A single mum, who is also a keyworker, has moved into her perfect home at Barratt Homes’ development in Southport thanks to various homebuying initiatives.
Christine McLaren (31), is a single parent living with her three year old son, Oscar, and their pets, Elvis the dog and Wayne the cat, and has purchased a detached three bedroom Maidstone at Victoria Mews.
Christine, a Nurse Specialist native to Southport, said: “Oscar and I were previously living in a rented maisonette with Elvis and Wayne, and my family and I agreed that I needed a fresh start following a change in circumstances. Buying a house is never simple, but the Sales Advisers made it feel as though it was.
“They put me in touch with a mortgage adviser who was able to help me find one with competitive rates, and as a single parent at the time I never thought it would be possible to get a mortgage and buy a house.”
Fortunately, Christine was able to take benefit from multiple initiatives created to make buying a house easier than ever. She said: “I used the Help to Buy loan and savings, and was lucky enough to take advantage of the Stamp Duty holiday.
“I worked a lot of extra hours and received financial help from my family. But the combination of both Help to Buy and the Stamp Duty holiday made buying my house affordable on a single parent wage, and without them none of this would be possible.”
Christine partner Ryan McGuinness (31), a Personal Banker, has since moved into the house with her and Oscar. Claire continued: “A maisonette isn’t ideal when you have a toddler, they need space to run and I needed a bigger kitchen with a dishwasher. Once the house was ready to move in, Ryan moved in with us as he was previously living at his mum’s.
“We now have a garden for Oscar and Elvis to run around in whilst Wayne sunbathes in the middle, and the detached design meant that I didn’t have to worry if they were playing too loud. It’s the perfect size for all of us, and I’ve had nothing but compliments about the house from friends and family.”
Being a Nurse meant that Christine was very busy, and the possibility of DIY was low on her list of priorities. She said: “I have no DIY skills whatsoever, and I was way too busy with work to spend time renovating a property.
“The thought of having our new home ready to go with pristine toilets, and my highly requested dishwasher was ideal! It was fun and almost overwhelming to pick my own tiles, flooring, and kitchen, as choice is something I never thought I’d have after renting for 10 years.
“The security of having the site team around to help with any immediate issues during the initial few months was invaluable, and the added warranty made perfect sense to me as to why this home was the one.”
Not only was the design of Christine house important, but location also played a part in her choice. She continued: “I had to remain local due to restraints with childcare. But my work is close to the development, which meant an easy commute and I was still close to home should anything happen. I also want to enrol Oscar in a nearby school when he’s old enough.
“The area is quiet and beautiful, with plenty of places to take Oscar and Elvis to enjoy burning off some energy. We’ve recently had the opportunity to pick some blackberries on a walk only five minutes away from our home.
Now fully settled into their home, Christine is positive that Oscar loves it as much as she does. She said: “Oscar asks if we’re going to the new house, and when I say yes he almost squeals with excitement. Whenever we arrive home, he rings the doorbell and heads straight to the garden with Elvis, with Wayne watching them in the sunshine.”
Victoria Mews is located on Town Lane and has easy access to Liverpool City Centre. The development is a short drive from Southport Botanic Gardens, and Ainsdale beach is only five miles away.
The development has a number of three and four bedroom homes available, and buyers have to opportunity to take advantage of Part Exchange and Barratt Homes 5% deposit contribution for NHS staff and members of the Armed Forces.
Buyers should visit the Barratt Homes website to book an appointment to visit Victoria Mews, or contact the sales enquiry line on 0333 4553 073. For more information visit www.barratthomes.co.uk/victoriamews
For more information on the measures Barratt Homes have taken with social distancing along with an informational video, visit https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/the-buying-process/safety-and-social-distancing/