Paul and Rebecca taken their first step onto the property ladder in the town, after moving from their rented two bedroom apartment in Southmoor to purchase their first home together at Barratt Homes’ Brookside Meadows development in Grove.

After renting together for over a year – and separately for more than a decade – the couple, a Marketing Manager and a Recruiter, saved enough to upsize to a home that suited them both.

Paul said: “With renting, it felt challenging to save enough to find something that was right for us, but we finally have a place to call our own.

“We first started searching for a home in January 2024, but unfortunately had a house fall through which inspired us to look at brand new homes, after people we know told us about their quick moving experiences.”

Paul and Rebecca knew Wantage was the right location for them, being surrounded by friends and memories of the early stages of their relationship, it was just a case of finding a property that covered their checklist. 

The couple purchased a three bedroom Ellerton style home at the community, which lends itself brilliantly to first-time buyers. For Paul and Rebecca in particular, they now have a spacious kitchen to share the cooking and a home office for Rebecca.

Wantage boasts a prime location with convenient amenities close by, and Brookside Meadows is surrounded by 17 acres of open space and countryside walks, offering residents a desired semi-rural lifestyle.

After reflecting on their achievement of purchasing their first-home, Rebecca shared their experience: “We made sure to save something every month, no matter how small. Ultimately, it took a long time, but it turns out you can still enjoy a fancy coffee whilst saving!

“The buying process was a learning curve for us both, we wanted something modern and easy to buy, and after having a property fall through elsewhere, we found that a brand-new home ticked all our boxes in the end.

“We received excellent service from Barratt Homes, there was very little stress on us, and the team shared lots of advice as we’re new to being homeowners.

“Barratt Homes knew this was an important milestone in our lives and the sales and site teams made sure to make it as special as possible.”