If you’re someone who has ever considered buying a home in the bustling capital, or elsewhere in the UK, you’ll know that it can feel like a daunting – and sometimes impossible – task, but it shouldn’t.
Affordable buying schemes, like Shared Ownership, give first-time buyers a chance to make their first moves toward owning a home. Others include Discounted Market Sale – a scheme where new-build properties are sold to eligible buyers at a discount. But with so many routes to explore, it’s hard to know where to start.
One of the best ways of exploring your options is by booking a free ticket to the London Home Show on 18th April. The property exhibition is a one-stop shop when it comes to learning everything you need to know about affordable homeownership.
Taking place in the QEII Centre, Westminster, the Share to Buy Live event will showcase new developments and a range of buying options, so you can discover the best fit for you.
Attendees will get a taste of what it’s like to take that first step on the property ladder, with people sharing real-life stories from people who have just been through the process.
You’ll also have access to housing providers, mortgage brokers and legal experts at every corner, guiding you through every step of the buying process. Here’s a small sample of what you can expect to learn…
Reece finds ideal first home close to family with modern design
Reece purchased a 25 per cent share of a studio apartment at Rockcliffe Square, just five minutes from his family home, allowing him to stay close to the place he’s always called home while stepping onto the property ladder for the first time.
‘It genuinely ticked every box,’ he says. ‘The location, the price, the fact it was a new build – I didn’t feel the need to keep looking. Everything just fell into place.’
What sealed the deal was the quality and design of the homes. ‘Being a new build was really important to me,’ Reece explains. ‘Everything is fresh, modern and brand new – the integrated appliances, the kitchen, the bathroom.’
Shared Ownership helped Dean cut costs while stepping onto the property ladder
Dean’s journey to homeownership led him to Square Roots Lewisham, where he discovered the benefits of Shared Ownership.
By purchasing a 25 per cent share of his two-bedroom apartment with a 5 per cent deposit, Dean has reduced his monthly outgoings to approximately £2,250, which is significantly less than his previous rent.
‘I’m probably down to about £2,250 now from around £3,500-£4,000,’ quotes Dean. ‘And I now own something as well. Okay, it’s only a share, but that doesn’t bother me.
‘I think the days of having a mortgage and owning a property outright in 25 years have changed. The dynamic has changed, and it’s more affordable to own a higher-value property for less money.’
Moving back with dad helped Austin save for a deposit to secure his first property
Like many Londoners, 26-year-old Austin, an analyst at a media agency, had been looking to get on the property ladder but found saving for a deposit in the capital impossible.
Previously renting in Clapham, he moved back to his family home in Ealing to reduce outgoings and save money.
‘When I was in Clapham, I was stuck paying sky-high rents and couldn’t put any money aside, so I moved back in with my dad to build up savings. He’s where I get a lot of my advice from.
‘He agreed Shared Ownership with NHG Homes was a wise investment decision and gifted me the deposit, allowing me to make that first step onto the property ladder.’
Shared Ownership helped Osman secure a central London home and a balanced lifestyle
After years of renting and navigating lengthy commutes, Osman’s move into homeownership marks a notable shift towards a more balanced London life.
Through Peabody New Homes, he secured a one-bedroom apartment at City Angel in Islington, allowing him to buy into a central location that once felt out of reach. Purchasing a 30 per cent share, Osman describes the pride of paying his own mortgage and the confidence that comes with planning to increase his stake over time.
Osman said: ‘Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine owning such an incredible property in such a perfect location – but here I am.’
His story reflects how Shared Ownership can unlock both aspiration and affordability in the heart of the capital.
Shared Ownership helped Osman secure a central London home and a balanced lifestyle
At Beaufort Park, you don’t need to sacrifice lifestyle to afford London – Shared Ownership makes homeownership achievable.
Beaufort Park is a well-established North West London neighbourhood, offering modern homes within a vibrant, ready-made community.
With on-site amenities, green spaces and fast connections into central London, it’s designed for people who want convenience, lifestyle and value in one place – and Shared Ownership starts from £100,625 for a 25 per cent share.
Affordable London living with a thriving community, amenities and connections
Like many first-time buyers, nurse Vanessa assumed buying a home in the capital would be out of reach.
‘I’d always thought about having a place of my own one day, but with London being so expensive and deposits being so high, I honestly thought it would never happen, or that I’d have to move out of the city to buy’, explains Vanessa.
At Woodside Park N12, the joy of homeownership feels genuinely within reach. These energy‑efficient homes are available at a 20% discount to the local market, with prices starting from £299,999, opening the door for first‑time buyers who want to stay in Finchley.
A new home led Domnita to love, community and connection in Southall
Although she moved in single, Domnita found far more than a new home at SNG’s development, Evolution. She says: ‘A year after moving into my apartment, I met my now husband outside the building. I had never seen him before, but it turned out he was my neighbour.
‘We wouldn’t have even met if I hadn’t bought my home at Evolution, it was definitely fate for us to meet here!’ The newlyweds now live together in Domnita’s apartment, after her husband, Behjet, sold his apartment in the same building.
The couple love living in Southall, particularly the area’s incredible connectivity.
Babajide decided to start planning for the future by investing in a home in Wembley
‘This home is exactly what I was looking for at this stage of my life,’ says Babajide. ‘I’m 30, single, living and working in London. And now I’m on the property ladder.
‘When I look to the future, I can see myself settling down, starting a family, and upsizing to a bigger home when I’m ready. But none of that would be possible without this first step onto the property ladder.’
Located in Wembley, SO Resi Wembley Park is a new collection of 79 one, two and three-bedroom homes set across two landmark new buildings, with each apartment offering a private balcony.
Shared Ownership means lower deposits, making London homeownership more achievable
When asked about how Shared Ownership compares to private renting and open market sale, Nick Lieb, the COO from Share to Buy, says: ‘It reduces the amount of deposit that you need.
‘You all live in London, I’m presuming, and it’s an expensive place to rent, so you could probably afford the monthly cost of living in a Shared Ownership property or even an outright sale property.
‘What might be the struggle for some of you in the room is saving for a deposit, and that’s where Shared Ownership comes in, really to help reduce the amount that’s needed for the deposit.’