At Kingshill Grange in High Wycombe, the company is offering a variety of homes with a NewBuy home loan that requires just 5% as a deposit, which is welcome news for those who want to buy but are struggling to save for their first home, or who only have limited equity in their existing property.

Every home at Kingshill Grange comes with a great standard specification from Taylor Wimpey

A wide range of these new homes in Buckinghamshire are available with NewBuy. Because the scheme is open on new-build homes valued up to £500,000, these 95% mortgages are available on properties from one-bedroom apartments at £169,995 up to four-bedroom family homes, which are priced from £339,995. Whatever property type you are looking for, the standard specification is impressive, incorporating central heating, double glazing and a stylish fitted kitchen with appliances.

“Time and again our buyers tell us that it is mortgage availability, not mortgage affordability, which is preventing them from buying,” says Tim Betts, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey. “The NewBuy scheme will help both those looking to get on the property ladder and those who want to move but have limited equity in their existing home, and I’m delighted to announce that it’s now available with selected plots at our Kingshill Grange development of properties for sale in High Wycombe.”

High Wycombe is an ideal location for commuters and families. There area boasts a number of excellent, highly regarded schools for children of all ages, some great modern amenities and is situated in the scenic Chiltern Hills, a haven for cycling, hiking and horse riding. There are some exceptional transport links at hand, including regular rail services to Marylebone taking as little as 40 minutes, and major road connections via the M25, M40 and A404.

A visit to Kingshill Grange is recommended to see the development in person and discuss your options and the details of the NewBuy assistance scheme with the expert Taylor Wimpey team. The site is open seven days a week, from 10.30am to 5.30pm.

by Keith Osborne

Kittoch Court in East Kilbride is one development to benefit from the McCarthy & Stone summer offer

“We’re keen to reassure buyers that now is a good time to make their move, and our £20,000 discount on one-bedroom apartments will make that move much more affordable for a wide range of buyers,” explains Suzanne McElhiney, marketing manager with the UK’s leading retirement living provider. “A £20,000 discount could be the difference between making that move into retirement living or having to delay the decision. As always we aim to keep the actual process of buying and selling very easy, simple and un-stressful for customers – leaving them free to look forward to enjoying retirement life in their new apartment.”

In addition, for a limited period, new visitors who take a tour around the show apartments at any of the participating developments of new homes in Scotland will receive a £20 M&S voucher, subject to terms and conditions.

McCarthy & Stone have pioneered the retirement living concept, where developments offer a safe and secure environment that allow residents to lead an independent life and have the peace of mind that help is on hand when it is needed. Standard features include a 24-hour personal emergency service, TV security system on the main entrance, a house manager to take care of daily management of the development and communcal facilities such as laundry room, a central lounge and a hotel-style guest suite for visiting friends and family.

by What New Homes team

Among the house types to be released are two six-bedroom models: The ‘Pittock’, a 2,909-sq-ft property priced £1 million, and the ‘Gallier’, a 3,294-sq-ft house costing £1.15-million home. Both are set out over three storeys and come complete with integral double garage.

The 'Gallier' house offers six bedrooms and nearly 3,300 sq ft of accommodation at The Chase, priced at £1.15 million

Each of these properties is centred on a generous open-plan kitchen with island work units and dining/family area, a perfect space for informal meals and everyday living. With a separate utility room, granite work surfaces and an array of high-quality appliances, this room is set to impress housebuyers who see it. Upstairs, there is a living room and family bathroom on the first floor of each home, with the bedrooms spread over this and the second floor. The master bedroom has an en suite and dressing room, and two of the other five bedrooms also boast their own en suite facilities.

“We are delighted to be able to release for sale some of the best new homes in the best location of our Ickenham Park development, which is one of our best selling in the UK,” says Alison Deakin, sales and marketing director of CALA Homes (South).

Ickenham Park has a number of show homes open to suit all types of buyers, available to view seven days a week, 10.30am to 5.00pm. CALA Homes offers incentive packages which can be tailored to suit individual buyers’ needs. You can discuss your options with the sales and marketing team on 0845 463 0072.

In addition to an impressive range of schools for all ages and local amenities nearby, residents at The Chase are well connected to central London and many other destinations in the south east. The development is close to two tube stations, Ickenham on the Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines and West Ruislip on the Central Line, with National Rail services available on the Chiltern Line from Marylebone from the latter. The A40, M40 and M25 are all within a few minutes’ drive.

by Keith Osborne

The home comprises an entrance hall, cloakroom, fully fitted kitchen with utility room, dining room with feature bay window, and conservatory downstairs, while upstairs, the master bedroom has an en suite and fitted wardrobes and there are three more good-sized bedrooms along with a family bathroom. This show home is open to view from 11.00am to 5.00pm, seven days a week.

