Housebuilder Berkeley Group has partnered with Own New’s Rate Reducer scheme, which offers new-build buyers access to lower-rate mortgages for a set period
The mortgage products, which Virgin Money and Halifax started offering earlier this month, will be offered across all Berkeley developments from 4 March.
The builder has sites across London, Birmingham and the South of England.
The Own New scheme offers reduced monthly mortgage payments over a fixed term.
As an example, buyers in Berkeley’s Kidbrooke Village could secure rates as low as 1.83 per cent for a mortgage at 75 per cent loan to value (LTV), equal to a payment of £1,022.
At 65 per cent LTV, the rate would be 0.99 per cent, coming to a monthly payment of £714.
Paul Vallone of the Berkeley Group said: “We are delighted to be joining the Own New Rate Reducer scheme to assist more people in finding a Berkeley home in London and beyond.
“Whether buying a first or next home, apartment or house, this product provides a fantastic opportunity for more people to get a foot on the property ladder and provide them with mortgage rates that have not been seen in the market for well over two years.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the launch of this new initiative, making it possible for a wider range of buyers to own a new-build home.’
Eliot Darcy, founder of Own New, added: “Own New is aimed at creating a fairer system of lending to make homeownership attainable to more people. It is based on the belief that you should be able to buy your first or next home without the need to spend years saving for a large deposit.”
Anna is currently the deputy editor for Mortgage Solutions and editor for Specialist Lending Solutions. She has worked as a journalist since 2019, having secured her Gold Standard NCTJ diploma from News Associates in a fast-track six-month course.
She started her career as a report at specialist publication The Insurance Insider covering a wide range of areas before joining Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions in 2021.
In her role, she helps put together and structure the news agenda for the day and writes up press releases, reports, interviews, analyses and exclusives across both titles. She also commissions blogs for Specialist Lending Solutions and hosts online masterclasses and in-person events across the business.
She has been shortlisted for three journalism awards, which include BIBA Journalist and Media Awards Scoop of Year Award in 2020, Headline Money Mortgage Journalist of the Year Award (B2B) in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to being a journalist, Anna worked in ecommerce across Snow + Rock, Cycle Surgery and Runners Need websites, and before that worked at specialist financial PR firm Rostrum.
In her spare time, Anna enjoys reading, seeing live music, and cooking for friends and family. When she gets a chance, she also enjoys hiking, skiing and indoor rock climbing.
