As a GP working in Lymington and living in Southampton, first time buyer, Andy Hodgson, was primarily focusing his property search closer to work. However, driving past the Lyndhurst Park development site every day on his commute soon caught his attention, after almost a year of searching for his perfect home.
"I work in Lymington, so I was driving through Lyndhurst and past the site every day. I saw the information on the hoarding around the site as it was coming up and was quite excited at the prospect of a new build home in the New Forest." Andy explains.
After getting in touch, he discovered that Lyndhurst Park offered properties through the First Homes scheme, making homeownership more accessible as a first-time buyer and opening up possibilities he hadn't previously considered.
The location proved to be perfect for Andy's lifestyle and work requirements. Having grown up in a military family and moved around frequently, he appreciated finding somewhere that offered the best of both worlds.
"I've always been more of a city type person rather than living the country life. Lyndhurst is not a big town, but the fact it's close to shops, pubs, restaurants was brilliant and also having the forest right on the doorstep! The location is ideal."
Andy had some familiarity with Lyndhurst before moving, having visited the local area and having positive feedback from family members. "I had been into Lyndhurst and visited a couple of the local pubs and restaurants. My parents and other family members also had really positive things to say about the area."
The apartment itself exceeded all of Andy's expectations, particularly given that this was the only new build property he viewed during his search.
"What we've got is an open-plan kitchen, living room area. I was originally looking for something that had a separate kitchen, but it wasn't a massive, crucial item for me and it turns out that this layout works perfectly for my needs. Actually, I've found it all really suits my lifestyle. I've settled in well with my neighbours and am very happy with it."
When asked about his favourite feature of the home, Andy highlights the quality throughout. "I think the main thing is the overall feel of quality to it. But the thing I do like best, and the thing many of my visitors comment on, is the shower!"
The transition from renting to owning has been extremely positive for Andy. "It's nice to have that feeling of being a bit more secure and independent. As long as I keep paying the mortgage, no one is going to decide if they're selling this place or need me out because they want to do something else with it."
Living at Lyndhurst Park has given Andy the perfect balance he was looking for. "I'm still close to Southampton - it's only a few minutes' drive away - but we've got the forest on the doorstep and nice amenities and shops and places to eat and drink right here in Lyndhurst that I can just walk to in a minute or so."
For Andy, Lyndhurst Park has provided exactly what he was looking for in his first home - quality, location, and value. "My experience has been really positive. Everyone I've been involved with has been very pleasant to deal with."