Making buying affordable

We have responded to the difficulties people have had in buying homes for several years now, either through actively engaging in Government schemes or through our own initiatives such as EasyBuy. We also ensure independent financial advisors are available to all our customers to ensure they understand whether they can afford the purchase.

Offering Government schemes

Since November 2006, in partnership with The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA, formerly English Partnerships), we have helped 182 first time buyers to move into new homes, with funding for a further 78, through the First Time Buyer Initiative (FTBI).

To give prospective first time buyers every opportunity to own their own home we actively promoted two further Government backed, low cost home ownership schemes during 2008.

Administered through a number of local housing associations, MyChoiceHomebuy provided equity loan to buyers of between 15% and 50% of the purchase price of a new home. Similarly OwnHome provided an equity loan of between 20-40% of the purchase price.

In 2009/2010 we are actively working in partnership with the Homes & Communities Agency so that we can deliver homes as part of their £400 million Homebuy Direct scheme.

Our EasyBuy scheme

Crest Nicholson's EasyBuy is a scheme where buyers can own 100% of their own home for just 75% of the price. This is not a shared ownership scheme, the balance is funded by a loan from Crest Nicholson, secured against the property. Buyers have to repay the balance when the home is sold or within ten years, whichever comes sooner.

EasyBuy has helped first time buyers Mike and Stephanie Brownlee move into their first home at Maple Tye in Stowmarket. Stephanie, a law student, and Mike, who is in the army, could not have afforded the apartment without the scheme.

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