### Father of Two Wins £500,000 Dream Home with £5 Raffle Ticket Surprise
A Welsh father has defied the odds and secured his family’s future after winning £500,000 towards a new home—all thanks to a humble £5 raffle ticket purchased as a surprise for his wife. Nathan Bayliss, aged 46, found himself celebrating the windfall after years of renting and struggling to get back onto the property ladder.
Nathan, who works as a yard manager and slinger-signaller, had felt the dream of homeownership drifting further away as property prices soared and wages stagnated. After selling his previous home to seek better job prospects for his family, Nathan and his wife resigned themselves to the rental market, believing the chance of owning another property was all but lost.
It was the stories of ordinary people achieving extraordinary wins in online competitions that first caught Nathan’s attention. Tramway Path, a company known for giving away mortgage-free homes through prize draws, had featured a series of heartwarming tales that resonated with him. Feeling inspired, Nathan decided to quietly enter their latest raffle after seeing an advert on Facebook, keeping the ticket purchase a secret from his unsuspecting wife.
The moment of truth arrived with a life-changing phone call from the competition’s organisers—brothers Jason, Will, and Daniel Twenefour. Recalling the surreal experience, Nathan said, “I was in shock. I started jumping up and down and told my wife, ‘We’ve got a house, we’ve got a house!’ Naturally, she was sceptical, telling me to calm down as she was convinced it was a prank.”
Not only was his wife dubious, but their children also sided with their mum. The family, who had long talked about owning a home again, had been increasingly dispirited by the sharp rise in prices in their area, coupled with limited wage growth. Nathan explained, “We always hoped to own our place again, but given the current market, it seemed impossible. The competition stood out because it was so straightforward—people who needed a home were given the opportunity to win one.”
The timing of the win was poignant for Nathan, who was at home revising for a health and safety qualification in hopes of advancing his career and improving their finances. “It was overwhelming to realise we actually won,” he said. Winning the half-a-million-pound cash prize has enabled the family to finally move forward, with Nathan currently in the process of purchasing a detached farmhouse in Wales that he had long set his sights on.
Away from the whirlwind of publicity and paperwork, Nathan has expressed gratitude not only to Tramway Path for running the competition, but also to every participant who made the prize possible. “It’s something I never could have imagined becoming a reality. I am so grateful,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Tramway Path continues to run similar competitions, capturing the imagination of hopeful homeowners across the UK. Their latest draw offers up a luxurious £450,000 flat in Hither Green, Lewisham—a location renowned for being home to celebrities such as the late Sinead O’Connor and actor Jude Law. In a new twist, the winner of this round can decide whether to take the property itself or a cash alternative, enabling them to choose a home anywhere in Britain.
The company’s home giveaway model taps into the growing need for affordable pathways onto the housing ladder, particularly amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and affordability barriers for families. Such competitions offer a rare glimmer of hope, especially for those in regions where wages have failed to keep pace with soaring house prices.
As Nathan’s family prepares to embark on their new chapter, their story is likely to inspire others still dreaming of homeownership. For the Bayliss family, a modest £5 flutter has brought about life-changing security—proof that sometimes, hope and a little bit of luck can open the door, quite literally, to a brighter future.
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