Southampton Homebuy Show
The local area’s only HomeBuy Show is back in Southampton on Thursday 29th October at St Mary's football stadium from 3-7pm. Also know as Shared Ownership or part buy/part rent, HomeBuy is the most cost-effective way for first time buyers to get onto the property ladder. Offering the opportunity to register and benefit from free expert advice, the previous Southampton event, in March, was successfully attended by well over 250 applicants in the four hours.
Swaythling Housing Society, part of Radian, is the government-appointed agent for all applicants who are interested in renting or buying a property through one of the various HomeBuy schemes. As the agent for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Swaythling hold regular HomeBuy Shows across the county to allow new and existing applicants to find out all the information they need about the schemes available, entirely free of charge.
The HomeBuy Show at St. Mary’s Stadium will reveal which affordable houses are currently available in Hampshire for sale and for rent. Exhibitors already confirmed include leading housing associations, developers, independent financial advisers, as well as solicitors who will all be on hand to provide visitors with all the information needed to get on the housing ladder. There will also be information available on applications for HomeBuy Direct, the new shared equity scheme.
The HomeBuy schemes are available to all first time buyers, those with Keyworker status, as well as those who may have gone through a relationship breakdown but do not have enough equity or income to buy by themselves, with a household income of between £18,000 - £60,000, and cannot afford to get on the property ladder without financial help. Via the New Build HomeBuy scheme, applicants can often purchase from as little as 25% share in a home, which for a 2 bedroom apartment in Southampton, could be from just £33,000.
Stephanie Richards, a history teacher at a local Secondary School, was in a similar housing situation to many other young people. Still living with her parents, Stephanie wanted to have her own home but didn’t see privately renting as an option, and couldn’t afford to buy anything outright on her own. When she had almost given up hope, she saw an advert for HomeBuy.
“I was registered on the Homes in Hants website for just 2 months when I was sent information on a brand new development in Hedge End, called Oak Tree Place, which Swaythling Housing Society were selling to Keyworkers. I spoke to their Independent Financial Advisor who specialised in Shared Ownership schemes and mortgages. I made an appointment, which was all free of charge, and she came to my house to go through an assessment to see what I could afford. There was very little paperwork and she found me a great deal on my mortgage.”
Stephanie chose a 2 bedroom house and purchased a 25% share for just £38,750. With large, bright and airy bedrooms, a fully fitted kitchen complete with appliances, Stephanie was particularly impressed by the quality of the finish on the new build.
“I now pay under £500 per month, including my mortgage and rent on the remaining share, to own my own 2 bedroom house. And because the house is a new build, the bills are really low because its so energy efficient. I could never have dreamed this was possible, I would thoroughly recommend the HomeBuy Schemes, for Keyworkers and any first time buyers”.
For more information on the HomeBuy Show, or any of the current initiatives please call Swaythling’s specialist team on 023 8062 8004.
