First-time buyer swaps the capital for well-connected Ebbsfleet in Kent
After spending her whole life in Abbey Wood in South East London, 33-year-old Geraldine Ojo knew she wanted to consider other options and explore different areas for her first home.
Despite being open to new locations, Geraldine was keen to buy somewhere within easy reach of her office based in Moorgate, so good transport links to central London were a key consideration.
She discovered Ashmere, a new development within Ebbsfleet Garden City, created by Countryside and Latimer by Clarion Housing Group, very unexpectedly. “I have a friend that lives in the area. I visited her one day and on my way back home I spotted Ashmere. It suddenly clicked it would be a great place to live,” she said, explaining her instant attraction to the development.
Geraldine spent some time researching Ashmere and the local area that night. She was pleased to discover just how well connected it was, being a short distance away from Ebbsfleet International station, with train journeys into St Pancras International taking just 17 minutes. She immediately booked a visit to the open day to learn more about the options on offer and get advice on getting on the property ladder.
After speaking to the Countryside sales team, she felt reassured that Ashmere would be the perfect choice for her. “It was the one and only viewing I went to, and I just felt so lucky I had happened to spot the development that one evening”, said Geraldine.
Geraldine was aware she would need the assistance of the Help to Buy scheme and was thrilled to realise it was available at Ashmere. She described the whole buying process as completely seamless: “Countryside made things so easy for me. They were a great help, very informative and able to accommodate my needs.”
She decided on a two-bedroom apartment and is currently counting down the days to final completion in July 2022. “I am going to decorate the home to completely my own liking. I already know what theme I want. When visiting the show apartment, it had a lot of neutrals and whites, which is how I picture the interiors of my own apartment”, said Geraldine.
For the past year and a half, Geraldine has been working from home, and she hopes to return to her office in the city soon. “When the time comes to return to the office, getting to work a few days a week won’t be an issue for me thanks to the great transport links surrounding the development.”
She is now counting down the days until she moves into her first home in July 2022. “From my previous visits, I have found the location to be great – it has such a nice community feel.”
“I’m really looking forward to being able to just pop down the road to the Bluewater Shopping Centre, and the fact I have two friends living so close by is just so exciting to me. I can’t wait to be a part of the community at Ashmere,” she added.
Upon completion, Ashmere will comprise 2,600 homes, of which 25% will be affordable, as well as a range of community amenities, including a new primary school and a village centre, due to be fully complete in 2033.
For more information, visit www.countrysideproperties.com, email [email protected] or call 01987 591626.
