Banish the housing blues

Contrary to media headlines, now could be the best time to buy a brand new home - with interest rates falling, UK employment at record high levels and the housing market still strongly under-pinned by supply and demand economics. That's the view of Andrew Frankish, managing director of Rotherham-based financial advisers Mortgage Talk, who are available to provide mortgage advice to customers at Redrow's Danum St Giles development in Scawthorpe, Doncaster.

He adds: "The perception currently for many people is that they won't be able to get a mortgage so they shouldn't bother trying, but this is not necessarily the case. Yes, it may be a little more difficult than previously but there are mortgage lenders who want to lend and we can help people find the product that's right for them."

New homes like those at Danum St Giles have the edge over their older second hand counterparts in the current climate, not least because of the flexible choice of incentives that Redrow has to offer.

Sue Lambert, sales director for Redrow Homes (Yorkshire), says: "The lack of 100% mortgage products gives us an advantage over most private sellers, as we may be able to pay a customer's 5% deposit.

"It's just one of the offerings in our ‘re:assure' package of help, advice and incentives, which are designed to make buying a new home as easy as possible for all of our customers - from the moment of first enquiry right through to after they've moved in.

"Other options include helping with people's mortgage repayments for up to two years, covering other moving costs like stamp duty and legal fees, or, for those with an existing home to sell, an assisted move scheme or even part-exchange."

Danum St Giles is a sought-after development of houses and apartments situated off Amersall Road in Scawthorpe, just three miles from Doncaster city centre.

Currently there are one and two-bedroom apartments from only £99,999 and three and four-bedroom houses from £142,999 to £231,995. They include a selection of town houses which offer flexible living space arranged over three floors.

There's good access to motorway networks and public transport, with Bentley railway station less than half a mile away and offering regular services run to Doncaster (five minutes), Leeds (45 minutes) and Sheffield (45 minutes). Each new Redrow household at Danum St Giles receives an annual public transport pass for the first year.

There are good schools and a range of local amenities close to the development, while Doncaster city centre has a wealth of shops, bars and restaurants.

For more information about new homes at Danum St Giles, log on to Redrow.co.uk.