Buyer gets in the saddle in Red Lodge

Award-winning Irish flat racing jockey Stephen Donohoe, 25, had been renting for three years before he discovered Martingales, part of the new Kings Warren development in Red Lodge, seven miles from Newmarket.

He purchased his new four-bedroom home off-plan at the popular development of stylish homes by David Wilson Eastern last August and his home was ready to move into in time for Christmas. He has enjoyed living in the thriving new community ever since.

“I visited lots of the new developments in the area but David Wilson really stood out for me as having the highest build quality of all the homes I looked at,” comments Stephen: “Some of the schemes I visited were cramped and claustrophobic, but Martingales has a very open feel, the houses are nicely placed and spread out and my house has a good sized garden and parking. Coming back to my new place is a real escape; the development is surrounded by countryside so the views from my house look out over green fields.”

From the outset, Stephen was keen to purchase a new build home rather than buy second hand. Firstly, he was amazed at the offers and range of benefits that new homebuilder David Wilson had to offer in comparison to the second hand market.

Stephen explains: “I really wanted the freedom and privacy of owning my own home after living under someone else’s roof for so long. I’m really glad I chose Martingales as the place to make my first buy. My house was fantastic value for money at £250,000 and David Wilson also paid five per cent towards my deposit which was too good to turn down.

He continues: “My mortgage repayments are even cheaper than the rent I was paying previously. I have got so much more for my money than I expected, I feel really lucky and can’t believe my house wasn’t snapped up earlier.”

Secondly, Stephen loved the fact that by buying new, there was no work to be done to his home, so he could just move in and relax.

“It was great to be able to move into a new home with a brand new kitchen and bathroom. As I bought off-plan I was able to choose my carpets, fixtures and fittings and have them all fitted before I moved in. Now I’m there I can add my own stamp and decorate it if and when I want to – something I couldn’t do when I was renting.”

As a freelance jockey, Stephen spends a lot of time in the historic racecourse town of Newmarket and Red Lodge is just seven miles from the town centre.

“It’s turned out to be a great place to live as it’s so convenient. I travel every day, racing at different courses up and down the country, so it’s fantastic to be so close to the A14 which connects me to the main motorways. I also do a lot of flying, so having Stansted Airport only 25 minutes away and Norwich Airport within an hour’s reach is a real bonus” said Stephen.

Martingales is a part of the thriving new community at Kings Warren in Red Lodge, which is growing all the time. Proposed new facilities for the development include shops, play areas, a doctors’ surgery, new school as well as sports and leisure facilities; a new sports pavilion is already set to open this summer. Newmarket has a good selection of local shops and the beautiful city of Cambridge is an easy half hour drive away via the A14, offering a great selection of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. For rail travel, Kennett station is just two miles from Martingales.

HomeBuy Direct is currently available on a selection of three and four-bedroom houses in the new phase at Martingales.

It is a fantastic new scheme supported by David Wilson Homes and the Government which enables buyers to move into a new home at Martingales, Red Lodge near Newmarket for just 70 per cent of the purchase price.

Homebuyers taking advantage of it can receive an equity loan of up to 30 per cent, funded jointly by David Wilson and the Government. The buyer then finances the remaining 70 per cent of the purchase price either through a mortgage, a deposit or a combination of the two.

There is no interest to pay on the joint Barratt/Government equity stake for the first five years, although a fee will be charged from year six onwards.

There are several three and four-bedroom house designs to choose from in the new phase with prices starting from £169,995, which means that purchasers could buy their own three-bedroom home for as little as £118,996 under the scheme.

Rebecca Littler, Sales Director of David Wilson Eastern, said: “Deals and assistance like HomeBuy Direct are not available when buying second-hand homes because the vast majority of individual vendors and their estate agents are just not in position to offer them. Very often, it is the help we can give with deposits or Stamp Duty, with discounts, part exchange and a whole raft of other benefits, which make the difference that enables people to buy.”

For more information visit the marketing suite open daily from 10 am to 6 pm or visit dwh.co.uk online.