A YOUNG couple have defied the statistics by buying their first home together in their late twenties.

Victoria and Michael have moved into their new house at Rivers Edge – a huge 500-plus home development on the former Spectra Packaging site next to Centre Park near the town centre.

The pair, aged 27 and 28 respectively, bought the house at a time when the average age of first-time buyers in the UK climbed to a record 33.4 years of age.

They moved in in preparation for the arrival of their second child, the first baby to be born at Countryside’s Rivers Edge development.

Baby Freddie has since joined his older brother Louie, aged two, as the latest addition to the family.

After living with Michael’s parents during lockdown to save their deposit, the pair jumped at the opportunity to buy one of the first released plots at the Rivers Edge development.

Being able to cut back on luxuries such as shopping trips and eating out allowed Victoria and Michael to save a large portion of their deposit in a matter of months.

Many first-time buyers were able to accelerate their buying process by moving in with family members during the pandemic, allowing them to save up to an additional £1,769 towards their deposit.

Victoria and Michael with their two children Louie and Freddie at the Rivers Edge home

Victoria and Michael with their two children Louie and Freddie at the Rivers Edge home

Victoria, an accountant, said: “Now that we are settled in our new home, we can truly appreciate our journey up to this point.

“Saving during lockdown allowed us to get onto the property ladder earlier than we expected and purchase our perfect family home to raise our sons.”

Michael, a recruitment consultant, added: “It is a huge achievement for us to be able to purchase our family home.

“Being a first-time buyer can be quite daunting, but we have had a really positive experience.

“We could not be happier with our new home, and bringing Freddie home to complete our family has been the icing on the cake.”

Gemma Hardy, managing director at Countryside, commented: “It is great to hear stories like Victoria and Michael’s as we can appreciate how tough it can be for first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder.

“We are delighted that the family have settled in well at Rivers Edge and we wish them all the best in their new home.”