James and Gemma's homeownership story!
Gemma and James relocated to Cumbria from Northamptonshire in 2021, seeking a better work/life balance. After the move the couple welcomed their two children and decided after renting for seven years, they were finally ready to have a place to call their own and take their first step onto the property market.
Buyer: Gemma and James, both 28
Occupations: Kitchen Designer and Early Years Teacher
Year of completion: June 2024
House type: 3-bedroom, semi-detached Tyrone
Purchase price: £159,995
Mortgage cost: £745
Development: Barley Meadows, Cumbria
We spoke to Gemma to learn more about their decision to buy their first home with Gleeson:
"After relocating to Cumbria and renting for seven years, we were ready to invest in ourselves, so started the search for our first home. Over the years we found our monthly rent cost between £600 – £800, so we were ready to put that money towards a mortgage instead!
“When we moved in, our daughter was only 10 weeks old, and our son was two and a half, so being able to show them what we have achieved and putting them first has been important for us.
“We considered whether to buy a new build home or a second-hand renovation project, but with two young children, we wanted the peace of mind that comes with a new build. We didn’t have the time to invest in a renovation project at this stage of our lives.
“We chose the 3-bedroom Tyrone because we loved the downstairs layout. It’s perfect for our children to play in, and the L-shaped kitchen is ideal for cooking family meals together. Our house also features a beautiful garden, which the kids will enjoy playing in, making it perfect for family living. The overall deciding factor for choosing the Barley Meadows development was the safe environment and outdoor space for our children.
“We experienced such a smooth and easy process of buying our home, we felt no pressure from the sales team and they were always available to answer any questions we had!
“Our son has a rare skin condition which means we have to travel to London a lot, and we have a newborn daughter, so our savings have dwindled a lot over the last two years, thus being able to make use of the 5% deposit contribution from Gleeson has helped us a lot and enabled us to buy sooner rather than later.
“We are already so much happier, and can’t wait to create many incredible memories here."
Inspired by James and Gemma’s story? With over 80 developments located across the North and the Midlands and prices starting from £102,995 start your search today,click here!
