After looking for a second-hand property in the Reading area, James Naughton found Bewley Homes’ Equestrian Walk in Arborfield and fell in love with a coach house.
The 25-year-old IT consultant moved into his new two-bedroom home earlier this year having paid £328,000 and took advantage of Help to Buy and low mortgage rates.
A delighted James said: “I am so glad I opted for a new build which requires no work and has been beautifully finished and decorated.
“I love the fact all the living area is on one level. I am really impressed with the spacious open plan living area and kitchen/dining area. The two bedrooms are equally large and the en-suite has a great rainfall shower, plus I have built-in mirrored wardrobes and loads of storage.
James added: “Sarah from the Bewley sales office, was really helpful when it came to the specification and choice of Silestone kitchen worktops and dark grey modern kitchen units and all my integrated appliances came as standard. I also have the benefit of a garage and separate external storage cupboard.”
During the course of James’s search last year, he saw the mortgage lenders withdrawing quite a few products and interest rates kept changing. Initially, he had considered new build two bedroom terraced houses and also second-hand smaller properties.
James added: “Originally I had secured a mortgage at 3.8% but then once I looked into new property I found that I met the lending criteria for a new build mortgage with a lower interest rate of 2% – that was quite a discount and I also took up the Help to Buy scheme and of course, benefitted from the Stamp Duty holiday.
“I know the area around Reading really well and liked Arborfield. The Padworth was the only coach house available when I viewed it. For me, it was a standout property – I particularly liked the unique design, the great contemporary interiors and the location as it’s positioned within a smaller collection of contemporary homes at Equestrian Walk,” explained James.
Equestrian Walk is built on the site of a 112-year-old garrison, originally a veterinary hospital for wounded horses in World War I, Equestrian Walk is named by Bewley to commemorate this service.
Located in Arborfield Green, it is Berkshire’s newest 21st Century ‘Garden Village’ community. The Equestrian Walk collection of contemporary two-bedroom apartments, two, three and four-bedroom houses are designed by Bewley Homes to provide residents with a perfect balance of town and country living. It is conveniently close to Shinfield, Wokingham and Reading with quick easy access to the M4.
For James, an ‘easy’ car journey into the office in Reading takes 18 minutes and he has a convenient ‘local route’, which enables him to avoid any traffic. He is just a short distance from his hairdresser girlfriend Steph 25, who lives in Yateley and whom he met at the start of lockdown last year. James’s mother lives nearby in Whitley so he doesn’t have far to go for a home-cooked Sunday roast!
James said: “Since meeting Steph, we’ve begun exploring the local area in Arborfield as there are some lovely walks and running trails around here. Obviously, during the lockdown period, it’s been difficult to try out the two local pubs, but hopefully, come the summer, we’ll be able to enjoy drinks outside my new local.”
Elaine Stratford, Sales and Marketing Director at Bewley Homes, said: “Equestrian Walk is the perfect location for first-time buyer young professionals, who like James, are fed up with renting. The recent news that the stamp duty holiday has been extended has prompted an increase of enquiries into our new apartments available at the development.”