Putting the last bricks to Sportcity Living in East Manchester (27/06/2008)
Countryside Properties is embarking on the construction of the final phase of 60 houses and apartments, at its popular Sportcity Living development in East Manchester. The impressive Sportcity Living has a highly successful sales history, and this latest phase should be no exception with homes set to fly off the shelves.
The final phase at Sportcity Living will offer home buyers a choice of stylish one and two bedroom apartments, and two, three and four bedroom houses, 28 of which will be available on the acclaimed First Time Buyers Initiative.
Regional Sales Director, Martin Leggett commented: "Sportcity Living captured the attention of many in East Manchester and the sales achieved within the first releases were astounding, proving that the demand is still as strong as ever for quality homes in the area.
"At Countryside Properties we are really proud of how successful Sportcity has been so far. The last phase saw apartments available on the English Partnerships' First Time Buyer Initiative (FTBI) and now for the first time at Sportcity Living, houses will be available through the innovative FTBI."
FTBI sees first time buyers contribute a minimum of 50% towards the full purchase price of the new home through an affordable mortgage, with English Partnerships contributing the rest by way of direct payment to the developer. This option has proved an increasingly popular choice amongst first time buyers at Sportcity Living.
Each property has been designed to the highest standards in interior specification with contemporary finishes throughout. The homes will include well designed kitchens with high quality units and oven, hob and integrated fridge freezer and washing machine, with bathrooms featuring stylish white bathroom suite and ceramic tiled walls.
Two and three bedroom homes at Sportcity have now been released. Reservations have already been taken so interested parties are advised to pop along now to the Sales and Marketing suite at Sportcity Living, call 0161 231 6067 or visit www.sportcityliving.com to register their details.
Buyers can also apply online via www.plumlife.co.uk and can discuss their eligibility for the scheme by calling 0161 447 5050.
Countryside Properties breaks the barriers for first time buyers at Sportcity (11/03/2008)
With recent figures showing that the average house was out of the reach of a typical first-time buyer in 96% of UK towns*, Countryside Properties is releasing a selection of homes for sale at its popular Sportcity Living development in East Manchester specifically for first time buyers.
Countryside Properties first collaborated with English Partnerships to introduce the First Time Buyers Initiative (FTBI) to Sportcity Living in 2007 and it was so well received that a further 28 properties, including both apartments and houses, are now being offered to those who cannot otherwise afford to buy a new home.
FTBI enables first time buyers to contribute a minimum of 50% towards the full purchase price of a new home through an affordable mortgage, whilst English Partnerships contributes the rest by way of direct payment to the developer.
Richard Rawsthorne (21) and his girlfriend Jennifer Ryan (25) were amongst the first to benefit from FTBI at Sportcity. Unlike most of today’s first time buyers, who are more likely to enter the housing market in their 30s than their 20s, Richard and Jennifer have been able to buy their very own two bedroom apartment.
Richard comments: “I was living with my parents in Newton Heath when I heard about the first time buyers scheme at Sportcity. Jennifer and I had been talking about moving in together, but we assumed that we wouldn’t be able to afford a mortgage on a decent home and so hadn’t looked that seriously.
“When I found out about the scheme and realised that we could afford to buy a brand new apartment that was close to the city centre and to where we both work in Old Trafford, Jennifer and I went along to see if we could apply and have never looked back. We can’t believe that we’ve been able to buy such a spacious and modern apartment – the views from our balcony are amazing.”
Anna Tarnowski (23) is also the proud owner of a new apartment at Sportcity through FTBI. Like Richard and Jennifer, Anna thought it might be a while before she could afford to buy a new home.
Previously renting an apartment in East Manchester, Anna had thought about buying her own property, but dismissed the idea, thinking it would be too expensive. That was until she read about FTBI at Sportcity in a local newspaper.
Talking about how she overcame the obstacles facing her as a first time buyer, Anna says: “I thought it would be years before I could afford a home to truly call my own. When I moved out of my parent’s home, I decided that my only option was to rent for a while, as the properties that I had seen for sale were either priced out of my reach or were not of a comfortable standard.
“But then I read about the scheme for first time buyers at Sportcity and realised that there are ways for people like me to get on the property ladder. It is such a nice feeling to know that I am investing my money each month instead of watching it disappear in rent payments.”
Unlike existing shared ownership schemes, where buyers are required to buy part of a property and pay rent, there is no charge to pay on the assistance provided by English Partnerships for three years. After three years home-owners will pay fees on the amount contributed by English Partnerships, rising to a maximum of 3% after five years in the property.
Sportcity Living is one of the first new build schemes to deliver FTBI, part of the government’s wider HomeBuy scheme to help 120,000 house hunters into low-cost home ownership by 2010. The initiative is also offered on a range of one and two bedroom apartments at Countryside Properties’ flagship regeneration scheme, New Broughton in Salford.
