"Being in a shared ownership property has given us the step on to the ladder that we needed"
Two years on since buying her first home with her partner, Jasmine caught up with us to give an update on her shared ownership journey. Now part of the Sovereign Living team working as a Sales Consultant, Jasmine has had first-hand experience from both sides of the shared ownership application process.
Hi Jasmine, can you give us a quick summary of your experience with shared ownership?
My experience with shared ownership was initially as being a buyer on market. I live in Newbury and as most people in the area know, house prices here are high. My partner and I were looking to move out and it was the option of either private renting or trying to get on the property ladder with shared ownership. Shared ownership is something that I’ve been looking into since I left school, so I understood how the process worked and I love the opportunity it gives to people where it’s more difficult to get your foot on the ladder!
You started your new role as a Sales Consultant fairly recently, what is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is being able to give people the opportunity to buy the home they want, in the area they want to live in. I predominately look after sales in Oxfordshire, which is a very expensive area. Shared ownership is often the only way for young people, or those who are looking to move back to a high-priced area to purchase their own home. This is one of the main reasons that I became a Sales Consultant at Sovereign Living. I had a passion, I believe in the product and it’s something I feel excited to sell!
Do you have any stand out stories from customers you’ve sold homes to?
I recently worked with a lady who was looking to move back to Marlborough in Wiltshire – it was where she grew up and her family lived there. She looked into all the different schemes available and because of shared ownership, she was finally able to move back to be close to her family which she was extremely excited about!
It’s these stories that make our jobs so rewarding - shared ownership offers our customers the chance to buy a share of their dream home and pay rent on the rest, meaning that it’s a much more affordable way to get on the property ladder.
Would you recommend shared ownership?
I’d definitely recommend shared ownership. I have quite a few friends and family members that have purchased on my recommendation because property prices are so high where we live. They’ve seen the process that we’ve gone through over the last two and a half years, they think our home is beautiful and love the idea of still being able to own their own home!