October 5th 2024.
Hello there, readers! This week, we are exploring the beautiful coastal town of Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. As part of our What I Own series, we are speaking to homeowners about their property journey and the joys of owning a home. Last week, we visited Gill Ross in Surrey and this week, we are checking out Natalie Brown and her family's lovely three-bedroom house.
Natalie, a 44-year-old freelance journalist and author, shares her home with her husband Rob, their four children, and their adorable dog. They previously lived in a cramped two-bedroom flat in Hove, East Sussex, but decided to upsize and make the move to Shoreham-by-Sea. They fell in love with the area and their new home so much that they can't imagine living anywhere else.
Natalie gives us a glimpse into their property journey and shares some interesting insights. She tells us about their beautiful home, located on the coast road in Shoreham-by-Sea, right across from the entrance to Shoreham Harbour. The bustling area is filled with boats, a lighthouse, and even a sauna in a converted horsebox on the beach. With lots of development and regeneration going on, the neighborhood has a positive and family-friendly vibe.
The family moved into their new home in July 2024, right in the middle of the school holidays. In hindsight, Natalie admits that it may not have been the best timing. The property cost them £410,000, and they were able to put down a deposit of £90,000. With a mortgage and bills, their monthly cost of living now comes up to £3,000.
When asked about how they saved up for their deposit, Natalie explains that they used the equity from their previous property, a flat in Hove that they had bought from the family following her grandmother's death in 2018. Being self-employed freelancers with four children, getting a mortgage from a high street bank was not an option for them. They had to go to a specialist lender who understood their situation and the unpredictable nature of their income. It was a stressful process, but with the help of an independent financial advisor, they were able to secure a 24-year mortgage fixed for five years at 6.3%.
Before this, the family had lived in a two-bedroom flat on the seafront in Hove, which used to belong to Natalie's grandmother. However, with a growing family, they had outgrown the space and were in need of a bigger home. When asked why they decided to buy instead of renting, Natalie explains that after working hard to get on the property ladder in 2018, they intend to stay on it. Their house is not just a home, but also an investment for their family's future.
Natalie tells us about their house-hunting journey and how they found their dream home. With the crazy property prices in Hove, they knew they had to move a bit further up the coast to afford a house with a garden. However, they also wanted to keep their children in the same schools, so their search area was quite specific. When Natalie saw the house on Rightmove in 2023, she was immediately drawn to its Victorian architecture, seafront location, and lovely garden. Although it was initially out of their budget, they kept an eye on it, and the price was eventually reduced twice. They arranged a viewing, and as soon as Natalie walked up the front path, she knew it was "The One" for them. After a second viewing with Rob, they put their flat on the market and were able to negotiate a price of £5,000 under the asking price.
Since moving in, the family has been working on making the property feel like home. Natalie explains that their house is a traditional late Victorian terrace with some original period features, such as doors and skirting boards, still intact. However, some others, like fireplaces and coving, had been taken out. They plan to put these back with a modern twist and enhance the period charm of the house.
When asked about their favorite room in the house, Natalie and Rob both agree that it's the garden. They didn't have any private outdoor space before, so having a garden for their children to play in, a patio to have meals on, and a washing line to dry laundry has been priceless. Plus, they have a view of the lighthouse from their backyard, which is pretty special.
Despite having more space than their old flat, Natalie admits that they still don't feel like they have enough. Currently, their dining room is being used as a bedroom until they can add extra rooms in the loft. The kitchen, in typical Victorian style, is long and thin, and there isn't enough room for the family of six to sit and eat together.
However, the family has big plans for the property, including converting the loft into two bedrooms and extending the kitchen into the garden to create an open-plan kitchen/diner. They also want to make some changes to the garden, like adding a home office and a shed, which Rob has creatively dubbed the "shoffice." Natalie also jokes about the amount of woodchip wallpaper in the house that she is looking forward to peeling off.
Overall, Natalie and her family are thrilled with their new home and are excited about all the changes and improvements they have planned. They have successfully joined the property ladder and intend to stay on it, making their house an investment for their family's future.
