A great grandmother from Peterborough has proved that you’re never too old to get on the property ladder after using a divorce pay-out to buy a home, at the age of 80.
Mary Scott bought a £31,000 quarter stake in a shared ownership of a two bedroom bungalow in Werrington, Peterborough.
Mary, a mother of three, grandmother of nine and great grandmother of two, decided to go for the property after divorcing her husband of 15 years, Irvine Scott (70), earlier this year.
The move was made easier by the fact that Mary’s current home, a sheltered housing bungalow in Loxley, Werrington and her new home are both owned by city housing association Cross Keys Homes.
She is due to move next month and said that she was looking forward to having her own space again.
Mary said: “I guess I am going against the grain - most people my age are probably moving into retirement homes, while I’m going the other way.
“But I’m still an active and outgoing lady, so I thought I should try and go for it.
“I had a rough time with the divorce so I wanted to treat myself again.
“My divorce settlement was the trigger for moving - the money from the settlement, combined with other savings meant I could afford to move.
“I have been living at Loxley for the past three years and made a lot of friends here but nothing beats having your own space and garden.
“My new bungalow will have plenty of room for when my family come and visit it me, I really can’t wait to get moved in.”
Mary, a keen ballroom dancer, added: “They say that buying a home is one of the most stressful things in life, but this move has gone very smoothly so far. I saw the property advertised in a brochure and it ticked all the boxes for me.
“I’ve still got a good few years left in me, so what better way to spend that time in a lovely new home which I can make my own.”
Mick Leggett, chief executive of Cross Keys Homes, said: “Mary is an example to us all that you are never too late to start again and take full control of your life.
“Mary is looking forward to owning a home through our shared ownership scheme and as a tenant of ours we have been more than happy to help her fulfil her dreams.
“We wish her all the best in her new home.”
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