Errol and Antonio are the proud owners of a brand new apartment at Greenwich Peninsula, purchased through shared ownership with Moat. Following years of renting privately, the couple decided that it was time to set down roots and find a place that they could really call home.
Time for change
Faced with yet another move at the end of a tenancy agreement, both Errol and Antonio agreed that they’d reached a point in their lives where owning their own home had to become a priority. However, they didn’t want to be pushed further out of London by property prices that were totally unaffordable.
When they realised that they were both ready to embark on their own home ownership journey, Errol and Antonio started to consider their options. They knew that a traditional purchase through the open market in London was out of the question, but when they heard about shared ownership there was a glimmer of hope. They found sharetobuy.com an online, one-stop-shop which led them to discover Moat and the affordable homes on the Greenwich Peninsula.
“We liked the look of the apartments on the website so we decided to visit the area, given that we’d always lived in South West London and didn’t know Greenwich at all,” Antonio recalls. “When we walked out of North Greenwich tube station, we were instantly delighted by the high-tech environment. Once we’d seen the homes and got a feel for the community, we got really caught up in our Peninsula Dream!”
Enhanced optimism
Totally smitten, Errol and Antonio made the decision to get the ball rolling. Errol remembers the shared ownership purchase process to be very straightforward: “Everything was clearly explained and broken down into palatable steps, so we knew where we were throughout the process. The team at Moat was always available and willing to offer guidance and our financial advisor was extremely professional and knowledgeable.”
They reserved from-plan at the end of October 2015 and just over six weeks later, in mid-December, Errol and Antonio completed their purchase, moving in just in time for their first Christmas as home owners. “We feel like a weight was lifted from our shoulders,” Antonio says. “Our quality of life has definitely improved and we are more relaxed and optimistic about the future.”
Moat’s homes in Greenwich have been thoughtfully designed, inside and out. They come with balconies and a great specification, with features such as a video entry system and Zanussi appliances included in the price. The Peninsula itself is vibrant, active and welcoming, with plenty of great transport links into the City, event venues such as the O2, bars and restaurants. But it isn’t all hustle and bustle; Greenwich Peninsula also has plenty of protected, green spaces to escape into at times when city life gets a little too hectic.
“Our new home is amazing and we absolutely love it; we love being ‘Peninsula People’. We love the neighbourhood, our new neighbours everything!” Errol enthuses. “It’s everything we could have ever wanted and more.”