Buy south London apartments with just a 5% deposit
First-time buyers Lesley Brown and Leon Thomas discovered an easy way to step on the property ladder at Centrale, Taylor Wimpey’s popular development of apartments for sale in Hackbridge, South London.
As a young couple, Lesley Brown and Leon Thomas feared it would be years before they could take their first step onto the South London property ladder.
In the past, they had visited numerous developments of new homes for sale in South London, only to be priced out of the market by the need for a hefty deposit.
Fortunately, when Lesley and Leon found their dream home at Taylor Wimpey’s Centrale development of flats for sale in Hackbridge, they were able to secure it with just a 5% deposit thanks to the fantastic Government-backed FirstBuy scheme!
“It came as quite a shock to discover that we could finally afford our own apartment,” says Lesley (30), a primary school teacher, remembering how their search for flats for sale in South London led them to the Taylor Wimpey Hackbridge development.
“We were living together, spending about £750 a month on rent and thought we would never be able to raise enough money for a big deposit, so we took the decision to move back in with our parents.
“But when we heard about FirstBuy during our visit to Centrale, we knew our dreams of home ownership could soon become reality. I’d already saved enough for the 5% deposit needed under the scheme, so once everything was approved, we started the buying process immediately!”
Lesley and Leon bought their new home off-plan, and have enjoyed choosing exactly how they want their one-bedroom apartment to be finished.
“When we visited Centrale, the showhome looked very impressive and it helped us to visualise the design and layout of our apartment,” says Lesley.
“We’ve picked all of the flooring and how we want the kitchen to look; it’s been really great to have the chance to get our new home looking exactly how we want it and we can’t wait to move in!”
Under FirstBuy, selected new Taylor Wimpey homes at Centrale can be accessed by eligible first-time buyers for 80% of the full price, including a 75% mortgage and a 5% deposit, subject to status.
FirstBuy works thanks to a joint loan of 20% from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Taylor Wimpey, which is repayable once the 25-year mortgage term is complete or when the property is sold. To be eligible, first-time buyers must have total household earnings under £60,000.
Which means qualifying first-time buyers can secure a one-bedroom apartment, priced at £174,995, at Centrale with an 80% FirstBuy price of just £139,996 including a 5% deposit of only £8,750!
Stunning one-bedroom apartments at Centrale feature a contemporary open-plan kitchen/living area, plus a generously-sized master bedroom and a main bathroom, while outside the properties benefit from an attractive communal garden area.
A number of plots boast views to Beddington Park or attractive private terraces, while many two-bedroom designs include en-suite shower rooms to master bedrooms and are available from as little as £244,995.
All apartments enjoy access to a peaceful landscaped courtyard garden, which will provide the focal point for this landmark development, with seating areas and native trees and shrubs offering residents the perfect space for relaxation. Meanwhile, the building’s eco-credentials include solar panels and air-to-water heat pumps to selected properties.
Commuters will appreciate the well-connected location of the new homes. Hackbridge railway station, which lies in Zone 4, is less than 100 metres from the site and offers frequent services into London Victoria, Blackfriars and St Pancras International.
Meanwhile, local bus services operate along both London Road and Hackbridge Road, providing access to Croydon, Carshalton, Tooting and Wallington. The development is four miles from Morden Underground Station, with Northern Line services into London Bridge, Waterloo and Charing Cross, while the M25 and M23 motorways are 10 miles away, and Gatwick Airport is just 18 miles from home.
Centrale lies on the edge of the Hackbridge Project to create a thriving new town centre including 792 homes, a community centre, doctor’s surgery, offices, shops, a supermarket, care home, bus interchange and several cafes and restaurants.
An array of schools catering for all ages are within easy reach of Centrale, including Culvers House Primary School and Hackbridge Primary School, plus the well-regarded Wallington County Grammar, with sixth form, and Wallington High School for Girls – a high performing engineering and languages specialist school.
Hackbridge has a lovely selection of local shops, pubs and places to eat, while big-name stores can be found in Sutton – less than 10 minutes away by train – and Croydon’s bustling town centre. Two large retail parks are within easy driving distance of Centrale, including Purley Way, with its impressive Ikea store, plus Colliers Wood’s Tandem Centre, which boasts a Sainsbury’s Savacentre.
To find out more about FirstBuy at Centrale, first-time buyers should visit taylorwimpey.co.uk.