The 'Jarrow II' is now on sale at Windmill View, priced £229,995 from Ben Bailey Homes

“The development has proved to be extremely popular and home buyers will need to move quickly in order to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to own the outstanding ‘Jarrow II’ showhome,” Ben Bailey Homes’ sales manager, Wendie Wright. “I would encourage anyone looking to purchase a new home in the Epworth area to come down to the development and take a look at the show home, as well as the other three properties remaining for sale before they get snapped up. The lucky buyers of the ‘Jarrow II’ show home will just need to bring their toothbrushes!”

Ben Bailey Homes’ Spring Plus offer is valid on all houses for sale at Windmill View where completion takes place by 30th June 2012. This includes the company’s VIP moving package, covering all packing and removals costs on behalf of the buyer, and extras such as garden landscaping, garden furniture, a barbecue and a 42” television. Part exchange is another option.

Wendie adds: “All the remaining homes at Windmill View are available with Ben Bailey Homes’ Spring Plus initiative, which gives homebuyers an exclusive opportunity to purchase a stunning new home that comes complete with an unrivalled selection of highly impressive features at no extra cost.”

A sought-after location, Epworth is situated close to Scunthorpe and Doncaster. With the M180, M18, M62 and M1 all within easy reach, the village amkes an excellent base for anyone needing access to Grimsby, Hull and major commercial centres in Yorkshire.

by Keith Osborne

According to the Daily Mail, there were nearly 120,000 divorces in England and Wales in 2010 (the last year for which figures are available), up 5% on the previous year. In times when property prices were ever on the increase, couples usually used to split the proceeds from selling their home to finance separate new properties. However, the falls in prices over recent years have left many with little or no equity in their property, making it hard to sell the family home and even then, leaving little if any extra cash to use.

Stagnant property prices mean divorcing couples often have little equity with which to buy new homes after they split

“Splitting one household into two is becoming increasingly difficult. The capacity of newly divorced couples to get a new mortgage has gone down because there is less equity in properties and tougher lending conditions,” says Fiona Sharp, a chartered financial planner and specialist in divorce issues.

Today’s tough lending conditions mean that finding a new home can be tough if you’ve been through a divorce or separation. Mortgage lenders now typically want a large deposit, which can be hard to find if you’ve divided your assets with a former partner. If you have children, the situation can be more trying, as most lenders treat child maintenance payments as a ‘commitment’, meaning that they deduct these payments from your income before calculating how much they are prepared to lend.

If you receive maintenance payments, many lenders need to see a court order and a history of these payments before considering them as income. For example, NatWest requires evidence of six months of payments before it will treat maintenance as income.

“Many couples who are divorcing or separating are finding that they simply don’t have sufficient capital for their deposit or income to support a mortgage in their own right,” says Keith Osborne, editor of new homes portal whathouse.co.uk. “Until such a time as mortgage lenders relax their criteria or individuals can get back on their feet, more and more people coming out of a break-up are going to be forced into property to rent.”

by Nick Parkhouse

The 'Bramley' show home is available at Emett Gardens in Ditchling for £1.2 million, from Hillreed Homes

The five-bedroom ‘Bramley’ is a detached property with integral double garage and generous rear garden. It offers nearly 2,300 sq ft of accommodation set out over two floors. An underfloor system heats the ground floor, which comprises a large Mediterranean-styled tiled hallway, double-aspect living room with feature fireplace and French doors to the rear garden, study, formal dining room and a German-designed kitchen/breakfast room. This room combines practicality and understated style and comes complete with a great range of high-quality appliances and a separate utility room. In addition, at the rear of the house is a family room with further access to the garden, making it a great place to relax or entertain guests.

The first floor has five good-sized bedrooms and a generous, stylish family bathroom. The master bedroom suite boast plenty of space and built-in storage in addition to a superb en suite bathroom with large bath and separate shower cubicle. The second bedroom also has an en suite shower room.

Ditchling manages to combine traditional charm with good modern amenities and excellent transport links, making it one of the best addresses in which to find a property in the Mid-Sussex area. It is on the edge of the beautiful landscape of the South Downs, a haven for hikers and cyclists and is only a few miles from the south coast. Hassocks station, just a few minutes’ drive away, offers frequent services to London, Gatwick Airport and Brighton and the A23 and A27 provide convenient links towards London and along the coast.

