SIX hundred people have been helped to buy a house with a Government scheme.
The Time To Buy scheme was launched in County Durham and Tees Valley in 2009 to help people buy homes.
The scheme is run by a consortium made up of Fabrick Housing Group, Stockton Borough Council, Housing Hartlepool and Endeavour Housing Association.
Options include equity loan schemes and shared ownership and rent-to-buy deals.
Sam Brewster is one of the latest to find a home for herself and fiance Roy Myers, 25, with help from Time To Buy.
The 22-year-old now lives in a three-bedroomed property in Hemlington, Middlesbrough.
Ms Brewster, a paranormal investigator for Middlesbrough company Spirit Seekers, said: "It is probably the best thing we have ever done.
"It is a lot more affordable than where we were before and it was all pretty easy."
Miss Brewster, who shares her home with her chihuahua puppy Roxie, said: "I did not feel that our last house was our own -it was empty money -but this one feels like a home."
It is hoped the area will benefit from further funding for a new equity loan scheme, First Buy, which was announced recently.
Visit time2buy.org.uk
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