The equity loan represents the buyers deposit and can cover between 15% and 50% of the property. With current mortgage offers at a near stand still, this is one of the only ways that buyers with small deposits, as little as £3,500, can get on the property ladder. The scheme allowed first time buyers, Ben Smith and Kayleigh Warburton, to buy their first property at Higgins Homes’ development, Ice in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and without that loan, they would not have been able to get on the ladder.

Kayleigh, a 19 year old customer relations adviser, comments:  “Buying in this current market was a little bit scary, but Ben and I had been living with his parents to save up a deposit and we really wanted to move out and start our lives together. When we spoke to the financial advisors we realised that it was going to be a lot more expensive than we had anticipated and it was going be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for us to get a mortgage in the current climate. We then found out about the MyChoiceHomeBuy scheme and it is the only way we could have afforded to get on the ladder, let alone such a gorgeous home at Ice!

“We are absolutely thrilled with our property, it is much more spacious than the other newly built properties we saw and I love the location. Higgins Homes was absolutely great, everything went extremely smoothly and it was all explained very clearly. Our friends can’t believe that we own such a modern and spacious flat, I think they are definitely going to look into buying now!”

ICE comprises 238 contemporary one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses. The iconic sweeping architectural design dominates the urban landscape. It incorporates extensive glazing, staggered roofing and sleek curved finishes. Internally each apartment offers designer kitchens by Urban Myth, fitted with Smeg appliances, including a stainless steel electric oven, a ceramic hob, an integrated fridge/freezer and washer/dryer. Most apartments have either a balcony or patio and every apartment comes with a parking space in the underground car park.

ICE is located near the centre of Stevenage Old Town, which has a range of independent boutique shops, cafes and restaurants. Stevenage mainline railway station is under half a mile away from the development and from there, trains to St Pancras take just 30 minutes.

Prices at ICE start from £159,950 for a one bedroom penthouse apartment and £169,950 for a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with balcony. The sales and marketing suite and three show apartments are open daily between 10am and 5pm. For further information please contact the marketing suite on telephone: 01438 362 712 or visit the Higgins Homes website at: www.higginshomes.co.uk