This is the beginning of our story of getting our first home.

Helen 12/12/07

We’ve been living together for two years now in a rented flat in Shrewsbury. I’ve just been promoted at work and Gav’s working loads of overtime so we can save up. We look in the paper each week at the property section and have just watched as the prices go up and up. Not sure how we’ll ever be able to afford it.

Gavin 20/12/07

Been house hunting again. It’s getting more and more depressing – we know we won’t have a big deposit so we realise we’ll probably need to do bit of work but some of the “projects” we’ve seen defy belief!

Helen 25/12/07

Christmas in the flat – our second. The place looks very festive but we’d love it to be our own.

Helen 02/01/08

Now the festivities are over we’ve resolved to make this the year we buy our first home – not exactly sure how but met someone at the New Year party that mentioned something called shared ownership – will get Gav to research on the net.

Gavin 05/01/08

Could this be the way? Looks like you can just buy a proportion of a home and pay a rent on the rest. Mmm… sounds interesting - wonder if we’d get a mortgage in the current climate?

Helen and Gavin 20/01/08

Seems this shared ownership might enable us to get a brand new home – never thought we’d be doing that this year! There are quite a few flats and houses available at a number of locations. Off to see a few and see if there’s anything we like.

Gavin 01/02/08

Found a great three bedroomed house within a short bus ride of the hospital where Helen works – it’s nearly finished – due for completion at the end of the month.

Spoke to the advisor who said we are eligible for the shared ownership scheme because we’re local and Helen’s a key worker (I always thought she was a nurse).

Got an appointment with the financial advisor who does mortgages for shared ownership.

Helen and Gavin 05/02/08

Put in the offer today and it was accepted!!!!! Apparently we could be in by March.

Filled in a load of forms – needed a glass or two of wine after to celebrate!

Gavin 14/02/08

Got a mortgage offer today – now it’s all with our solicitor – time to start planning.

Helen 14/02/08

Gav reckons we need to keep the cash for furniture and a new TV – he’d better take me out tonight though!

Helen and Gavin 25/02/08

Signed the contract today – we’ll soon be the proud owners of half a house!!! Sorted out insurance for the house once we exchange the contracts and booked a van – Gav’s dad is helping to shift our stuff.

Helen 05/03/08

Well we moved in – brand new house on a great development – wouldn’t have believed you if you had told me this last December.

Now we’re looking forward to owning more – we can build up more equity when we’ve got spare funds - in our own time.

We’d recommend this to anyone in our situation