Help to Buy Success Story: First-time Buyers in Hampshire

The Help to Buy scheme has enabled many first-time buyers to make dreams of homeownership a reality. This includes Ben (26) and Ayisha (28) Hosemann, who got more than they bargained for when they accompanied Ben’s mother on her house hunt to Hartland Village in Fleet, Hampshire.

As soon as the couple arrived, they decided to purchase a home of their own—a brand new, two-bedroom apartment secured as an off-plan development using Help to Buy.

We spoke to Ben, an accountant, and Ayisha, a cabin crew member for British Airways, as they reflected on their first-time home buyer experience. Be inspired by the couple’s Help to Buy success story and start your property search today.

When Did You Plan to Move Out?

“We were renting a one-bedroom apartment in Fleet in 2017, which cost us around £1,000 plus bills, before we moved into Ben’s nearby family home–a three-bedroom house–so we could save to buy our own home and pay for our wedding in 2018. 

When Ben’s family decided to move house in early 2019, it seemed like the right time to start looking at our own home buying options.”
- Ayisha Hosemann, Hartland Village resident

Did You Plan to Purchase Your Home Through Help to Buy?

When Ben and Ayisha embarked on their search for a new home, they thought that shared ownership would be their only realistic option for getting on the property ladder. This led them to look at a number of apartments available through the scheme.

Upon further research, the couple learned that Berkeley Group also offered its own selection of properties—including some eligible for Help to Buy.

“We’d ruled out somewhere like Hartland Village during our own property search as we didn’t realise the different ways to buy that are available. Although Ben’s Mum didn’t end up buying a home there, we were so impressed with the development–it just had a great feel and somehow we felt instantly at home. 

The community plans for Hartland Village, such as the new village centre, just cemented everything for us. We decided to reserve our home shortly after our first visit in 2019.”
- Ayisha Hosemann, Hartland Village resident

With Help to Buy, the government lends 20 percent of the cost of your newly built home. You pay a deposit of just five percent and arrange a mortgage to cover the remaining 75 percent. Over two years-and with a little help from family-Ben and Ayisha were able to save a deposit of £16,000 and buy their stylish two-bedroom apartment, priced at £320,000.

The couple moved in in June 2020.

What Was Your First-time Buyer Experience Like?

The couple moved into their new apartment in June 2020, after successfully navigating the obstacles proposed by COVID-19. They’ve been enjoying life at Hartland Village ever since and recall just how seamless the move was with the support of the Berkeley Group team.

“We got the keys to our apartment during lockdown and we were conscious the current situation could potentially make things difficult, but thanks to the efficiency of the St Edward team the process couldn’t have been smoother.”
- Ayisha Hosemann, Hartland Village resident

Are You Enjoying Your New Home at Hartland Village?

“We’re really happy with the layout of our new home; with the current situation Ben is still working from home but now has plenty of space to do so. The second bedroom is going to be a snug–a sofa bed is there for guests, but we can also make the most of the room as a second living and dressing space.

We love the Fleet area and Hartland Village is such a beautiful addition; driving over the entrance bridge across the lake gives us that ‘we’re home’ relaxed feeling. Living here feels like a dream. We’ve gone from living in a three-bedroom house of five people to having a home to call ours. For the first time since being married it’s just the two of us. We can’t wait for our future at Hartland Village.”
- Ayisha Hosemann, Hartland Village resident

“Our mortgage repayments are now just over £750 a month, so considerably less than when we were renting–not only is it bigger we actually own our own home.

We are so ideally placed for so much. My office is a four-minute drive away but I’m going to use my bike because it is so close! We are both active anyway and since gyms have been shut we’ve loved running around the development’s country park and strolling along Basingstoke Canal nearby. There’s so much green space to enjoy.

Saying that, it’s hard to believe how easy it is to reach London. We both like getting into the city now and then - the residents’ bus service at Hartland Village takes us to Farnborough station from which we can reach London Waterloo in around 40 minutes.”
- Ben Hosemann, Hartland Village resident

Find Your Perfect First-Time Home Near You

If you’re inspired by Ben and Ayisha’s Help to Buy success story, start your journey towards homeownership with Berkeley Group today.

From modern apartments to family-friendly houses, our selection of new build properties bring you beautiful spaces you can truly call home. Plus, with a focus on sustainability, our homes not only look good, but aim to do good for the future, too.

If you’re keen to become a homeowner, discover our ready-to-move-in developments or consider forthcoming properties if you need more time to prepare.

Got a question or want to know more information? View our contact page to send an enquiry to one of our respective brands.