Russ McEwan was embarking on a new chapter of life, downsizing from his home in Staplehurst and keen to stay in the picturesque corner of Kent he’d come to know and love. But, when the time came, it didn’t seem as straightforward as hoped: the area’s wide appeal meant homes came with a premium, while the choice of the type he was after felt underwhelming.

Like many people in a similar position, he began to think renting might be his only option.

Until he discovered the Discount Market Sale (DMS) scheme at Fernham Homes Sutton Valence. “I hadn’t heard of DMS before and it’s very rare in Kent,” said Russ, “but it was a gamechanger for my move. And it was surprisingly straight forward – I’d recommend it to anyone.”

The scheme enables buyers to secure a selection of new homes at a discount of up to 20% below the market value. It is open to anyone living, working or with close family within Kent that doesn’t have an existing property at the time of purchase and cannot afford to buy a suitable home on the open market.

While providing a more affordable route to outright ownership, its carefully tailored criteria ensures it remains exclusive to local people that need an extra helping hand to put down roots in their community.

Through the DMS scheme, Russ was able to successfully downsize to a two-bedroom maisonette less than five miles away, in a village he was already familiar with from time spent living in nearby Maidstone.

It had long appealed to him because of its historic high street, traditional pubs and views across the Kent countryside, while still being within easy reach of surrounding towns. “It’s close enough to Maidstone and other nearby towns, but it still has that rural village feel,” he says.

His discovery of Fernham Homes Sutton Valence was a double bonus for Russ who was keen on a new build home. Having lived in newbuild previously, he was familiar with the benefits of the modern design, lower maintenance and running costs, plus the ease of a move-in ready condition.

“I’d seen Fernham Homes’ in the area before and remember being impressed with what I saw. The new collection at Sutton Valence offered the right balance of location and setting, being very similar to Staplehurst which is what I was after. I’d looked further afield but really wanted somewhere I had ties to – this was the right time, right place and, with DMS, the right price. It was an easy decision.”

With Headcorn station nearby providing links into London, along with local schools and amenities within the village itself, the move allowed Russ to remain connected to an area he already knew well.

Now settled into his new home, Russ has been able to stay local without the need to rent. What once felt like a limited set of options has become a genuine route back into homeownership.