Bucking House Buying Trends at 22

Posted on April 7, 2011 | News

As keys were handed over for his first home Brad Sharpe had plenty of reasons to celebrate.

The Ingleton health and safety assistant and coach driver has been saving hard for eight years and – at the age of 22 – clinched his dream of buying a place of his own.

Moving into a newly completed apartment in the village’s Old Laundry Mews development signalled a huge achievement for Brad.

Not only has he been working for this since he was 14, but has bucked national trends into the bargain.

While the average age of first-time buyers has stayed at around 31, those doing it without financial backing from relatives has risen from 33 to 37.

Brad, who had lived with his parents in High Bentham, started working for Ingleton coach operators Bibbys while still at school and has stayed with the company.

He explained: “I knew it was going to be hard for me getting on the property ladder because I m young and have no credit history. Thanks to years of saving, and help from my parents, I got the deposit together.

“I still can’t believe it. It’s so tough for people of my age and I’m incredibly lucky.”

Old Laundry Mews developers, award winning builders Russell Armer Homes, are creating five houses and 11 apartments on the historic site which a century ago was a flourishing steam laundry.

Managing director, Martyn Nicholson, said number 12 was the first to be handed over and was delighted Brad had been able to buy it. He said: “We are very conscious of the difficulties first time buyers face and are pleased that with prices from £129,950 at Old Laundry Mews we have been able to make these new homes affordable.”