Jennifer teaches 11 to 18 year olds French and German in Hitchin and Stephen is a journalist for the Cambridge Evening News based in Royston. They had both heard about the scheme through a teaching publication, and a relative (a social worker) who had already purchased a home through New Build HomeBuy.

To purchase their beautiful new home Jennifer & Stephen applied to their local HomeBuy Agent “Lea Valley Homes” where they found the service ‘fantastic’ and ‘very quick’.

Lea Valley Homes requested that Jennifer & Stephen contact one of the panel of financial advisors - they choose “Best Advice”. Jennifer & Stephen stated that ‘”Best Advice” gave a very good and efficient service and visited us at our home’.

Jennifer & Stephen took out their 75% mortgage with the Yorkshire Building Society, and received a 12 ½% equity loan from Yorkshire Building Society and the governments 12 ½% equity loan through Lea Valley Homes. They did not need to put down any deposit, they only required access to £3,500 to cover the usual costs of purchasing.

Jennifer is originally from Ireland and came to England to study at Cambridge University and remained living in Cambridge where she met Stephen who originates from Yorkshire. Jennifer & Stephen lived in Cambridge and Jennifer commuted everyday to Hitchin for work.

Jennifer & Stephen love the situation and surrounding area of their new home which is just outside Baldock town centre, and very importantly, close to both their places of work. Their flat is spacious and light with a lovely outlook. Jennifer & Stephen are not the only ones with a lovely new home – they have also been able to give a home to a beautiful rescue cat called “Bonnie” from a local animal sanctuary. Bonnie has settled into her new home just as happily as Jennifer & Stephen!

Jennifer & Stephen plan to stay in their new home for around 5 years and they are getting married in August 2007.

Jennifer & Stephen stated ‘that without the help of the government scheme through “Lea Valley Homes” we would not have been able to afford a home of our own and we are genuinely grateful for this opportunity to take the first step on to the property ladder. We would recommend the HomeBuy scheme and advise anyone who is interested in the scheme to act quickly’.