Most people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, Halloween and Christmas but here at Sewell & Gardner we also celebrate ‘Shared Ownership Week’ and this year will be no different. Its main aim is to educate many first time buyers and families of the schemes benefits and how It could help you get onto the property ladder.
This year, Shared Ownership week will be running from Thursday 23rd – Wednesday 29th September with a different webinar live from the Shared Ownership Week website every day with all the information you need to know. Click here to learn more. However, to get you started please see below the answers to our most frequently asked questions:
What is Shared Ownership & am I eligible?
Shared Ownership gives first time buyers and those that do not currently own a home (or you’re in the process of selling your current home) the opportunity to purchase a share in a new build or resales property. The main points of the criteria are:
- Must be over the age of 18
- Outside of London your annual household income is less than £80,000. Inside London this is £90,000
- You must not own another property
- You should not be able to afford to buy a home on the open market
- You will need to prove you have a good credit history
How does it work?
Quite simply, with Shared Ownership you pay a mortgage on the share of the property that you own and pay rent to a housing association for the remaining share.
Will I ever own my home outright?
You can increase your share, a bit at a time, until you own the property outright. This process is known as ‘staircasing’ and can be done up to 100% ownership.
How much does Shared Ownership actually cost?
Shared ownership makes it easier for buyers to afford their home, as the amount of money required for a deposit is much lower than when you buy a property on the open market. In some cases, you can start with owning as little as a 25% share – and you only pay a deposit on your share which can be as low as 5%!
If you think this could be of interest to you, please get in touch with our New Homes team on 01923 606056 to find out what we have available. It has already helped thousands of first-time buyers and families onto the property ladder, could it help you?