Best friends Paul Fredericks, 21, and Ray Bath, 21, thought they would have to wait years before being able to buy their first homes, however they soon discovered they could afford a brand new home if they bought together. The two friends decided to become first-time buyers and purchased a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at Weston Homes’ Morello Quarter in Basildon.

Paul Fredericks commented: “We both wanted to move out of home and saw this time as the best opportunity to take advantage of the property market and make an investment for our futures, although we knew neither of us could afford to do this on our own. We were delighted when we realised that we could actually join together and buy a reasonably priced and stylish home at Morello Quarter to get on the property ladder.

“The apartment is perfect for us as we both have our own bathroom and plenty of living space, so we don’t feel like we are living on top of each other. The interior is really stylish and because all the appliances were integrated it took a lot of the hassle away from moving in and setting up a first home. Everything we need is within easy walking distance of the apartment including great bars restaurants and shops.”

The 425 one and two-bedroom apartments at the Essex-based Morello Quarter provide the highest interior specifications in the area which also rival those of new build homes within the Capital’s Zone One. The contemporary apartment designs are comparable to those of Dockland’s style homes offering buyers a taste of the London lifestyle but without the price tag.

Paul continued: “The development sits in a great location near to Basildon railway station making it easy for me to get to work in London in only half an hour by train. We also bought two parking spaces with our apartment, so getting around by car is not a problem and Ray can drive to work in about 10 minutes.”

Each Morello Quarter home boasts spacious bedrooms and living areas that benefit from ample light, a designer kitchen complete with integrated appliances, luxurious bathrooms with ceramic tiling and chrome fittings, and high quality fitted wardrobes in the master bedrooms.

Recently, Basildon has undertaken the beginning of a transformation into one of the UK’s most modern towns as part of the local government’s £2 billion “More Basildon” vision which will involve a new Sporting Village, the creation of a health and education research centre and more homes. The town centre includes a range of facilities, with over 100 outlets ranging from high street chain stores to unique specialist shops, as well as an assortment of places to eat and drink.

Trains from Basildon Railway Station run regularly to London Fenchurch Street, averaging a 35- minute journey. The A127 and A13 also provide easy access to the M25, with Stansted a 50-minute drive away and Gatwick just over an hour.

Prices at Morello Quarter start from £139,500 for a one-bedroom apartment and £159,950 for a two-bedroom apartment. For more information, please contact Morello Quarter’s sales and marketing suite on 0845 638 5012, email morello.quarter@weston-homes.com