TWO young couples who rented next door to each other have by chance reserved two plots next to each other on a new housing estate at Warrington.
School teachers Francesca and Mike, both 32, were living in a rental property for 12 months, and had become good friends with their next-door neighbours Will, 28, and Sarah, 27.
Having already registered their interest for Countryside’s new Rivers Edge development in Warrington, Mike and Francesca reserved their new home as soon as properties hit the market and shared the good news with Will and Sarah next door.
Will and Sarah went to Rivers Edge for themselves and decided to snap up a new home only to discover that it was the plot next door!
Francesca said: “As soon as we found out Countryside was building new homes in Warrington, we registered our interest. We love the location and proximity to the water. It’s so close to the town centre, but it still feels rural being surrounded by trees.”
Will added: “We bumped into Francesca and Mike on our drive after they’d been to reserve their home and they told us all about the development. We decided to view the showhome and were really impressed with the quality and features, so we were sold. We couldn’t believe it when we came home and realised we’d bought the house next door to Francesca and Mike!
“It’s been great to go through the process at the same time as one another, especially being first-time buyers. We’ve been able to give each other a helping hand, as well as sharing and recommending suppliers.”
With a survey of first-time buyers showing 81 per cent are finding it hard to put money aside for a deposit in light of rising costs, the couples adopted strict budgeting habits to reduce outgoings and maximise savings as well as looking for alternative streams of income.
Will said: “Instead of looking at ways to tighten our belt, we looked at ways we could earn extra cash. We were definitely surprised with how much more you can bring in by doing extra work on the side. Lockdown changed our spending habits as we were used to staying at home, so when restrictions ended, we kept up these habits and this really helped us save.”
Francesca added: “We started by looking at any outgoings that were potentially unnecessary, prioritising what’s important and what is a luxury. My advice for anyone saving would be to start by setting aside the maximum amount each week that is comfortable and not put too much pressure on yourself – these things take time.”
Ian Hilliker, managing director, Merseyside and Cheshire West, Countryside, said: “We’re extremely proud to have been part of the journey for both couples, and very happy that they’ve been able to do this together. Buying your first home is such an important chapter and it’s great that they’ve been able to lean on each other throughout the process.”
For more information on new homes at Countryside’s Rivers Edge visit: https://www.countrysidepartnerships.com/all-developments/cheshire/rivers-edge
