When 28-year-old Natalie decided to take the plunge and move out of the family home, she didn’t know a lot about shared ownership. But after researching her options, she soon discovered it made perfect financial sense.
She’s now the happy owner of a one-bedroom flat in Haywards Heath. “After deciding it was time to move out of the home I shared with my family in East Grinstead, I looked into how I could achieve getting my own place.
“As someone who is single, I couldn’t cover a mortgage solely on just my income, so I decided to look into other options.
“As I searched around, I considered Help to Buy, but the properties in my local area were really expensive and not terribly big. As soon as I looked into shared ownership, however, it became obvious this was the best solution for me.
As soon as I looked into shared ownership, it became obvious this was the best solution for me.
Natalie
shared owner
“When I saw my particular flat come up, it stood out as being very reasonable and one I could afford.
“After getting in touch with Lee, my Clarion sales advisor, I began the application process. It was really straightforward and once I had passed the online assessment, I went to view the property.
“I was expecting it to be tiny, judging by what I had seen available through the rental market or Help to Buy scheme, but was shocked by how big it was. I really liked it and soon after put down a £500 deposit to reserve.”
As a shared owner, Natalie owns 35% of her property with a mortgage of £70,000. Her total monthly payments are £700 for rent, mortgage and service charge.
“I’m very happy with my flat. The block I’m in is really open, spacious and has a big hallway. I’m also in a lovely rural location and look out on to fields.
“I would definitely recommend shared ownership and in fact have directed my friend, who is in a similar position to me, to the website.”