A family-of-four have taken full advantage of the Help to Buy scheme and the Stamp Duty holiday to secure their dream home in Weston-super-Mare.

Canny buyers Mike and Aimee Walsh knew they had to act fast to be able to afford their brand new Persimmon home at The Beeches, part of the huge Haywood Village project. That’s because Help to Buy changes in April this year and will only be available to first time buyers. The Stamp Duty holiday, brought in to stimulate the market as a result of Coronavirus, is also due to come to an end.

Mike, 28, said: “We were living in a two-bedroom house in Weston. We have two young boys aged four and two, so we had outgrown that and needed the extra space. The thought of moving was a little daunting but we knew we had to take the plunge before the changes to Help to Buy, and before the Stamp Duty holiday ended. Help to Buy made the home affordable for us, it’s as simple as that. Without it we wouldn’t have been able to get this home. The Stamp Duty holiday was also a massive bonus. The money saved there will be going towards getting our garden professionally landscaped. This will be the heart of our home in the warmer months.”

Mike said the development’s central position in Weston was a huge draw, with a primary school and shop a stone’s throw away, as well as easy access to the M5 for work. Mike and 26-year-old dance enthusiast Aimee bought a three-bedroom detached Hatfield style property.“We’ve settled in very well,” said Mike, a keen home chef. “All of our new furniture is arriving bit by bit and the house is taking shape. We barely notice the construction ongoing at the site and we have felt at home from day one. We currently have the boys sharing a room, leaving a spare room as a playroom. This home offers us the chance to watch them grow, eventually being able to have their own personal space. There is a good entertaining space which is something we’ve never had before. We look forward to making the most of that with friends and family when Covid permits.” Mike said there were some obstacles with the sale of the family’s existing house. “That was a bit stressful but we felt well supported by Persimmon,” he said. “We’ve been very happy with the whole process.”

Help to Buy remains available to first time buyers. Visit The Beeches for more information.