Thinking of buying a property - SmartShare has thousands of properties to buy or rent across the UK
Affordable homes for everyone
Thinking of buying a property - SmartShare has thousands of properties to buy or rent across the UK
Grand Union Place in Tower Hamlets has been transformed from Stepney Gas Works into a rejuvenated affordable, thriving and diverse community. The canal-side development provides 524 homes of different types and tenures supporting households of different sizes, ages and incomes. Properties range from one bedroom flats to six bedroom houses and are dispersed throughout the complex in a mixed array so that there is a blend of social rented accommodation, and homes that are fully or part-owned (part buy part rent scheme) with the different tenures indistinguishable.
The innovative twist is that the 42 flats at Brimmond View, Stoneywood are the first housing association homes to be built in Scotland without any government funding.
The development has been funded through a £3.6 million loan from The Royal Bank of Scotland and the remainder of the £5 million will be paid for by the ‘part rent part buy’ scheme. Affordable homeowners can expect to pay monthly payments between £450 and £480.
Alex Neil, Housing and Communities Minister, said: “I am delighted with the progress made by Grampian Housing Association. This development is great news for the local economy and for local families who wish to stay and work in the area.”
Notting Hill Home Ownership is preparing to launch a further five developments and 209 homes in the next five months and will also be available to view via the SmartShare website.
Since the recession began the housing association, who was the first to introduce shared ownership, has seen an 80% increase in the number of viewings and reservations at its housing schemes and is expecting the new developments to be just as successful.
Until a couple of years ago shared ownership was restricted to key workers, low income, first time buyers and social tenants. Many housing associations have now widened their criteria and schemes are available to many people who want to get on the housing ladder at an affordable price, avoid the rental market or simply find themselves looking to shared ownership to solve their housing needs.
The government’s target of providing 2800 new affordable homes in rural England in the 2008/2009 financial year has been missed by almost 14%, with only 2415 units completed - yet the council waiting lists for rural housing has seen an increase of 11% in a year to 475,000.
New research by the government’s Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) published this week revealed that property prices in rural areas have dropped by 7.6% in a year, compared with a 15.6% fall in towns and cities - this may seem good news for those looking to move to the countryside with a healthy deposit. However this news does not detract from the problem that the average rural house prices at £187,600 (approaching eight times the average income) is out of reach for many workers who already live and work within these areas.
Whilst many people dream of green countrywide, fresh air and a better way of life - the rural housing crisis is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
There are only two brand new 'part buy part rent' family homes left available at the Bridgefield development in Ashford, Kent.
The open day is on Tuesday 24th November between 12pm and 4pm where you can view the beautiful four bedrooms homes. The properties were developed by Persimmon Homes and a 25% share is available from as little as £47,500.
Peter and Debbie Turnball bought 60% of a £260,000 five bedroom house last month and is more than big enough for their growing family.
Peter says; “We knew that our old house wouldn’t be big enough for much longer. When we decided to look in the Ashford area, we never dreamed we could find and afford a five bedroom house. Now we have a spacious new house, in an area where our son can go for a bike ride round the neighbourhood, safely - something he could never have done at our old place! We’re really pleased and very excited about welcoming the new arrival to our home.”
SmartShare has created a very useful tool named the 'shared ownership calculator' which can be found on every 'buy' property.
Click on any property details and you will find the 'calculator' icon available to use.