New homes make perfect sense in London

Many people living in apartments crave outside space in the shape of a garden and more storage. However, making the leap from apartment to house can be costly and many apartment dwellers feel they are being priced out of the house market. According to the latest Land Registry figures, the average house in the Greater London area costs £345,136. At Intro Homes’ Sense7 development in Charlton, South East London, houses are nearly £100,000 less than the average for a London house.

Prices start from £259,995, with each house boasting a garden and with many featuring a garage with a storage room. Furthermore, Intro Homes is offering first-time buyers special financial incentives to help them get on the property ladder.

The houses being built at Sense7 are the first houses by Intro Homes, which is broadening its range after previously specialising in apartments. Sense7 is a collection of individually designed developments located near Charlton Village, SE7. The developments are named after four of the senses – Vision, Savour, Scent and Touch. The houses currently available at Touch on Victoria Way include two and three storey townhouses, while there is one remaining two bedroom end of terrace house at Saviour on Bramhope Lane. All the houses have a garden and some have an added benefit of an additional balcony off of one of the bedrooms.

The houses, which are proving popular with young professionals and young families, range in size from 816 sq ft (for two bedroom houses) to 1098 sq ft (for three bedroom houses). Some of the three storey townhouses at Touch include a ground floor garage with a large storeroom at the back, a kitchen and living/dining room on the first floor with a garden, and three bedrooms spread across the first and second floors. The townhouses are ideal for growing families who are looking for more space and more than one bathroom, as well as couples who like to entertain.

All the houses at Sense7 have a high specification with kitchens that come complete with integrated appliances, including a stainless steel Electrolux oven, hob and extractor hood. Vinyl flooring is featured in the kitchen and the bathrooms. White bathroom suites and ceramic tiling in the bathrooms help to provide a low maintenance, classically-styled surrounding.

Many of the properties at Sense7 also feature Ecoplay, a water management system that uses recycled bath and shower water for toilet flushing. Not only does Ecoplay ensure that residents are using less water, it will also lower their utility bills.

Suzanne Owens, Sales Manager from selling agents, Site Sales, comments: “The Sense7 scheme has sold very well – even through these last difficult few months. The prices of the houses are very reasonable for London and the location close to Charlton Village is hard to beat. Furthermore some of the houses have outstanding views over London including Canary Wharf and the O2 Arena.”

For first-time buyers, Intro Homes is offering two initiatives to help them get on the property ladder at Sense7. New Build MyChoice HomeBuy is the latest government funded scheme which offers a contribution of a loan of up to 50% towards the purchase price up to a maximum of £100,000 for a brand new home. The equity loan is specifically for first-time buyers and is available to households with incomes up to £60,000. This is an ideal opportunity for struggling first-time buyers to receive assistance into full home ownership.

Intro Homes is also offering first-time buyers ‘Step Up’, an excellent equity share scheme, whereby selected plots are being offered on a shared equity basis, with two-bedroom apartments available from just £152,500, based on purchasing a 75% share of the property. The remaining 25% can be acquired in the future as the purchaser’s circumstances allow. No interest in payable on the 25% and so it is an excellent way of making home buying affordable for everyone.

Sense7 is well located for travel into the City. Charlton railway station is located within easy reach of the development, and offers fast and frequent services to London Bridge, Charing Cross and Cannon Street. There are also a number of road links close to the development including the A2, which offers access into London or towards the Kent coast.

Prices start from £259,995 for a two-bedroom house. For more information on Sense7, log on to Introhomes.co.uk.