‘We took a huge risk on a house just weeks after seeing it – it turned into a life-changing opportunity’

A couple say they took a huge gamble with their living situation and it turned into a “life-changing opportunity”.

CrisJohn and Jerelyn Jocson had been renting for nearly four years and were struggling to get on the property ladder the traditional way.

Rising rent rates meant the pair began looking for alternative routes to home ownership in the hope of finding stability and a place they could finally call their own – without too much financial pressure.

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“Buying a house through traditional routes felt very difficult, especially as migrants,” the couple, both 36, told What’s The Jam.

“So we started looking for alternative pathways that could help us achieve that goal.

“Being given this opportunity has given us hope that we can one day truly own our home, and it has motivated us to work hard to turn this house into a place we can really call our own.”

The couple moved to the UK from Manila, in the Philippines, in 2022 and later discovered HomeNow’s Home Purchase Plan through Instagram.

The rent-to-buy-style scheme is designed to help first-time buyers who do not have a deposit by offering a rental refund model.

Under the plan, CrisJohn, a technical analyst, and Jerelyn, a senior nurse, pay rent while living in the home in north-east Wales and, after two years, will buy the property from HomeNow.

The couple and their six-year-old daughter moved into a HomeNow property in Dee Gardens in Deeside, Flintshire in December 2025.

Jerelyn said: “At first, we were cautious and wanted to understand everything properly.

“We took time to ask questions and make sure the process was right for us.

“Once we fully understood how it worked, it gave us confidence and reassurance.

“It felt like a genuine opportunity to build a future for our family, rather than just paying rent without progress.

“HomeNow offered us something we didn’t think was possible so soon – a realistic and clear path towards owning our own home.

“Instead of continuing to rent with no long-term outcome, HomeNow allowed us to live in a home while actively working towards ownership.”

The family moved into the property just two weeks after being offered the opportunity.

Jerelyn said: “Our first reaction was simply ‘wow’.

“It truly felt like a home – the kind of place you want to take care of, keep clean, and protect.

“From the moment we walked in, it gave us the feeling that this was something worth working hard for, because one day it will be fully ours.

“Our daughter’s reaction was pure excitement – she said ‘wow’ as soon as she saw the house, especially when she realised she would have a room of her own where she could keep her toys and books.”

For the couple, the heart of the home is the kitchen, where they spend most of their time together.

CrisJohn said: “It’s more than just a kitchen – it’s where we share our thoughts, talk about our plans, and spend quality time together as a family.”

The couple now hope to fully own their home by next year.

They said: “This experience has given us hope and inspiration.

“It motivates us to work harder and do better, knowing that our efforts are building towards something meaningful.”

Through HomeNow’s Home Purchase Plan, the couple will receive a 5% refund towards the purchase price, which will allow them to go straight onto a 95% mortgage.

Unlike other part-buy schemes like shared ownership, with HomeNow, there’s no purchasing a percentage and no rent on a share you don’t own.

Customers move into the entire home from day one, with the purchase price and rent fixed upfront and part of the rent refunded to support buying outright.

CrisJohn and Jerelyn say the experience has completely changed how they view home ownership.

They added: “As migrants, we once believed that owning a house in the UK was almost impossible.

“HomeNow showed us that there is a pathway and that owning a home can be achievable with the right support.

“It has given us hope, confidence, and the belief that this house will one day truly be our forever home.

“What once felt like a risk turned into a life-changing opportunity for our family.

“As parents, this means so much to us.

“It gives our daughter the security of having a stable home where she can grow up feeling settled.

“And it also allows us to look to the future knowing we have a place to call home as we grow older.”

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