Buying a three bedroom house as a first-time buyer thanks to Shared Ownership

Many still imagine that for single professionals in their twenties and thirties, the property market in 2026 works the same way it did 20 years ago: start with a flat, build equity, and then move up the ladder. Increasingly, however, first-time buyers are skipping traditional “starter homes” altogether and choosing properties that better suit their long-term plans from the outset. This was certainly the case for 28 year old Senior Business Analyst Ethan Duller, who found he could get more for his money when he purchased a three-bedroom semi-detached home with Shared Ownership, at SNG’s Swindon development, SNG at Wichelstowe.

Ethan had originally been looking at flats because that was the straightforward first step. But, after finding out he could use his savings to purchase a larger home with Shared Ownership, he decided to take the plunge and buy a house.  

Ethan recounts: “The more I looked into service charges and thought about the kind of life I wanted over the next ten years, the more buying a house rather than a flat as my first home seemed the right choice. After factoring in having my own garden, and also realising that a small flat would likely be a stepping stone in the long-term anyway, my vision opened out to a much broader horizon."

Prior to buying his house at Wichelstowe, Ethan was living with his parents rent-free, which allowed him to save a large proportion of his salary per month for his deposit. When he received a promotion at work, he decided it was the right time to invest in his own home.

He comments: “Having lived at home with my parents for a few years, kindly rent free, I’d been building towards purchasing my own place, but Shared Ownership was the mechanism that made a whole house possible.”

Ethan was able to purchase a 50% share with a 15% deposit, managing to keep his mortgage and monthly outgoings low.

Ethan recalls: “I had been on the waiting list for the homes at Wichelstowe, keeping a close eye on the market, and after an alert landed in my inbox the week before the development was launched, I jumped on it immediately. I only applied for this development, and needed only one viewing because the quality was so evident, and my whole purchase process was seamless. There have been no issues since moving in - for anyone else weighing up Shared Ownership or new-build quality more broadly, I would say it’s definitely worth considering. As a single buyer, progressing my career through my late twenties, Shared Ownership has been a route to home ownership that simply wouldn't have existed for me otherwise.”

A collection of one and two bedroom apartments and three bedroom houses set within 200 acres of nature trails and open space, homes at Wichelstowe are ideal for both families and commuters.

Just five-minutes from work and with plenty of green space to explore on the doorstep, SNG at Wichelstowe has changed the tune of Ethan’s week. He says: "Before, if I wanted to get outside for a walk, I had to get in the car and drive to a country park. Here, it's straight out the front door, and that's made a bigger difference than I expected. There’s a canal which stretches through the centre of the neighbourhood, with a boardwalk running past a pond, and it’s already become my favourite path for early evening walks. It’s spaced out, quiet without being too remote, I have a nice pub 200 metres from my front door, and all of my neighbours are really friendly – it’s a great environment.”

"Having a space that's mine, that I can actually make my own, is something I didn't fully appreciate until now. Of course, I’m looking forward to making the interior feel like my own space, but right now, I’m actually most excited about my south-west facing garden. I’ve already started work on the patio and designing my plant arrangements in time for the summer!”

Now settled, Ethan’s longer-term plan is to gradually increase his share through staircasing as and when he is able to, until he owns the property outright. For now though, he's enjoying the summer, an easy work-life balance, and the particular satisfaction of having skipped straight from living with his parents to owning his own three-bedroom house.

Ethan reflects: "Friends who've visited have said they'd love to move here, with some considering doing so. The quality of my home here really does speak for itself, and the SNG sales team were just brilliant the whole way through the process. I’d really recommend looking at Shared Ownership as an option for anyone looking to buy a house by themselves. It’s allowed me to buy a bigger home than I had originally planned, and for that I’m so grateful!"

Inspired by Ethan’s story? There are still Shared Ownership homes available at SNG at Wichelstowe. Explore the available homes and make your first or next move on the property ladder today.

^{Information correct at time of publish - July 2026}