Homeowners finding it difficult to sell their existing property, or who simply want to avoid the hassle and expense of dealing with estate agents and buyers, can take advantage of a part exchange option, available subject to Hillreed Homes’ usual terms and conditions.

by Keith Osborne

And for commuters, Bath Spa railway station offers regular connections to London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads, Cardiff Central, Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance, as well as Westbury, Warminster, Salisbury, Southampton, Portsmouth and Brighton. Popular rental areas in Bath include:

City centre (BA1) – vibrant and convenient

Royal Crescent, courtesy of Bath Tourism Plus/Colin Hawkins

Bath city centre is popular with students, younger tenants, and those who prefer an urban lifestyle at the heart of the action. The centre offers all the convenience of having shops, dental and doctors’ surgeries, parks, pubs and clubs all right on your doorstep, plus you’ll be surrounded by beautiful Georgian architecture – although be warned that you may get a little less for your rent in return for the privilege of city centre living.

Click here to view property to rent in Bath city centre

Lansdown (BA1) – sought-after and leafy

This leafy, desirable area of Bath is also one of the most expensive to live in, and that includes the rental properties that are available there. Extending uphill in a northerly direction from the city centre, many of Lansdown’s rentals tend to be large and detached, and would suit families and well-heeled professionals. Some Lansdown properties are within walking distance of the city centre, but for those situated in the further reaches of the suburb there are good bus links with the centre.

Click here to view property to rent in Lansdown

Widcombe (BA2) – friendly and attractive

With a community vibe and excellent local facilities and amenities, popular Widcombe will appeal to professionals, couples and families. It is a thriving local community situated on the south-eastern fringes of the city by the Kennet and Avon Canal, just a five-minute walk from the city centre. Widcombe offers a good choice of independent shops and eating places on Widcombe Parade, plus an art gallery, a GP surgery and dentist, plus lovely walks and pleasant scenery – with a choice of mainly terraced and semi-detached rental properties.

Click here to view property to rent in Widcombe

Weston (BA1) – lively and moderately priced

In the north-west of the city, Weston was originally a separate village but is now a popular, lively suburb of Bath offering a good variety of local shops and a supermarket. With two primary schools, Bath’s main hospital (the Royal United), and a wide range of amenities such as the recreation ground and youth club, Weston is popular with families, blending local authority and moderately priced private housing, and offering frequent bus services to central Bath.

Click here to view property to rent in Weston

Newbridge (BA1) – popular with students

Newbridge Road is a very popular rental area for students, with plenty of moderately-priced rental properties. With three primary schools and a secondary school, Newbridge is also a popular rental area for families. Much of the suburb’s activity is focused around Chelsea Road, which has a good mix of shops and eating places, plus frequent bus services to the city centre in just ten minutes – while alternatively residents can enjoy a 20-minute stroll through beautiful Royal Victoria Park to reach the heart of Bath.

Click here to view property to rent in Newbridge

Combe Down (BA2) – quiet and friendly

The residential village suburb of Combe Down is less than two miles south of Bath city centre, and is generally a friendly, quiet and pleasant area in which to set up home – perhaps with the exception of the busy (and rather noisy) North Road. The area is made up mainly of semi-detached and terraced housing, some occupied by students of the University of Bath. There’s a good range of local shops and pubs for residents, while Bath city centre is only a short cycle, bus or car ride away.

Click here to view property to rent in Combe Down

Oldfield Park (BA2) – diverse and reasonably priced

Home to a mix of young professionals, families, students and older people, Oldfield Park has an equally diverse range of housing, from flats to terraced and semi-detached houses. At the heart of the suburb, bustling Moorland Road is lined with shops, pubs, cafés, banks, a post office, take-aways, pharmacies, supermarkets and letting agents – pretty much everything you need for day-to-day living. The city centre is only about a mile and a half away, and there’s a local railway station offering a range of services to Bath Spa (two minutes), as well as to Gloucester via Bristol Temple Meads, and peak time trains to Cardiff Central.

Click here to view property to rent in Oldfield Park

by Rebecca Burns

The first completed street scene at St Nicholasgate already has a number of residents living in it

St Nicholasgate will comprise 130 new homes with two, three or four bedrooms, with a variety of property types that have already attracted a wide range of homebuyers in the area, including first-time purchasers and growing families. Prices on the current phase range from £149,950 to £249,950. There is a range of incentives on offer from Linden Homes at the development, including FirstBuy for cash-strapped first-time buyers and the Linden Assist scheme and a useful part exchange deal to help those moving to the development from an existing home.

“The development has created a real buzz about the town from its early days, and it continues to do so,” says Linden Homes’ connections and marketing manager Gizzy Murray. “The street scene is the latest in the development’s progress and we were delighted that the mayor was able to join us to see St Nicholasgate truly taking shape.”

