easymover programme offers a range of incentives for purchasers of selected properties including support for first time buyers - while customers with a house to sell can reserve their new home and then sit back and relax while George Wimpey finds a buyer for their current property and pays the estate agents’ fees.
Alternatively, customers can take advantage of George Wimpey’s House 2 Home bespoke moving package - free UK removal regardless of distance or size of property, full packing and unpacking service and insurance cover.
Incentives can be tailored to homebuyers’ circumstances and are subject to availability. Further details are available from the Sales Executive.
Further information is available by visiting the Sales Centre, located off Johnson Drive in Leighton Buzzard, and open seven days a week from 11am to 5pm. The Sales Executive can be contacted by calling 01525 850949.
Alternatively, information on George Wimpey developments across the region is available by calling 01908 544800, or by visiting the web site at newhometobuy.com, where homebuyers can register to obtain £10,000 discount off any new George Wimpey South Midlands home.
Bellway offers ‘one stop shops’ for first time buyers at its luxury apartment developments in Luton and Dunstable.
Buying a home, with all of the associated legal and financial arrangements, can seem like a daunting experience to those preparing to step onto the property ladder for the first time. Bellway Homes is offering to make the experience that much easier for first time buyers in Bedfordshire by holding dedicated ‘First-time buyer’ weekends at its new apartment developments in Luton and Dunstable later this month.
Designed to provide first-time buyers with access to free expert advice, with advisors on hand to provide answers to all the questions they might want to ask, the open events will take place on Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October at The Academy on Luton’s Castle Street and at Regent’s Quarter off Court Drive in Dunstable, from 10am to 5pm.
In addition to the first class independent advice on offer, people attending will be offered a host of deals and offers tailored to first-timers in a friendly, ‘no pressure’ atmosphere. They will also have the opportunity to view show apartments at both developments and refreshments will also be on offer.
The Academy is a development of 117 one and two-bedroom apartments located five minutes from Luton town centre. One bedroom apartments offer secure underground car parking, a terrace or balcony and lifts to all floors. They are priced from £145,000; 2-bedroom apartments with the same facilities and en-suite to the master bedroom are priced from £176,000.
Regents Quarter is a gated development of 157 stylish and contemporary apartments set in a picturesque parkland location just a short walk from Dunstable town centre, with its thriving amenities. An Asda supermarket is also located nearby. A leisure centre is right opposite the development and within walking distance is a brand new arts and entertainment complex comprising a theatre, new bars and restaurants, due to open in 2007.
One-bedroom apartments in Regent’s Quarter are available from £150,000 and two-bedroom apartments from £176,000. Most apartments boast a balcony or terrace.
Apartments at both developments feature an entry-phone system, double glazed UPVC windows, communal Sky TV system and a choice of fitted kitchens and wall tiling.
Bellway Northern Home Counties Sales Director Chris Edginton said:
‘Buying a new home can be a stressful process at the best of times, but for first-time buyers the whole experience can seem scary. Feedback from first-time buyers suggest that the jargon and legal terminology involved can be off-putting.
‘We have organised these events as a response to this, as a one-stop shop for young people who could really benefit from putting their hard-earned money into property of their own rather than into a landlord’s pocket.
‘One of the offers buyers can take advantage of is our popular ‘Move in for £99’ deal whereby buyers pay £99 to reserve their apartment and we then pay the 5% deposit, 1% stamp duty and legal fees up to £750 on their behalf.
‘The offer is perfect for first time buyers who find it impossible to save for a deposit and have to live in rented accommodation, or at home with their parents. The money they save can be spent on stylish new furniture and electronic goods for their new homes!
‘We are making it as easy as possible for people to own a stylish, spacious apartment of their own.’
For further details about the first time buyer weekends please contact a sales advisor at Regents Quarter on 01582 667457 or The Academy at 01582 451013.