First-time buyers snap up an offer at Leybourne Park

Fantastic deals make this a great time to buy a new home, as Scott Wooldridge, a chef in the armed forces, and Jenna Springay, deputy manager of a nursery school, recently discovered.

The couple took advantage of Barratt's help for first-time buyers to buy their home: a two-bedroom apartment at Leybourne Park, Barratt Kent's new development in Aylesford, near Maidstone.

Scott explains: "We were renting an apartment in Maidstone and we weren't even thinking about buying our own home, but when we read in the local paper about the help for first-time buyers at Leybourne Park, we thought it was just too good to miss."

He adds: "Barratt offered to pay our deposit, stamp duty and legal fees - this made a big difference to us and meant we could afford the apartment, so it obviously made very good sense to buy immediately."

To add to the attraction, Leybourne Park is close to both Scott's and Jenna's parents and to Jenna's work in Maidstone.

Buying a home for the first time can be daunting but, as Scott and Jenna found, Barratt is very experienced at guiding new buyers. "Everyone at Barratt gave us masses of support and made it really easy for us to buy. We really appreciated the information pack, which explained exactly what was happening at each stage and was very reassuring," says Jenna.

It took Scott and Jenna less than a month from reserving to moving in to their two-bedroom apartment. Their home was originally the show apartment and Barratt included the carpets and fixtures and fittings within the price. With a

very well equipped kitchen, including a dishwasher, fridge/freezer and dishwasher, little was left for the couple to buy.

Scott and Jenna are thrilled with their new home: "Our apartment is very spacious with a large open-plan living area and full-length windows that give amazing views across open fields at the back," says Jenna. With two double bedrooms and two bathrooms, one en suite to their bedroom, Scott and Jenna can invite friends to stay whenever they wish.
Leybourne Park is located near the pretty village of Aylesford, a few miles from Maidstone. Although it's in the country, everything Scott and Jenna need are within easy reach. There is a large Tesco supermarket within five minutes, both Maidstone East and New Hythe stations are nearby and Maidstone, just five miles away, has great shops, a host of bars and restaurants and no less than ten nightclubs.

Travelling to work is easy for Jenna, who drives to her nursery in Maidstone every day. Scott works at RAF Honington in Bury St Edmunds, about a hundred miles away, and returns home most weekends. Leybourne Park is just a few miles from the M20, making his long journey a little easier.

Jenna has the last word: "We only moved in a few weeks ago and it already feels as if we've been here for ages. I'm so glad we went to look at Leybourne Park and took advantage of the great offer for first-time buyers - it's the best thing we've ever done."

Currently on sale at Leybourne Park are two-bedroom apartments priced from £164,995, and three-bedroom houses from £264,995. To help first-time buyers, Barratt is currently offering to pay their five per cent deposit and stamp duty. Some of the homes are ready for occupation, so that buyers can move into their new home immediately.

For more information on Leybourne Park, visit Barratthomes.co.uk.