Crest Nicholson : First time buyers snap up their dream home at Chantry Green, Harrietsham

First time buyers James and Ellie, aged 29 and 28, have purchased their first home at Crest Nicholson's Chantry Green in Harrietsham, Kent. The couple, who have been renting for the last couple of years, purchased the three-bedroom detached house for £350,000 using the Help to Buy scheme.

This government-backed initiative was a huge help for James and Ellie, enabling them to secure their new house with a deposit of £17,000. The pair had been saving for a home of their own for a couple of years whilst living in rented accommodation, but knew the time was right to buy this summer.

After viewing lots of houses in the area and struggling to find their perfect first home, close friends recommended they looked at developments by Crest Nicholson after recently purchasing a property themselves at Crest Nicholson's Finberry in Ashford.

The couple were immediately struck by the excellent design of the collection of homes. 'Chantry Green offers a real Kentish village feel,' James notes. 'We loved the exterior of the house, it really fits into the traditional style of homes in the local area.'

The interior of the home was another huge selling point for the pair, as James adds: 'the open-plan living area is ideal and gives us space to grow into, we can picture our future family living here and spending time together.'

For James and Ellie, location was also key, and as Ellie grew up in Harrietsham, they knew the area was well-suited to meet all their needs. James works for a civil engineering company in Maidstone, so his commute to work is very straightforward, whilst Ellie works in the nearby village of Bearstead. 'Harrietsham has a charm about it,' James says. 'It also offers great transport links, I can reach Maidstone and Canterbury easily, as well as London on the train.'

In addition, the area offers fantastic schooling, including Harrietsham Primary School where Ellie was once a pupil. 'We're hoping to start a family soon, so having good schools on our doorstep was another important factor for us', James adds. The area is also home to a wealth of cultural activities, including attractions like Leeds Castle, which boasts stunning grounds where the couple regularly enjoy long, leisurely walks.

The Sales Team at Crest Nicholson was there to guide the couple through every step of the way, with James praising its experience. He says: 'The Sales Team has been so helpful throughout the entire process. Being first time buyers, we've naturally had a lot of questions, and the team has been brilliant at dealing with all our queries.'