Welcome to my property.
This week we’re in West Sussex, specifically Haywards Heath, talking to Addie and Ollie about climbing the real estate ladder.
Addie and her partner Ollie bought their first three-bedroom apartment earlier this year.
They made a deposit of £20,000 and used the Help to Buy scheme.
Tell us about yourself, Addie.
Adi (35) and Ori (32). I am a product manager in the automotive industry and Ollie is a mechanic at a car dealership. My work is mainly from home, I visit our London and Hook offices several times a week. Oli is completely based in the field.
Our property is located on Haywards Heath, which is a convenient location for us. Easy access to the M23 and M25, with direct trains to London every 10-15 minutes.
Where is your property? How do you feel about the district?
The property is located in a residential area of Haywards Heath, but only 20 minutes from the city center. I understand that it was built on old farmland with lots of greenery and woods around it. The station is 30 minutes away on foot or by car. We love this area because it is very quiet.
Having moved from the city center where there was constant noise from bars and restaurants, we thoroughly enjoyed the quiet afternoons and evenings in our new home. The walk was on another level.
When did you move
April 1, 2022.
How much is your property?
£400,000.
How much was the security deposit?
£20,000 deposit and capital purchase support.
What is the monthly cost of living here now? Mortgage and taxes?
£1,500 (does not include food, but includes all other charges such as energy, internet, local taxes and insurance).
How to save deposit?
These were all personal savings. It took me a while, but for a while I didn’t know what I was saving for. We just put our money aside. My dream was to have my own property, but it was not such a big goal. So the savings were set aside a year before the purchase.
In my mind, buying real estate was something that might or might not be accomplished at the cost of a lot of stress.
How was the mortgage process for you? Was there any part that you found difficult?
The purchase process was simple. In the middle of February, we had a meeting with the sales office (house builder) in Balat and we moved in April. He didn’t see us anywhere else. We liked the area and liked the service we received from Pina who handled the sales process at Ballat End.
They recommended a lawyer who left us in debt. Yes, there was stress of going into the unknown process, but nothing compared to some of the scary stories we heard. We appointed a mortgage broker to help us obtain a mortgage.
Everyone in the process gave us clear instructions on what to do next, so we knew what we needed to do. I read and watched video content that helped me understand.
Where did you live before, rented or lived with your family?
It is rented in town 30 minutes. But blessed with the best landlord alive, it’s time for an upgrade.
What made you buy instead of rent?
It was only when we calculated how much money had been spent on rent over the years that we borrowed it, with no repayment.
There are also limits on rents. How to design a space is not always easy.
The rental property was flat and small enough for my family to visit and stay for a few days. The location was great at first but as the local bar changed hands the nights became unbearable and I felt the need for an outdoor space where I could sit and escape.
How did you find this property? What made you choose?
A friend had purchased the same development a year before us and recommended it to us. So far it has been a great decision.
How did you feel about home ownership?
There’s still a long way to go to feel completely at home, but the simple fact that you can control the look of your home got us started.
First of all, I really enjoy not having the magnolia wall that came with the apartment.
I’ve wanted a light colored floor for a long time and now I have it. Most of the furniture is brand new which made choosing furniture a lot of fun. It doesn’t matter when renting. Our two families visited and brought flowers from home to plant in the front yard.
What is your interior style inspiration?
I don’t know what this style is called, but I call it “medium modern bling.” It’s modern, but not on a technical level, with a touch of brilliance, but not too much.
What is your favorite room and why?
It’s a difficult question because I like all of them. I like the kitchen separate from the living room, but it’s big enough for a table for six. The living room is nice, but why not replace the cheap IKEA furniture with something better? I love the master bedroom. The white bed perfectly anchors the room when it comes to painting.
Do you think you have enough space?
Recently.
Three small beds, but enough space to keep your home tidy. My only wish was that there was a little more room in the master bedroom for more furniture, but it’s certainly not a deal breaker.
Do you have any plans to change ownership?
The change is just beginning. Moving into a new property takes time to get a feel for the place and imagine what it will be like.
The walls are not yet painted. I am a big fan of Venetian plaster. Shelves and wall art not yet installed. The garden is also updated: patio, sitting area, plants. I’m going to Loft.
However, we are not planning any structural changes to the house. we like
Are there any issues with the property that need to be addressed?
All new construction has little cracks here and there that need to be fixed as there comes a time when the building breaks down. We are very pleased with the level of service provided by the site manager, Sammy, and all of our contractors.
Fixed a minor issue we had. Because we bought it out of the blue, we didn’t have a chance to customize much of the interior of the house until the construction work was complete. Family bathroom, ground floor, etc.
What do you want homebuyers to know?
When choosing a house – The new building is great. He was worried about the new stigma, but he couldn’t imagine the stress of renovating an old property. New construction also benefits from purchase assistance for those who cannot quickly put together a full security deposit as home prices rise.
During the purchase process – Here’s what I learned from the whole process: In addition to the security deposit, we also provide stamp duty, legal fees, brokerage fees, property, furniture, etc. Please adjust. Allow enough time to travel, if possible. I was tired because I didn’t.
When you feel at home – Shop and DIY. We don’t buy street furniture chains, we install blinds and platforms, we build storage rooms and cabinets… Useful if you like to experiment.
What are your future housing plans? Do you plan to stay here for a long time?
You can opt for a single-family home with a garage, but you’d still buy new construction. It’s too early to think about how long you plan to live in your current home.
Do you want to join What I have?
What I Own is a series that takes people inside what they own to give a candid account of what it’s like to buy a home in the UK. If you are a homeowner and would like to share your story, please email [email protected].
It should also be nice to share how much you paid to live there and how you made the deposit. This is very important.
Participation is fine if you rent! What I Own runs alongside What I Rent, the same series but about rent. Again, if you’d like to participate, please email [email protected].
Shall we take a look?
Source: Metro
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
