In 2020, following years of renting, Rob felt it was time to look into purchasing his ‘forever home’ which meant it was time to weigh up his options on where he wanted settle, leading him to begin his search. “Devon will always hold a special place in my heart – being surrounded by countryside and nature is just second to none. It was a tough decision to make, but when the pandemic hit, I realised the importance of being close to my loved ones and in the end, it was my roots that drew me back to the east” explained Rob.

In the midst of his home-hunting journey, Rob initially made an offer on a home which soon revealed itself as a doer-upper project, and it then became clear that the renovation project required just too much extra time and investment in the long term, so a new build became a search priority.

“The convenience and cost effectiveness of a new build quickly became a no brainer, particularly with the high costs of all renovation works these days. It was a chance encounter with Hillbury Fields during an impromptu trip to visit to my dad who lives nearby, and suddenly I’d found the best of both worlds. It’s the perfect mix of rural charm and modern comfort that I’d been craving since my time in Devon.”

It became clear that remaining nearby to close ones whilst not compromising on local area, was a no-brainer. He booked a visit to a number of homes at Hillbury Fields, and finally decided on a bright and spacious two-bedroom house, with a garden and ample parking space – ticking off the remainder of his priorities.

Easing his move even further, Rob benefitted from the new Stamp Duty Paid initiative, designed to alleviate one of the biggest upfront financial hurdles that often gets in the way of moving plans. “Discovering the Stamp Duty Paid initiative was the icing on the cake and was such a bonus for me as nothing of the sort existed when I bought my first home many years ago. Fernham Homes went above and beyond to make it happen, which saved me a pretty penny and allowed me to make some interior tweaks to personalise my new home even more.”

“Now that I’m settled in, I couldn’t be happier, nor could I imagine living anywhere else. Location for me is key, I spend my spare time exploring the local area and hitting the golf course – every day is a new adventure and I’m so glad I didn’t rush into buying elsewhere, as this is truly where I belong!”

Prices at Hillbury Fields start from £365,000 for a two-bedroom home. For more information and availability, visit Hillbury Fields.