Shared Ownership Case Study

Lynn Forrest: Ratcliffe Park

I grew up in Prescot but have spent most of my adult life moving around the country with my career in hospitality. I've owned flats, houses and even a canal boat which I lived on for five years!

In 2012, I made the decision to come back home to the North West. My husband had passed away and my grown up daughter had made her own life in Cornwall. My parents, brother and sister were still living around the Prescot area and I felt the time had come to put down some stable roots near to my family.

Unfortunately, the proceeds from selling my boat were lower than I'd anticipated and, while I was keen to buy my own place, I worried that my nest egg was too small to make this a reality. I had enough in the bank to pay the deposit on a flat but couldn't get a mortgage as I don't work for health reasons.

I was flicking through the local papers when I spotted Ratcliffe Park and it appealed to me straight away. I'd never heard of shared ownership before but the more I read the more I felt that it was the perfect option for me.

When I visited Ratcliffe Park with my parents we were all bowled over by the quality of the homes. I was gobsmacked when I first saw the inside of my flat and simply couldn't believe what I could get for my money. I made an offer straight away.

It's a few months later now and I'm enjoying settling in to my new home. At the moment I own 50% but I'm keen to look into increasing my share over the next few years. That flexibility is a big plus of shared ownership.

There's no one type of person suited to shared ownership and I've met families, grandparents and young couples all living in this type of property on my estate because it suits their budget and lifestyle. To anyone who's not sure about shared ownership, I'd say go for it! What Helena have created at Ratcliffe Park is truly amazing and there's no way of telling a shared ownership property from a social rent or private owner. My new home is the perfect fit for me - and my dog Archie seems quite keen too!