At the age of 61, Nikki decided the time was right to downsize to a more manageable property. “I’d always thought about downsizing when the children moved out but never quite got round to looking into it properly. When I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, I knew I needed a home that was suitable for my needs.”
Having lived in a three-bedroom house for years, which was also purchased through shared ownership, Nikki knew that she wanted to purchase her new home by the same route again. She was able to use the money from selling her previous home to fund the 25% share in her new, one-bedroom apartment, paying an £85,000 deposit for the £330,000 property.
Finding the perfect place
After looking at another development not far away from Hove, Nikki couldn’t believe her luck when she found Lyon Quarter. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of urban living, but still only 15 minutes from the centre of Hove, she couldn’t believe how peaceful the development is.
“The other development was right in the middle of a busy, built-up area with lots of noise and people. Lyon Quarter is calm and because there is no through-road there’s minimal traffic – perfect for when my grandchildren visit.”
Taking the plunge
With the Lyon Quarter development in high demand. Nikki knew she had to take the plunge and purchase an apartment off-plan.
“I was initially nervous about reserving a property without viewing it, but the Guinness Homes team were fantastic every step of the way.”
Nikki was surprised at how quick and easy the buying process was with Guinness Homes. In fact, she only had to wait a few months for her apartment to be ready, reserving her apartment in June and moving in at the end of September.
Getting stuck into Lyon Quarter life
Stepping into her place for the first time, Nikki instantly felt at home. The apartment featured large windows which filled the space with natural light, and the high quality specification of the fixtures and fittings gave a modern, contemporary feel. “I was struck by how lovely the finishes were, the kitchen in particular felt premium, and the flooring is so comfortable. You can tell that everything was brand new and that they’d spent time and money getting the place to a high standard.”
Although a garden became unmanageable with her illness, having a private outside space that was easy to care for was very important to Nikki. Her new apartment came with its own balcony, with scenic views of the sea in one direction and the Downs from the other.
“My balcony is my favourite part of my new home. One wall of my bedroom has patio windows and doors, which lead out to this amazing view of the sea. It feels like I’m on holiday everyday – I can’t wait for summer.”
But the best part? “You really feel a sense of community here,” said Nikki, “Me and some of the other residents from my building organised Christmas drinks and it was a great opportunity to get to know each other. I can’t wait for more events in the future.”
Our Shared Ownership homes in Brighton and Hove offer a stylish selection of apartments.
