Shared Ownership success: First home and first baby at Falcons Place
07 October 2024
Young couple George Musgrave and Courtney Walls, aged 29 and 26, recently purchased their first home using Shared Ownership at our Falcons Place Development. With the pair about to welcome their first child, they were thrilled that they secured the family home they had dreamed of.
In the story below, they reveal their motivations for opting to step onto the property ladder with Shared Ownership and share their experience of joining a friendly and ideally-located Community.
In this section:
- Discovering the right way to buy
- Achieving balance through Shared Ownership
- A well-designed home for modern living
- Location, location, location
- Support throughout the Shared Ownership process
- Unlocking future plans with Shared Ownership unlock
Discovering the right way to buy
George, a support specialist, and Courtney, who works as a carer, had mainly always lived locally in the Scunthorpe area, so it made sense for them to remain close to home when they began the search for their first property. When they discovered a spacious two-bedroom home at the development, complete with a garden and the option of Shared Ownership, they realised it met all their needs perfectly.
George explained: “I was saving money each month for a deposit and then I met Courtney who was doing the same thing, so it was simple to combine our resources, which was ideal. Initially, we were more drawn to the standard mortgage route. However, we were concerned about the rates at the time and wanted to make sure we had some money left over. We didn’t know much about the Shared Ownership scheme and I was sceptical at first, but once we had a conversation with Places for People they reassured us and we were confident that this was the right route for us.”
Achieving balance through Shared Ownership
All homes at Falcons Place are available to buy using Shared Ownership, and George and Courtney used this to take their first step onto the property ladder, purchasing a 51% share of their new home and putting down a £7,000 deposit.
George continues: “We were very impressed with the high-quality of the home, and we love the modern and flexible interior – there really wasn’t anything about Falcons Place that we didn’t like! Our goal was to cover the mortgage and rent each month while still having enough left over for groceries and personal activities. If we had gone down the traditional route, we would have struggled to achieve that balance. It transpired that Shared Ownership was invaluable to us.”
“Using Shared Ownership allowed us to have everything we wanted in our first home.”
Courtney says: “Buying our home through Shared Ownership was so simple and didn’t add any extra complications to the buying process. Using the scheme allowed us to have everything we wanted in our first home, without the need to compromise on any aspects, such as the size of the property or the location.”
A well-designed home for modern living
Falcons Place is an exciting, new development of two, three and four-bedroom Shared Ownership homes, situated south of the lively town of Scunthorpe. The homes all benefit from modern features, plenty of inside space and spacious gardens for families to enjoy. With efficient heating systems and energy-saving technology to reduce energy usage, the new homes also come with freshly laid turf to the front and rear, brand-new carpets, and vinyl flooring throughout.
George and Courtney’s home comprises two bedrooms and airy, bright living areas. George comments: “It feels so spacious in our home and is perfect for a young couple. We love the garden, which is large enough to host our family and friends for al fresco dining. The living room is my favourite space in the house, but Courtney has a passion for baking, so she absolutely loves spending time in the kitchen. We’ve also turned the front bedroom into an office since I work from home – it all works perfectly for us.”
Location, location, location
With lovely parks and nature reserves on the doorstep, residents of Falcons Place can enjoy time relaxing or getting active in serene green spaces. The location of Falcons Place is also highly convenient, with many amenities close by and sitting less than a 10-minute drive from the M180. Grimsby, Lincoln and Hull are all less than an hour’s drive and Leeds or Sheffield can be reached within 1 hour 30 minutes, meaning residents will benefit from all that these larger towns and cities have to offer.
George comments: “The development is in an ideal location, with accessible transport links. It is a 5-to-10-minute walk from local amenities like supermarkets and shops. This means we don’t have to get the car out - we can enjoy walking to the shops and staying active.”
Support throughout the Shared Ownership process
George and Courtney were daunted about buying their first home, but they found the purchase process with Places for People to be easy and they felt supported by the team.
Courtney says: “Places for People were so accommodating, with a team of approachable staff who had all the right answers to our pressing questions. The kindness we experienced from everyone was second to none.”
Unlocking future plans with Shared Ownership
Having a family was George and Courtney’s main consideration when purchasing this first home, and they are thrilled that they are now expecting their first child, a baby boy.
Courtney continues: “Now we’re living at Falcons Place, we feel grateful to be living within a family-friendly community and a safe and quiet neighbourhood to raise our son. The garden is fully fenced, providing a secure space for him to play outside as he grows. We can’t wait to make many memories in this home, and we’re excited to decorate the nursery space soon, too.”
George concludes: “Money plays a crucial role in allowing us to do the things we enjoy in life, and so finding the right financial plan has made all the difference. For us, Shared Ownership was the perfect solution then and continues to be ideal now. We genuinely believe that without this scheme, we wouldn't have been able to get on the property ladder and we're now strong advocates for Shared Ownership. While we're currently focused on enjoying our new home, we do plan to staircase in the future, taking those important steps towards full ownership for our growing family one day.”
We’re so pleased to hear George and Courtney’s success story and we’re proud to offer an option that helps make buying a home more accessible. Read more about Shared Ownership and see the properties currently available.