Trick or Treat?

Whether you are holding your first party in your new home or having a spooky family get together, Halloween is the perfect time of year to whip up a few treats in your kitchen.

Believed to have originated from Celtic harvest festivals and on the eve of All Hallows Day, Halloween has become ever more popular over recent years. To help you pull off a frighteningly good night, we’ve found some ghoulish recipes that will have everyone howling with delight…

Little ones will love these Frankenstein cupcakes or, if you’re looking for something a little less time consuming, try these giant black widow spiders. Alternatively, keep things healthy and make fruit more exciting with this monster fruit bowl.

Savoury treats can also get the Halloween treatment, with these delicious Sausage mummy dippers or Monster bites that will ensure your visitors don’t go hungry.

Don’t forget to give drinks a scary edge and try this Halloween witches brew complete with severed hand or, if you’re looking for something to keep the adults entertained try these Vampire cocktails, after all who says you can’t have a grown up dinner party up with a scary twist? Team your cocktails with Halloween-themed stuffed peppers, spooky spaghetti and even baked camembert.

If you don’t feel like making the food yourself head to Tesco or M&S and order pre-prepared party food, leaving you plenty of time to sort out the decorations and the spooky atmosphere!

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Help to Buy - What you need to know

You might have seen the recent news that the government will not be extending the Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee Scheme from December this year, but what does that actually mean and more importantly what does it mean for you?

Firstly, don’t panic. While the Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee Scheme will no longer be available, you will still be able to use the Help to Buy: Equity Loan to purchase a new St. Modwen Homes’ property with a deposit of just 5%.

Available on new-build homes up to the value of £600,000, using the Help to Buy: Equity Loan you pay just 80% of the listed property price, which is made up of a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage, with the remaining 20% covered by a government loan. For example, if you bought a new home priced at £200,000, you would need a deposit of £10,000, a £150,000 mortgage and a £40,000 loan from the government.

50% of our purchasers use this scheme, and it’s not just for first time buyers, those moving up the property ladder also qualify. You just won’t be able to rent out your new home or use Part Exchange to sell your old home and you must not own any property when you use Help to Buy: Equity Loan to buy your new home. 

So what is the Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee Scheme and why is it not being continued? Unlike the Help to Buy: Equity Loan, the Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee Scheme applies to both new-build and existing homes, with the government providing a guarantee to the lender to offer higher value mortgages of up to 95%. Since Help to Buy was introduced in January 2014, the housing market has become less reliant on the government guarantee and over 30 lenders now offer 90 to 95% mortgages outside of the scheme.

If you want to know more about Help to Buy: Equity Loan and see if you qualify, speak to a member of our Sales Team in the Sales and Marketing Suite at your local development and they’ll be happy to help by putting you in touch with one of our Independent Financial Advisors who will talk you through the process, help you find the right mortgage for you and even complete all the paperwork. 

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Cofton Grange – inside the Hexham Showhome

As we get ready to open the doors at Cofton Grange later this month, Samantha Simmonds, Creative Director at Killer5, gives us a sneak peek inside our brand new Hexham Showhome.

“Opening a new Showhome is always an exciting time, especially for us as interior designers, as we get to experiment with the latest styles and trends. At Cofton Grange, we’ve really embraced the industrial look, using reclaimed wood and rough metallic tones throughout. As a trend, industrial chic is here to stay and, thanks to the stripped-back and humble materials, it can give your new home a sophisticated edge without blowing the budget.

“In the Hexham, we’ve gone for functional style with a luxe edge, combining copper lighting and accessories with neutral and navy shades in the living room, charcoal grey and reclaimed wood in the kitchen and dining room, and silver and bronze upstairs in the second bedroom. Don’t be afraid to mix rich colours and plush furnishings with raw materials to make a statement.  

“Another popular trend this year, we’ve introduced typographical and geometric prints and wall art to bring the Showhome to life – including a striking feature wall in the kitchen and dining room. If you want to re-create the look, it’s a great way to showcase your personality, break up a blank wall and bring the theme of a room together.

“As it’s set across three floors, St. Modwen Homes’ Hexham design offers a flexible space for modern living so we used the bedroom on the ground floor as a study to demonstrate this. For those who work from home, having a separate study can be essential to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. In the Showhome we’ve used caged copper lighting, exposed wired shelves and up-cycled parquet wooden furniture to continue the industrial theme and provide practical office storage solutions.

“In the bathrooms, we’ve gone for a fresh contemporary feel, using white marble and copper accessories that sit perfectly alongside the luxury fixtures and fittings St. Modwen Homes includes as standard.”

Take a look at our Pinterest, to see the Killer5 mood boards and, from Saturday 22^nd October, you can see inside the Hexham Showhome for yourself – and don’t forget to share your pictures with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

The Marketing Suite at Cofton Grange is open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5.30pm inclusive of the weekends. For more information or to book an appointment, call 0844 243 4507 or email CoftonGrange@stmodwenhomes.co.uk.

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Top 10 tips for selling your home

When you find your dream home it can be very frustrating when you haven’t sold your home yet and the panic can easily set in. To help ease the stress we have put together our top ten tips to help you get your house off the market and completed so you are free to get your new keys…

1. Think about your target market. Does your home appeal to the main group you are aiming at? For instance do you have a box room that would work better as a home office for a professional couple? If so, rearrange it and make it stand out as a workable space for them.

2. The time of year can also be an important factor, spring (February to March) and autumn (September) are usually the key times to sell as it is traditionally when demand outweighs supply and so prices can be at their most flexible.

3. Spread the word that you are selling, word of mouth is a powerful tool that you should use to your advantage. Make sure you have a board up and let neighbours know as they may well be aware of someone waiting to move to that area.

4. Buyers will form an impression of your home within seconds of walking through the front door so make an effort to spruce the entrance of your home up. Paint the door, plant flowers or trim hedges to make your home have instant kerb appeal.

5. No one likes a cluttered home so you can’t expect people to be interested in purchasing your home if that’s all they can see. Have a good clear out and make your home look tidy and welcoming. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bathrooms as these are focal points for homebuyers.

6. Keeping colours in your home neutral can help homebuyers imagine themselves living there and even start to think about where they would put their own furniture. Paint colours are a very personal choice so if you have a bright bold colour some people may love it while it can also really put other people off. If necessary, repaint rooms, it will pay off in the end.

7. Smell is really important. Placing fragrant candles around your home or plug-ins can really create a relaxing and pleasant environment. If you have pets try to remove food bowls and beds while viewings are happening. You may not be able to smell them in your own home but others will and non-animal lovers may be put off.

8. The smallest of things can send the wrong impression to potential buyers so fix that leaking tap and remove the grubby sealant in the kitchen and bathroom, it can make a huge difference on sending a positive message to visitors.

9. If you have decided to show people round your home yourself, make sure you think about the route you will take to show the best rooms first or last to make a bigger impact. Be business-like and don’t bombard them with too much detail, stick to the facts homebuyers want to hear such as south facing garden, parking and local amenities. Only show viewers round once and then allow them to take another tour round on their own, but stay close by for any questions they may have.

10.  When you receive offers don’t rush into a decision, make sure you get all the details from the estate agents allowing you to make an informed decision, if you want to move quick a first time buyer might be a better choice over the highest bidder. Compromise is the key!

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