After more than a decade together, Gail Scott and her partner Sam Barnett, now 36 and 35, have finally taken their first step onto the property ladder with the purchase of a home on the edge of the sought-after New Forest. Their milestone comes at a time when becoming a first-time buyer is increasingly challenging. New research from Skipton Group highlights a dramatic shift: just 6% of today’s first-time buyers are under 25, compared with 23% in the mid-1990s. The average age of a first-time buyer in England has now risen to 34, underscoring how much harder it has become for many to secure a place of their own.1
Against this backdrop, Gail and Sam are far from alone in purchasing their first home a little later than hoped; and their achievement feels even more significant. The couple have settled in Hawthorn Place, a new collection of homes from family-owned housebuilder, Pennyfarthing Homes in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. Years of careful saving led them to this moment, and the couple couldn’t be more excited to begin a new chapter in a place they instantly felt was meant for them.
This connection to their new home began years earlier, when they were regularly cat-sitting for friends who lived in the same house type, built by the same developer. Each stay confirmed how perfectly the layout, style, and feel matched everything they hoped for in their own future home. Therefore, when an off-plan plot of the very same design became available with Pennyfarthing, Gail and Sam didn’t hesitate.
Gail comments: “We always believed this house was meant for us. It just felt right! We’ve been together for 13 years and probably spent six or seven of those years saving. We couldn’t be happier to finally have the keys to our new home in our hands.”
Hawthorn Place is a new collection of homes from Pennyfarthing Homes and is part of the wider Forde Valley development in Fordingbridge. Located in the town which is known as ‘The Gateway to the New Forest’, these spacious and stylish homes are part of the Government’s First Homes scheme, supporting locally connected first-time buyers and key workers with a more affordable route to homeownership.
When the couple learned they qualified for the First Homes scheme, thanks to Gail’s local connection through her work as a dental receptionist in Fordingbridge, along with her and Sam’s status as first-time buyers, it became a major boost in helping them reach their goal.
Gail says: “When I first heard that further homes were going to be built at the development that I already loved, and that we were eligible for a discount through the First Homes scheme, I just kept ringing Pennyfarthing up asking when the applications would open! When they finally did, we applied straight away.
“There were times we thought buying a house might be too stressful or just too far out of reach. But somehow everything lined up for us this time.”
The Government-backed First Homes scheme is designed to support local first-time buyers and key workers by making homeownership more achievable in their local area, even in today’s competitive market. Offering properties at a significant discount, typically around 30% below market value, the scheme opens the door for buyers who may otherwise struggle to take their first step onto the property ladder.
Pennyfarthing Homes has embraced this initiative across a selection of high-quality, newly built developments in desirable, up-and-coming locations. For many customers, the scheme has been transformative, providing the opportunity to purchase a beautifully crafted new home without compromising on quality, style, or location.
After the process of purchasing their home was complete, Gail and Sam admit that it was an emotional moment.
Sam says: “We couldn’t believe it. Not only did we get the house we wanted, but we secured the exact plot we’d been hoping for too! It had been a long and challenging journey to save enough for a deposit. Over the years, we worked together and managed to put aside some funds while living with family; Gail lived with her parents in Downton, and I lived with my grandmother in Petersfield. To finally own our own home feels like such an achievement.
“We also benefited from Help to Buy ISAs we opened nearly a decade ago, and mortgage payments are often far less than many people’s rent. The best part is knowing that every payment is going towards something that’s truly ours.”
Gail adds: “The road to homeownership wasn’t always smooth. There were moments when we came close to finding a place, only for some hiccup to get in the way. But I honestly believe those setbacks led us to where we are now.
“Every time something delayed the process, our savings kept growing. Looking back, it feels like everything unfolded exactly as it needed to for us to end up in our dream home.”
The home’s location was another major draw. Hawthorn Place sits within easy reach for their commuting, and for access to the beautiful New Forest, something the couple, both keen walkers and explorers, are especially excited about.
Sam comments: “We just love getting outside and exploring. Being so close to the New Forest is amazing; there are so many places to walk and discover! There’s also a simple bus route straight to Bournemouth, which is great during the summer months.”
Fordingbridge is a vibrant market town with excellent transport connections, offering easy access to the coast and surrounding areas. Hawthorn Place’s prime location, just minutes from the town centre, gives buyers a great selection of local shops, leisure facilities, and well-regarded schools right on their doorstep. Its direct links to major roads also make travelling effortless, with the historic city of Salisbury just 25 minutes away by car and the seaside attractions of Bournemouth reachable in around 30 minutes.
Gail, who is also a social media influencer, has been documenting the experience of buying and decorating their first home online and sharing content about the new home with her followers. Authenticity is central to her content, something she believes resonates with audiences.
Gail says: “I only work with brands I really love. I’ve already shared quite a lot about Pennyfarthing Homes because we’re genuinely happy with the house and the experience.”
Gail and Sam admit that buying their first home at 36 might feel late compared with some of their peers. However, they’re quick to point out that everyone’s timeline is different, and these days, their age is far from unusual.
Gail concludes: “Sometimes we felt like we were the last ones to get there, but everyone’s story is different; and with the average age of the first-time buyers rising, we’re certainly not alone. I really believe that everything happens for a reason, and now we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Now we have got our own place, I don’t think we’ll want to go anywhere at weekends, we’ll just want to be here, living in and loving our new home!”
The First Homes Scheme is a government-backed initiative designed to help locally connected first-time buyers and key workers purchase homes by offering a 30% discount. For more details on the new homes available from Pennyfarthing Homes, please visit www.pennyfarthinghomes.co.uk/developments or call 01425 541818.
