An events manager is celebrating after winning a national competition to have her mortgage interest paid for two years.
Joanne Pinkstone, from Northampton, entered the Persimmon Homes competition when she reserved a new home at the developer’s Marina Gardens site in Duston – and couldn’t believe her ears when told her entry had been drawn out of the hat, scooping more than £7,000.
Joanne said: “I am still stunned by the news! Winning has been a bit surreal. It was one of those things where you enter a competition and then forget all about it because you never think it could be you.
“When you have just bought a new home, that amount of money makes a massive difference.”
However Joanne, 41, is not intending to spend, spend, spend her surprising £7,300 windfall.
“I am being sensible and have put the cheque in the bank for now. I didn’t have it before so it is a lovely bonus. I’m thinking of it as a financial cushion.”
People buying a new Persimmon Homes property before Christmas 2014 were invited to enter the competition, with the winner receiving a cheque to pay the interest on their mortgage for 24 months.
Richard Oldroyd, managing director of Persimmon Homes Midlands, said: “This competition was a huge success with customers, attracting hundreds of entries across the UK.
“We were absolutely thrilled that someone from our region was drawn – although we think Joanne is already a winner because the Marina Gardens development where she bought her home is incredibly popular with purchasers and a really lovely place to live.”
Joanne, originally from Weston-Super-Mare, moved to Northamptonshire to work in motorsport and is now events manager at Rugby School.
She added: “Previously I was renting in Northampton, but I knew I wanted to buy my own house and that a new build would be hassle-free, with no work needing to be done to it.
“Marina Gardens ticked all the boxes for me. I moved in on December 23rd and everything went very smoothly. I’m really pleased with the location and I love my new home.”
For more information visit www.persimmonhomes.com