As Northern Ireland’s Co-Ownership Housing Association approaches 40-years, the organisation has announced that a remarkable 27,000 homes have now been purchased through the Shared Ownership Scheme.
The news comes on the back of Shared Ownership Month which took place in September and follows recent annual report results which show that for the financial year 2016/17 first-time buyers made up 96% of Co-Ownership Housing home completions, a 2% increase on the previous year.
The landmark property, located in Rathfriland, was recently purchased by Lesa Maginn and Alan Gamble.
The young family attended a mortgage event in the town where they met with a Co-Ownership Housing advisor – the same advisor who guided the couple through the process from the initial open event through to final assessment and completion.
Annual report results show that, similar to Lesa and Alan, couples with children made up 26% of completions in 2016/17.
Commenting on the landmark purchase, Lesa said: “Like many others, getting a mortgage by ourselves wasn’t an option for us.
“But we were determined to take our first step on to the property ladder to becoming homeowners. The team at Co-Ownership were fantastic at every stage of the application process and have supported us to realise our hopes of owning our own home. “
Alan added: “The only thing we would do differently is apply sooner. The process is straight-forward, we were supported greatly at every stage and that continues long after you join the scheme too. “
Mark Graham, Chief Executive of Co-Ownership Housing, said: “Co-Ownership Housing provides a viable, affordable route to homeownership and as we celebrate our 27,000th household completion, we look forward to the future to support many more in realising their potential of stepping on the property ladder in Northern Ireland.”
