Bryant helps Tom make his bid for freedom

First-time buyer Tom Lawrence has flown the family nest thanks to Bryant Homes' offer to pay the deposit on his new two-bedroom home at The Saddlers development in Raunds, Northamptonshire.

Tom, a maths teacher at a local secondary school, and Darren Willis, a friend from his own school days, wanted to make that all-important step on to the property ladder as soon as possible - but lacked the savings to do so.

"We thought it would be easier to buy a house between us and when we come to sell it, we can go our separate ways," says Tom (23). "Bryant Homes paid the deposit, which meant we saved ourselves £5,000 plus the legal fees."

Tom and Darren, who is also 23 and a manager at a local Lidl supermarket, have lived in north Northamptonshire most of their lives and wanted to stay in the area.

However, Tom did not want to live in the same town as his school and felt The Saddlers was in an ideal location, just a five-minute walk from Raunds town centre.

They didn't take long to decide that the two-bedroom ‘Farringdon' house was exactly what they were looking for.

"One of our friends had bought a place at The Saddlers," explains Tom. "We went around one evening and thought it was really nice, and then Darren suggested that we buy a house there too. Until that point we didn't have a particular property style in mind, but the homes at the development suited our needs perfectly.

"They are located in a nice part of the town, very close to the shops, and they are nice houses at what I feel are good prices. I also liked the fact that what we were buying was brand new, meaning the decor could be started from scratch in the way we liked.

"I also like that one bedroom has an en suite, meaning we have a bathroom each, and that it has a nice sized kitchen and a good-sized garden."

The Saddlers development offers customers a choice of homes, which currently includes three-bedroom semi-detached, detached and townhouse designs, and spacious four-bedroom detached family homes. Prices range from £139,995 to £239,995.

The three-bedroom, three-storey ‘Harvington', for example, is ideal for first-time buyers, carrying a price tag of just £149,995. The property features a fully fitted kitchen complete with oven, hob and hood, a large reception room with French doors to the rear garden, and a cloakroom.

Upstairs, the landing leads to a double bedroom, a bedroom/study and a main bathroom, with the top floor comprising a spacious master suite with bathroom and fitted wardrobes.

Like all new homes at the development, the ‘Harvington' enjoys a high standard specification including double glazing and gas central heating.

Raunds has a varied high street with shops and amenities catering for everyday needs, while the towns of Rushden and Wellingborough are less than 20 minutes from the development by road and offer a wider choice of shopping, pubs and restaurants.

A vast range of high street and specialist shopping can be found in Northampton, Peterborough, Bedford and Milton Keynes - all within easy driving distance.

Having moved to the new development, Tom and Darren are making their brand-new home their own - and enjoying some additional freedom.

"Being able to move out of our family homes has given us a lot more independence and control over how we run our own lives," says Tom. "When you have your own place you are able to do what you want, when you want without worrying about other people in the house - that has been the main difference.

"If we want friends to come over, they can, and we don't have to ask our parents if it's all right first."

To find out more about the full range of money-saving incentives available for first-time buyers and those with a property to sell, house-hunters can visit The Saddlers, off Wellington Road, Raunds, Thursday to Monday, 10.30am to 5.30pm, or go online at Bryant.co.uk.