Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder.
Last week we were in Manchester, but now we’re in Nottinghamshire – chatting to Alex Major and his wife Diana.
The pair were first-time buyers when they bought their three bedroom home last year and put down a 5% deposit under the First Homes Scheme.
Here’s what they had to say about their buying experience…
Tell us about yourself.
I’m 38, a sales manager, and live in a village in Nottinghamshire
Where is your property? What do you think of the area?
The property is in Carlton in Lindrick. It’s a really nice place to live, very quiet, and lots of woods to go out walking our dog, Mellow.
We chose Lindrick as it’s just four miles away from where Diana’s son, Denis, goes to school, but far enough out of the town centre to be very peaceful.
When did you move in?
We moved in in May 2023.
How much does your property cost?
The property was priced at £219,995.00, but we bought it under the First Homes Scheme, which gave us a 30% reduction so we paid £153,996.00.
How much was your deposit?
Due to being first-time buyers, we put down a 5% deposit, which equates to £7,700.
What is the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills?
Including the mortgage and bills, the house costs around £1,085 a month to run – comparatively less to when we were renting!
The breakdown for our costs is:
Mortgage: £768.00
Council tax: £169.00
Gas and electricity: £90.00
House insurance: £9.00
Water: £14.00
Broadband: £35.00
How did you save up for your deposit?
It was a mixture of savings and inheritance from my mum, which made up our deposit and fees.
What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?
Getting a mortgage was easier than Diana and I expected, it was a huge step to take and at first it was a very daunting prospect.
The most challenging part was taking the first steps, but then everything seemed to go very smoothly and we were supported by our developer Keepmoat.
Can you share details on your mortgage (rate/term)?
We fixed our mortgage for five years at 4.84%.
Where did you live before this – were you renting or living with family?
We privately rented a 1920s cottage in Worksop town centre.
What made you want to buy rather than renting?
We were planning to move and to rent again, but we wanted more certainty, freedom and a place to call our own. We also wanted to escape some issues that we were facing in our rented property, including damp problems. We knew if we owned a home we could have more control and make improvements if we needed to.
How did you find this property? What made you choose it?
We were looking to buy in certain areas and came across Keepmoat’s development at Carlton in Lindrick on their website. We thought a new-build would be perfect considering our on-going problems with the older rented cottage and the damp issues beginning to impact our young family.
How have you made the property feel like home?
A great part of buying a new build meant we were able to pick our kitchen counters, cupboards, flooring throughout the property, as well as tiling in the bathrooms. This was a really great start to make it feel like home and now we’ve started to decorate various rooms to make it unique and personal.
What’s the inspiration for your interior decor style?
We wanted something modern but also wanted to keep things simple. When painting we chose a few colours together, then I left my wife decide on the final combinations!
What’s your favourite room and why?
Our favorite room has to be the kitchen – it’s the hub of the house and has great appliances that we both love!
Do you feel like you have enough space?
We have all the space we could ask for, including a very generous garden.
Do you have plans to change the property?
We have added some additions of our own since moving in, including a small decking area in the back garden and a picket style fence to the front, but we have no plans to make any structural changes.
Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?
We don’t have any issues with the property, it’s extremely well built!
What do you want people to know about buying a home?
It’s a daunting prospect and a lot of work, but we believe that it is well worth it – to be able to call it your own, have the security and freedom is fantastic. I moved up from London so never pictured myself owning a property, so I’d say if you think it’s not possible, working hard and saving definitely makes an impact and there’s so many options available to help buyers! Explore your options and save hard.
Do you want to feature in What I Own?
What I Own is a Metro.co.uk series that takes you inside people’s properties, to take an honest look at what it’s like to buy a home in the UK.
If you own your home and would be up for sharing your story, please email [email protected]
What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long term?
We have no intention of leaving the property for a long time! It could be our forever home.
Shall we take a look around?
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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