WEST Devon homebuyers have snapped up around threequarters of the former MOD houses which went on sale in Horrabridge this month. Twenty houses at Annington Ridge have been made available by Annington Homes, which bought the houses from the MOD almost ten years ago. The company is offering to pay the 5% deposit on the houses and is giving help with legal and survey costs. Some buyers even camped in tents to make sure they were high in the queue to buy the £154,950, three-bedroomed houses, which were being sold on a first come, first served basis. West Devon man Darryl Jones, 23, spent a week under canvas to make sure he did not miss out on buying one of the houses for him and his fiancee. He said: ?We?re so excited that we have finally been able to afford a home that has everything we want. ?It?s spacious, well located and great value for money. We?d been looking for about eight months and if it weren?t for Annington?s help with the money towards the deposit and other costs, we would still be looking ? it was definitely worth the wait.? So far, 63% of the purchasers at Annington Ridge have been first-time buyers. Janice Barnfather, regional sales manager for Annington, said: ?We are extremely pleased with the response we have had so far. This area is very popular and every day, interest in the homes is growing. ?It is also great that we are helping so many local first-time buyers to buy.? Annington Homes has put almost 550 properties in Devon back into the national housing stock after the company purchased them from the MOD in 1997 ? more than a quarter have been bought by first-time buyers. The houses in Horrabridge offer gas central heating, new front doors, carpets and vinyl flooring and UPVC double glazed windows.
