A couple from Warrington managed to find their dream home in Ancoats after moving to Manchester to start a family.
With the imminent arrival of their son Oscar, Cathy, 30, and Dean, 34, were desperate to find a home that was family-friendly, all whilst being in close proximity of the city centre due to their work commitments.
Having sold their home in the Cheshire town they soon stumbled across a new-build property in the trendy Ancoats neighbourhood which met all their requirements. Cathy and Dean shared their story as part of our Where I Live series, where each week we hear from a different homeowner about their buying journey; whilst taking a look at their home.
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Before finding out she was pregnant, Cathy and Dean spent a year looking for a new family home in Manchester.
The initially lived in a small city centre apartment but after learning of Cathy's pregnancy, they ramped up their search as they knew their apartment would not suffice.
The couple started looking at second-hand homes in Chorlton and Didsbury, but found that these houses would require a lot of time and money spent to improve them.
"After discovering I was pregnant, we knew we needed to upgrade our living space," said Cathy, who works as a solicitor in Stockport.
"We wanted to find a family home that had a garden and secure parking, all whilst being just a short distance away from the city locations that we love.
"We wanted the liveliness and convenience of a city centre home which didn’t compromise on space and remained close to our family in Warrington."
The pair eventually came across a brand new four-bed townhouse in the happening Ancoats neighbourhood which was part of the stylish Gateway development.
Sitting on the edge of the lively area, the homes boast modern interior design and include a garden, off-street parking and some have an outdoor terrace.
Cathy and Dean viewed the show home in April 2022 and after being impressed, reserved a home the following month.
"During the buying process, we toured similar plots on a different development and decided on the home that we wanted," said Dean, who works as a project manager in Manchester city centre.
"With a new baby, a new build meant we could avoid the initial hassle of doing DIY or paying for significant updates and fixes, but we could still make it our own.
"We loved the style and space of the interior and garden, the commutability into Manchester city centre and amenities within walking distance."
Their spacious end-terrace is spread across three floors and came complete with an open-plan kitchen dining room and a living room with French doors leading out to the garden.
Upstairs there are three large bedrooms, a family bathroom and the grand, master bedroom on the top floor which boasts an en-suite and dressing room.
"We have plenty of space to grow as a family. With a newborn, the master bedroom really appealed to us as there was space for a cot and a baby changing area in the room while retaining our dressing room space," Cathy said.
“We were able to customise the bathroom and kitchen as well as upgrading elements such as the washing machine."
The developer supported the family with a contribution toward stamp duty costs, which enabled Cathy and Dean to buy the property within their budget which was not possible with the second-hand properties they originally viewed.
"Once we moved in, Lovell continued to be incredibly supportive and helped fix the small snags that come with moving into a brand new home," said Cathy.
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Now settled into their new home as a family of three, Dean is able to walk to work and Cathy intends to catch the train from Manchester Piccadilly when she returns from maternity leave, meaning that the family can save costs by only needing one car.
They say that they have the best of both worlds of city and suburb, with close access to a GP and nursery as well as plenty of bars, restaurants and green spaces on their doorstep.
“We really love our new home and are very happy with our property search and purchasing experience. We can now live relatively easily balancing our first child with work commitments, and we’re excited to start bringing more of our personality into the home’s design," said Cathy.
“The Gateway is truly a unique development that we would recommend to any family looking for a new-build close to Manchester city centre - we have not found another development like it.”
Want to feature your home in our Where I Live series? If so, please email your details to phoebe.jobling@reachplc.com.
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