Cashing in on windfall; Family snap up a second house on the same estate thanks to a surprise early inheritance.

Byline: LAURA COVENTRY

HEATHER LEA

LANARK

When the Crawfords moved into a new housing development in Lanark, no one would have predicted that less than three years later they would move again - into another house in the same estate.

But thanks to a hefty windfall from Michelle's generous dad, the retired ScottishPower managing director Eric Golland, the family did just that.

Now Michelle, husband Donald, and their sons Charlie, 10, and seven-yearold Tom are very happy in their four-bedroom detached Severn villa in Red Row's Heather Lea development, an exact replica of their former home which is located in the next cul-de-sac.

After initially starting house-hunting in March, the family moved in just a few months later in early June.

However, although the size and layout is identical to their old house, the plot itself is on a bigger scale.

It has a huge driveway for two cars and a garden the size of a five-a-side football pitch.

Michelle, a housewife, said: "People have commented that they think we're mad moving as we had an identical house in the next street which we bought two-and-a-half years ago.

"But we received a large sum of money from my father as he has a lot of investments. One of his five-year investments matured but because of what was happening with the banks, he decided to give us cash as it was no use to him. He said there was no point in waiting until he dies.

"The idea was to buy another house in cash as an investment, rent it out, then sell it 10 years down the line.

"We came to Red Row to see what they had available, not expecting to buy the same house, and what we ended up doing was buying an identical house in the next street, moving into that and renting out the old one."

Moving home can be a stressful experience but perhaps even more so for the Crawfords because of the complications involved in buying one house and renting out another and transferring their mortgage from the old house to the new house.

In fact, moving around the corner set the couple back around pounds 10,000 but Michelle has no doubts it was the right decision.

The 36-year-old, who is married to bank manager Donald, said: "It was a bit crazy but I knew what I was getting with Red Row because I'd dealt with them before - this is my third Red Row house. It was also great value for money.

"Donald wasn't actually that keen to move round the corner at first - he's a typical man and didn't want hassle - but he's fine now he's moved in."

Bought off-plan, their last house is in phase one of the development and was not even built when the couple purchased it.

However, their new property, in phase two, was complete, allowing the couple to view it - but they already knew what it was like inside.

On entering the front door, the home feels spacious and homely.

On the ground floor it benefits from a study, a toilet, and a large square living room that is fitted with double doors leading to the dining room.

The dining kitchen can be accessed from the dining room and from the hallway and French windows lead out on to the massive back garden. Upstairs is the family bathroom, decorated in a monochrome colour scheme.

Their four-bedroom villa has two large bedrooms (including a master with ensuite) at the front and two smaller bedrooms to the rear and is the perfect family home.

Kids Charlie and Tom have a smaller room each with a football and Space Invaders theme, mum and dad have the master bedroom, while the second large bedroom has been transformed into the boys' games room where they enjoy hanging out.

Michelle said: "They love it because they can play table football inside and football outside."

The family are very happy at their new home and their tenant (which they found within a week) is renting out their old house. Within walking distance of Lanark town centre, their new home boasts great countryside views and is convenient for the motorway network. You would think that after all the upheaval of their last move that Michelle and Donald would settle here for the next 10 years or so.

But Michelle said: "We might buy another one on the estate in future.

"I am serious. Because Donald's a bank manager, he deals with this sort of thing every day. I really like my house and we don't pay a lot to live here but we'll see how it goes. Maybe we'll see about re-mortgaging to buy another house and move into it then rent this one out. I like things new."

Red Row's Heather Lea site is conveniently located between Glasgow and Edinburgh and features three, four and five-bedroom detached family homes priced from pounds 174,995 to pounds 299,950. For more info on Heather Lea call 0845 676 0509 or visit www.redrow.co.uk.

CAPTION(S):

GAME ON... Michelle, Charlie and Tom love their new home, especially the comfy lounge, left, modern kitchen and funfilled games room, below MOVEABLE ESTATE... Family's new home is round the corner from their old one