Full marks for Bexley Park

A first-time buyer and school teacher swapped home time for homeowner time, when she bought a two bedroom property at Barratt West Midlands' Bexley Park development in Perry Common.

Andrea Lanchbury purchased a Richmond home at the development and now lives within easy reach of her parents and a local primary school, where she teaches Year Five pupils. She gave the housebuilder a gold star when five per cent deposit paid was also offered to close the deal.

Busy Andrea also has a second job at a bar in Sutton Coldfield, but before she began her teaching career ten years ago, Andrea was a West End-trained singer, dancer and actress with an ambition for a life on the stage. She said, "Rather than performing to a theatre, I am now performing to a class of children. Every day is different - you never know what to expect because children surprise you in so many ways and I get to see them develop and grow."

Andrea picked her property at Bexley Park because it perfectly suits the life she leads. "Everything was spot on and it was lovely to have a new build so I could just move straight in and be local to everywhere. I also had a choice of tiles and flooring so I already felt as though I had stamped my own identity onto the property before I had even properly moved in."

Graydon Worthing, Sales Director for Barratt West Midlands, said, "There is a real shortage of low cost homes in the UK today so it is very important for us to be able to offer homes like these at such a significant discount. It means that those who may otherwise struggle to get a foot onto the property ladder will be able to make the dream of home ownership a reality, whilst still owning 100 per cent of the property.

"New homes are perfect for people with busy lifestyles, as they have the advantage of being able to move straight in without having to worry about maintenance or DIY. This means that they are free to concentrate on enjoying their beautiful new home."

Bexley Park is situated on Dovedale Road in Perry Common and is located to the north of Birmingham, within easy reach of the M6 and Midlands motorway network, as well as the city centre. It now offers three and four bedroom homes, with prices starting from £220,500.

At the nearby Barratt development, Somerton Court, on Short Heath Road in Erdington, there are one bedroom apartments available on the Low Cost Housing Scheme for prices starting from £84,660. With the scheme, purchasers buy 80 per cent of the property and defer the last 20 per cent for ten years. This development also offers other one and two bedroom apartments, ranging from £123,750 to £152,150.

For further information, log on to Barratthomes.co.uk.