New homes for first-time buyers in Exeter

The historic cathedral city of Exeter has a lot going for it, and many of the city's graduates and other first-time buyers are looking for new homes in Exeter in the hope of settling down there. Combining a fantastic quality of life with an attractive location surrounded by Devon's lovely countryside, Exeter also benefits from easy transport links to Bristol, Plymouth and London by rail or road, and internationally from Exeter International Airport.

For first time buyers on a limited budget, Linden Homes is developing 67 contemporary new one- and two-bedroom apartments at The Hub in the heart of Exeter, not far from the university, priced from just £118,500. Available off-plan, these contemporary apartments will be finished to a high specification throughout and are in a great location for commuting around the city.

The other new development in Exeter from Linden Homes is Discovery Quarter, which is more expensive than The Hub but has an impressive setting if you can afford it - in an historic location overlooking the River Exe. The development blends contemporary living with a traditional style in a mix of new build and refurbished buildings. One-bedroom apartments are available from £155,950, and the location is incredibly convenient - less than half a mile from the city's cathedral and everything the city centre has to offer.

Linden Homes has a range of offers and incentives to help first-time buyers get their foot on the property ladder. For example, they can help with buyers' legal arrangements, put together a tailor-made purchase package, or even share some of the cost of the deposit. Schemes such as Easy Start and the FirstBuy Government-led equity loan scheme are just a couple of the initiatives worth asking Linden's sales staff about if you're interested in one of their properties.

For first-time buyers looking for a larger home in a quieter location, Persimmon's Priory Walk development on the northern edge of the city has a choice of stylish two-bedroom apartments and larger homes priced from £152,995, in a semi-rural setting. With its shared equity scheme, buyers can own 100% of their home for just 85% of the price now, with no rent or interest on the remaining balance for five years. They simply have to return 15% of the market value of the property when they sell, or within 10 years - whichever is sooner. All these new homes in Devon are built to a high specification with gas central heating and PVCu double-glazing, and benefit from off-road parking and easy access to the city centre.

Taylor Wimpey, which also offers a shared equity scheme to help first-time buyers, has a number of new-build developments available in Exeter. These include two-bedroom apartments with parking from £169,995 at the tree-lined Sylvan Heights development just west of the city centre; and a choice of one- and two-bedroom apartments at Chancel Park from £129,995, north east of the city centre, close to a local station, bus routes, shops and Exeter city centre.

The 67 new apartments at The Hub in central Exeter are perfect for the first-time buyer with a limited budget, with prices starting at £118,500 from Linden Homes