We’re in St Neots this week (Picture: SWNS)
Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s weekly homeowner series.
This week we are chatting to Gabriel Christopher, who lives in Cambridgeshire.
He put down a 5% through the Help to Buy scheme and loves having the countryside on his doorstep.
Here’s what Gabriel had to say about getting on the property ladder.
Tell us about yourself, Gabriel.
I’m 51 and am a nurse. Before my move to St Neots, I worked as a Clinical Practice Lead at John Howards East London NHS Foundation Trust. It was a busy role that I enjoyed. With relocating I moved job too. I now work at St Neots Neurological Centre, which is not too far from where I live.
Where is your property? What do you think of the area?
My apartment is in a new Durkan Homes development on the eastern edge of St Neots, Cambridgeshire. The site is called Wintringham.
The area is great and there are lots of independent shops, cafes and restaurants nearby. And, importantly, the countryside is on my doorstep. That’s the biggest difference between living here and living in London, and one of the main reasons I moved. It’s easy to get into St Neots as well, and I’m not far from the main road into Cambridge. I can easily get back into London on the train to see friends and family.
Gabriel moved in last year (Picture: SWNS)
When did you move in?
In January 2022.
How much does your property cost?
£267,500
How much was your deposit?
£13,375 (5% through Help to Buy)
How did you save up for your deposit?
Putting aside money from my pay slip every month. London was expensive and it’s difficult to save up, but I got to my target deposit in the end.
What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?
It wasn’t difficult for me but I’d advise people to always check their credit history periodically. I had a mark on my account, which I wasn’t even aware of. It was a minor thing and my mortgage broker was able to resolve it with my lender quickly, but it’s something that people should be mindful of.
Where did you live before this – were you renting or living with family?
I lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Greenwich. I’ve been in London for so long and wanted to move out and get my own home as soon as I could.
Living in St Neots for me has been considerably less expensive compared to London. I’m really happy because I am not spending as much anymore.
He used the Help to Buy scheme to get on the ladder (Picture: SWNS)
What made you want to buy rather than renting?
I’ve always had aspirations of home ownership. Renting in the city was so expensive it became hard to save money, and apartment prices are increasing all the time. Combined with the busyness, noise and poor air quality, living in London was adding to the stress of my busy job.
How did you find this property? What made you choose it?
After visiting a friend who’d relocated from London to St Neots, I started to really consider a move out of London. I’ve always loved the countryside and could see that my friend’s quality of life had massively improved since leaving the city. That’s when I started to seriously consider following in their footsteps, and I researched a range of properties and housebuilders.
Not only did St Neots offer the tight-knit community that I didn’t have living in a big city, Durkan Homes’ site at Wintringham gave me the choice of properties that just weren’t available to me in the capital. I was impressed with the offering and I was able to get a same-day appointment to view the new homes. It was as easy as that.
‘Renting in the city was so expensive’ (Picture: SWNS)
How have you made the property feel like home?
I’ve brought some furniture with me, but I’ve not had to do too much. I was able to choose my laminate flooring and carpets, which allowed me to put my stamp on the apartment.
What’s the inspiration for your interior decor style?
For me it’s three things: keeping everything clean, casual and cosy.
What’s your favourite room and why?
It’s got to be the open-plan kitchen and living room, that leads out onto the balcony. The kitchen looks great, and everything is finished so well. It’s been nice having a new induction hob, although I needed a few pointers early on to work it! In the summer it’s so nice to have the glass doors open out onto the balcony. Together they all make a nice space to relax and hang out in with my daughter.
Do you feel like you have enough space?
Yes. Having two bedrooms means my apartment has excellent storage space, which is a big change from the one-bedroom apartment I was renting in London. Having the countryside on your door step also makes a difference, compared to living in London. You feel freer and can enjoy being outside every day with space to do things, which my daughter loves when she comes to visit. We also have our own terrace so can enjoy that space and the outside from the comfort of my apartment.
‘I’ve always loved the countryside’ (Picture: SWNS)
Do you have plans to change the property?
Not for now. I’ve put some of my own things in and I’ll be buying more bits for the apartment as I go. But I don’t have any plans to redecorate – everything is already so well finished I don’t really need to do anything. And that’s the beauty of a new home. I just walked in!
Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?
None at all. The buying process was all very smooth and I even got a washing machine free of charge, which gave me one less thing to worry about. I did struggle with the new induction hob though. But I’ll be honest, that was more user error than anything else. The team even popped over and gave me a few pointers and gifted me a new cooking pot that worked on induction. All very helpful!
What do you want people to know about buying a home?
It’s often seen as a stressful process and perhaps that puts some people off. I had the opposite experience and maybe I’m one of the lucky few. But I would say that aside from getting a brand-new home, working with a developer can really help. They can make moving easier and moving in smoother. It’s worth really considering who you buy with, and what their customer service is like. There are some good deals to be had now too – so really investigate what’s available.
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 lizzie.thomson@metro.co.uk.
What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long term?
I’m staying put for the foreseeable future. I’m getting more involved in things, and particularly with the local church community. I have everything I need on my doorstop, and travel into the city is really easy. I may upsize in the future, but my apartment is the right place for me to be right now.
Shall we take a look around?
Let’s start the tour (Picture: SWNS)
The main living space (Picture: SWNS)
Open plan design (Picture: SWNS)
‘I’m really happy because I am not spending as much anymore’ (Picture: SWNS)
The cosy, neutral space (Picture: SWNS)
Onto the kitchen (Picture: SWNS)
‘Everything is already so well finished I don’t really need to do anything’ (Picture: SWNS)
Another kitchen angle (Picture: SWNS)
Dining space (Picture: SWNS)
One of two bathrooms in the flat (Picture: SWNS)
The master bedroom (Picture: SWNS)
‘Having two bedrooms means my apartment has excellent storage space’ (Picture: SWNS)
”For me it’s three things: keeping everything clean, casual and cosy’ (Picture: SWNS)
‘I’ve always had aspirations of home ownership’ (Picture: SWNS)
The second bedroom (Picture: SWNS)
(Picture: SWNS)
Utility set up (Picture: SWNS)
The bathroom (Picture: SWNS)
The balcony space (Picture: SWNS)
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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‘I’d advise people to always check their credit history – I had a mark on my account, I wasn’t even aware of.’