Councillors find out more about HomeBuy Direct

Discovering way to help local people is part of the remit of being a councillor. When Miller Homes invited local councillors to its Orchard Green development to discover how home makers can get onto the property ladder by paying a minimum of 70% of the price of a new home now, Westhoughton Councillors Christine Wild and David Wilkinson were quick to accept.

Local councillors have been invited to Miller Homes’ Orchard Green development off Leigh Road in Westhoughton to discover the help that Miller Homes has available for local homebuyers. Miller Homes already has a range of innovative and exciting schemes that offer a stepping stone approach to home ownership. The recently introduced Government backed Homebuy Direct initiative is proving a highly successful route for home ownership, with a high number of Miller Homes customers choosing the scheme since March.

Sales Manager Helen Toher-Horne explains: “There is really good news to share on the success of the scheme, the development and the local property market which we wanted to brief the councillors on. But, more than that, we want to work together to ensure that every home maker who wants to buy a brand new home in the area are able to find out just what is available to them at our Orchard Green.”

The Homebuy Direct Scheme is a Government backed incentive designed to help people onto the property ladder. The scheme works by giving buyers that qualify the opportunity to purchase 100% of their home by paying a minimum of 70% of the value now, with Miller Homes and the Government equally funding the remaining 30%. This 30% equity loan is in effect a deposit and will only become repayable after 25 years or when the customer sells their home, whichever comes first. Another huge bonus of the scheme is that there is no interest payable on the 30% equity loan for the first five years.

It is offered to households with an income of less than £60,000. The qualifying criteria are aimed at providing wide access to home ownership. The scheme is open to first time buyers, key workers and people re-entering the property market after a relationship breakdown or families living in overcrowded accommodation.

It is helping more people who have found it almost impossible to get a foot on or climb the property ladder, either due to the credit crunch or because they have struggled to raise the deposits they need to secure a brand new home. As one of a range of initiatives aimed at helping buyers, it makes the superb new 3 and 4 bedroom homes at Orchard Green surprising affordable, priced from £116,165 [70%] now for a full price £165,950 three bed 3 storey family home.

Councillor David Wilkinson said: “Homebuy Direct will help people onto the property ladder in the current market and this is a good development in a great location”. Councillor Christine Wild added: “Anything that helps home buyers in these difficult times is a positive move.”

Helen added: “We hope that, in providing this fact finding session for the councillors, we have increased their knowledge about how the Government and Miller Homes are working together to support local home ownership. And how they can help this very positive local initiative.”

To find out about this exciting new home buying opportunity, visit the Miller Homes’ marketing suite at ‘Orchard Green’ off Leigh Road, Westhoughton, BL5 2JN. It is open from 10.30am to 5.30pm Thursday to Monday. Details are also on the website: millerhomes.co.uk