A BUDDING bromance is set to continue after two friends took the ultimate step and moved in together – well, sort of.
Friends Fraser Kirkley and Tristan Burd, both 25, had already studied and worked together so thought nothing of buying houses next to each other too.
The first time buyers both moved to The Acorns, a new development of 70 two, three and four bedroom homes in Spennymoor, after Tristan suggested Fraser through its recommend-a-friend scheme.
The pair met when they both played for the University of York’s rugby team and soon became firm friends.
Fraser said: “We spent many an ungodly hour drinking strong coffee and motivating each other to get up for 6am training sessions!”
The friendship continued when Tristan relocated to the North East and took a job at Fraser’s family firm in Bishop Auckland, where the two both work as financial advisors.
Fraser continued: “It’s fair to say Tristan was my right hand man in our final year and I’m now in the lucky position to have him as a colleague – and a neighbour too.”
Fraser, who moved into the four-bedroom Newbury in November, knew Tristan was also looking to get on the housing ladder – so when he heard about the recommend-a-friend scheme he had just the person in mind.
Under the scheme, The Acorns invites residents to recommend people to buy a home on the development too – and receive £500 worth of vouchers if their friend completes.
Now Tristan, who lived in Leeds before moving to County Durham, has bought the four-bedroom Willow with girlfriend Georgia, 24.
He said: “Fraser has great taste – and as a local I trusted his recommendation on where to live in the area.
“I knew he’d had an excellent experience with the sales team and when I visited his new house I was really impressed with the quality of the build too.”
As for what Fraser will be spending his vouchers on, he said: “The adult side of my brain is telling me to buy a tumble dryer but if I’m honest that’s far too practical – I’ll probably go for something more fun!”