An ambitious graduate has managed to take her first steps on to the property ladder at the tender age of twenty two with the help of Persimmon Homes and the Help to Buy Scotland scheme.
Emma McClintock, a team manager for the Scottish Government, challenged recent research claiming that those under the age of 30 are unlikely to become homeowners when she purchased a two-bedroom apartment at Persimmon’s stunning Woodilee Village development.
The twenty-two year old from Lenzie saved up a deposit of over £5,000 over the past five years by working part-time at her local Sainsbury’s whilst studying HR & Management at Strathclyde University.
“I’ve always been independent and owning a home of my own is something I’d been dreaming of for a while. Instead of living away for University I decided to stay with my parents in order to save up for a deposit so I could make my dream come true.” Said Emma.
“I was delighted to see Persimmon were building in my home town of Lenzie. As soon as I viewed the apartment at Woodilee Village, I knew it was the ideal home for me. “
Emma’s story refutes the findings of a recent study conducted by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) which reported that younger home buyers are being squeezed out of the property market.*
However, Emma has beaten the odds to get on the property ladder sooner than she had envisioned thanks to a combination of sheer dedication and the revolutionary Help to Buy Scotland scheme.
“I decided to use the Help to Buy scheme to make life that little bit easier for me. Although I already had a deposit saved, I didn’t want to feel the pinch with other costs like furnishings and bills.”
Scotland’s Help to Buy scheme, launched on September 30, 2013, allows buyers to purchase a new home worth up to £400,000 with a 75 per cent mortgage and five per cent deposit. An interest-free equity loan from the Scottish Government covers the balance.
Emma, who reserved her property in August and moved in just 3 months ago, said buying off-plan worked out to be the right approach for her. Not only did she get to choose the plot, kitchen and bathroom tiles, she was also able to save up enough money to furnish her home in plenty of time, a real advantage for first time buyers.
Ingrid Gahagan, sales manager at Persimmon Homes West Scotland, said: “We are delighted to see a steady increase in house buyers wanting to get ahead of the game and purchase their new home off-plan. With the market on the up, buying off plan is becoming more and more popular, and we strive to make the process as easy as possible for our customers.
“It has been exciting to watch Emma go through the process and purchase her first home with us. Persimmon Homes understand the challenges faced by first time buyers, and the significance of schemes like Help to Buy Scotland, which are essential in overcoming the hurdles that stand in the way when buying your first home.”
Woodilee Village brings a range of contemporary homes to a stunning village location. Located in the grounds of the former Woodilee Hospital, this development offers a wide selection of contemporary living styles, from stylish two-bedroom apartments to spacious three, four and five-bedroom family homes.
To find out more about Woodilee Village visit www.persimmonhomes.com
Prices start at £129,995**