These new homes are situated just minutes from Beverley’s historic town centre, with its collection of shops and amenities. The market town is only eight miles north of Hull and a good base from which to commute to commercial centres such as Grimsby or York or along the M62. Leisure options are plentiful and include the Yorkshire coastline, 12 miles away, and the North York Moors National Park.

Any prospective purchaser hoping to find a property to meet their requirements at St Nicholasgate is invited to visit the current show property and the sales and marketing suite at the development, both open daily from 10.30am to 5.00pm. Linden Homes is shortly to open a new show home at the development.

by Keith Osborne

Chaworth Gardens is ideal for first-time buyers and families, with a selection of two-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses about 10 miles from Nottingham in the village of Ravenshead, home to several shops and pubs, a leisure centre, and two excellent primary schools. Priced from £96,796 to £120,995, selected plots are currently available with the government-backed FirstBuy assistance scheme, which provides eligible buyers with an equity loan of up to 20% of the purchase price, reducing the size of the deposit and mortgage required.

There are 3- and 4-bed homes for sale just outside Mansfield at Ruffold Grange

Nearby in Rainworth, another village well equipped to cater for residents’ everyday needs, Rufford Grange comprises a mix of three- and four-bedroom homes priced from £114,396 to £187,995. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, Rufford Grange is close to good local amenities and well located for Mansfield, the M1, Sherwood Forest, the Peak District, and lovely Newstead Abbey.

Ten miles from Nottingham city centre is Mapperley and Lime Tree Gardens, a development of three- to five-bedroom family homes priced from £162,995 to £199,995. Among the incentive schemes available is a 48-hour Part Exchange deal to assist buyers who have an existing home to sell before they can move, and NewBuy, the 95% mortgage scheme, which enables first-time buyers and homeowners to secure a new home with a deposit of just 5%. Lime Tree Gardens has plenty to offer families, with local schools for all ages, good shopping and a range of amenities.

Closer to the city, in the semi-rural village suburb of Wilford, Ruddington Place comprises a selection of spacious, high-quality, three- to five-bedroom family homes in a tranquil setting near the River Trent. Wilford has a lively village atmosphere, and offers shops, pubs, nature reserves, sporting facilities, and schools for all ages, and it is also conveniently close to Nottingham city centre. Prices at Ruddington Place start at £284,995, rising to £349,995.

Taylor Wimpey has a few more Nottinghamshire new homes developments in the pipeline, among which are Kings Acre in Clipstone, a collection of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes, and Sapphire Court in Mansfield, with a range of three- and four-bedroom family homes.

by Rebecca Burns

Expat Chris, 48, an aeronautical engineer working for BAE Systems at an airforce base, has lived in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, for 14 years. His wife Natalya, is about to give birth to twins this month. He put down a deposit some two years ago, in March 2010, without even seeing the development.

He says: “I saw the apartments on Berkeley’s website and the following day I reserved one. I did come and view the development last summer and was particularly impressed with the kitchens and bathrooms and now I’ve been there, I’m even happier with my decision. Everything about Berkeley is prestigious and because I was looking for a property I could rent out, price and location were also crucial to make it worthwhile.

Chris Alton and his wife Natalya have now completed on their investment property at Caspian Wharf and have a tenant ready to move in.

“Because I live abroad, I needed to choose a home of a high standard, built by a developer I could trust. Buying an apartment at Caspian Wharf gives me peace of mind, because I know the quality will be second-to-none. I had no concerns about investing at Caspian Wharf because of the quality of my apartment, along with the Olympic-related regeneration of the local area. I own a number of investment properties all over the UK and knew straight away that Caspian Wharf would make a fantastic home for someone.”

Caspian Wharf is a landmark development comprising 552 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses together with commercial space and an on-site gym, set in landscaped grounds with direct canal frontage. Many of these new homes in London benefit from views of the new Olympic stadium in Stratford, Canary Wharf or the City of London. Prices in the current phases of Caspian Wharf start from £267,500 for a one-bedroom apartment which makes a perfect property to rent out.

The scheme’s architects have maximised the waterside views with glass-fronted balconies and extensive glazing and nearly every apartment boasts its own private balcony or terrace space as part of their stylish specification. There is also a communal terrace and landscaped gardens overlooking the Limehouse Cut – London’s oldest canal – for the use of all residents, who also benefit from an on-site 24-hour concierge service.

Secure underground parking ia available to selected apartments and there is cycle storage within the car park, so that residents can make the most of new pedestrian and cycle routes linking the development to the surrounding area. There are two DLR stations and two underground stations only a short distance from the development, bringing Stratford (for the Olympic Park and shopping at Westfield Stratford City), The City, Docklands and the West End all within easy reach. From Stratford International, residents can connect to High Speed and Eurostar services.

by Suzy Frost