New developments in South Wales appeal to first-time buyers

Buyers hunting for their first home in South Wales currently have a superb choice of new developments to choose from, in and around all of the region's key cities of Cardiff, Newport and Swansea.

Cardiff area

Latitude from Bovis Homes features one- and two-bedroom apartments situated between Cardiff city centre and buzzing Cardiff Bay. With a huge choice of shops and entertainment close by, this development will appeal to buyers looking for an urban lifestyle at the heart of the Welsh capital. Purchase assistance schemes include Jumpstart, enabling first-time buyers to own 100% of the property for just 85% of the price upfront. The two-bedroom 'Meridian', for example, is priced from £120,000 and offers practical open-plan living, a fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, a handy utility room, and either a garage or parking space.

About 13 miles from Cardiff, Persimmon Homes has just four three-bedroom homes remaining at Meadow Walk in an attractive location overlooking a nature reserve in the popular village of Pontyclun. Offering a rural feel yet with good shops and amenities close by, Meadow Walk is within walking distance of Pontyclun railway station, and minutes from the M4. Plot 65, the ‘Berkeley', is a three-bedroom home currently available via a shared equity scheme, again enabling first time buyers to own 100% of the property for just 85% of the price upfront (£136,000 instead of the list price of £180,000).

Newport area

For larger families, Taylor Wimpey has created a small development called Gerddi Rhiwderyn in the village of Rhiwderin, three miles from Newport and 12 miles from Cardiff. Offering a choice of three- and four-bedroom homes priced from £219,995 to £349,995, Gerddi Rhiwderyn has excellent road and rail links to Cardiff, Bristol and beyond. The local primary school is half a mile away and the well-regarded Bassaleg Comprehensive School is nearby - while there's a choice of universities in both Newport and Cardiff.

Swansea area

In the coastal city of Swansea, Taylor Wimpey has created a collection of contemporary two- and three-bedroom homes at Cwrt Sant Pedr priced from £107,995 to £159,995. Just three miles from the city centre, it's a perfect location for commuting into Swansea or across South Wales, with easy access to the M4 - with both the coast and countryside nearby, including the surf beaches of the Gower. Special offers include 'Home of the Week', Plot 95, the ‘Deddington', available for £99,995 and ready to move in for Christmas. The Deposit Match scheme could help first-time buyers with a five per cent mortgage deposit, as Taylor Wimpey will match this with an interest-free loan (for up to ten years) of up to another five per cent of the value of the new home -- reducing the size of mortgage required.

Eight miles from Swansea city centre, Cwrt Yr Ysgol is an exciting development of one-, two- and three-bedroom houses, apartments and coach houses from Bovis Homes, situated near the town of Gorseinon. With excellent transport links to Llanelli, Swansea, the Gower and Cardiff, there are also good local shops and schools in Gorseinon itself. One-bedroom apartments are priced from £82,000, and two-bedroom homes from £106,500.

The 'Tredegar' is a three-bedroom home at Gerddi Rhiwderyn in the village of Rhiwderin near Newport, with prices atarting at £219,995 from Taylor Wimpey