Hello there! We are currently enjoying a lovely week by the sea, and we're excited to bring you the latest installment of our property series, What I Own. This is where we chat with homeowners about their journey to becoming a homeowner. Last time, we caught up with Gill Ross, a vibrant 77-year-old who decided to join a thriving retirement community after selling her South London home in 2021. She's made so many new friends and couldn't be happier with her decision. This week, we're in West Sussex, taking a peek inside Natalie Brown and her family's charming three-bedroom home in Shoreham-by-Sea.
Before we dive into their property journey, let's introduce ourselves. I'm Natalie, 44 years young, and I'm a freelance journalist, author, and parenting blogger. You can find me sharing the highs and lows of being a mum of four on my blog, Confessions of a Crummy Mummy. My wonderful husband, Rob, 46, and I live with our four children - Bluebell, 13, Max, nine, Marigold, seven, and Violet, four.
Now, let's talk about their property. It's located on the coast road in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, right across the entrance to Shoreham Harbour. It's a bustling area with boats coming in and out, a magnificent Grade II listed lighthouse, an RNLI lifeboat station, and even a sauna in a converted horsebox on the beach in front of their home. The neighborhood is undergoing a lot of development and regeneration, transforming former industrial sites into family-friendly homes.
Natalie and Rob moved into their new home in July 2024, right at the start of the school holidays. Looking back, they admit that it probably wasn't the best timing. The property cost them £410,000, and their deposit was £90,000. Currently, their monthly expenses, including mortgage and bills, add up to £3,000.
When it comes to saving for their deposit, they used the equity from their previous property, a two-bedroom flat in Hove, East Sussex. As self-employed freelancers with no fixed paychecks and four dependents, getting a mortgage from a high street bank wasn't an option for them. They had to turn to a specialist lender who could understand their unique situation, including Natalie's book royalties. It was a challenging and stressful process, but with the help of an excellent independent financial advisor, they were able to secure a mortgage.
Their mortgage is a 24-year fixed-rate at 6.3%, and before moving to their current home, they owned a two-bedroom flat on the seafront in Hove, East Sussex. It used to be Natalie's grandmother's, and they bought it from the family after her passing in 2018. Although they loved the location, with four kids sharing one bedroom, they quickly outgrew the space and knew it was time to find a bigger home.
So, why did they choose to buy instead of renting? Well, after working so hard to get on the property ladder in 2018, they are determined to stay on it. They see their home as an investment for their family's future.
Their search for a new home wasn't easy, given the crazy property prices in Hove. They had to look further up the coast to find a home with a garden that they could afford, while also keeping their kids in the same schools. In the summer of 2023, Natalie saw their current home on Rightmove, and it immediately caught her eye. The Victorian architecture, seafront location, and lovely garden were all irresistible. However, it was initially out of their price range. But over the next few months, the price was reduced twice.
Eventually, Natalie arranged to view the house while Rob was at work, and as soon as she stepped onto the front path, she knew it was the perfect home for their family. They went for a second viewing together, and within a week, they put their flat on the market. Luckily, the house was still available when they received an acceptable offer for their flat three months later. After some negotiation, their offer of £5,000 under the asking price was accepted.
Now, let's talk about turning their property into a home. The house has a traditional late Victorian design, and while some original features, like doors and skirting boards, remain, others, such as fireplaces and coving, have been removed. They plan to add modern touches and restore the period charm.
When asked about their favorite room in the house, Natalie didn't hesitate to say the garden. It's the most used room in their home, and for a good reason. They didn't have any private outdoor space before, and having a garden has been a game-changer for the kids. They can now play outside, enjoy meals on the patio, and even dry their laundry on the washing line. They can also see the lighthouse from their garden, which is a special bonus.
However, Natalie admits that they still don't feel like they have enough space. Their home is bigger than their previous flat, but they are currently using their dining room as a bedroom until they can convert the loft into two bedrooms. And while the kitchen is a typical Victorian style, long and narrow, there isn't enough room for the whole family to sit and eat together.
But that's all about to change as they have big plans for their property. They want to convert the loft into two bedrooms, extend the kitchen into the garden, and create an open-plan kitchen/diner. They also plan to add a home office and shed at the back of the garden, which Rob has already dubbed the 'shoffice.' And let's not forget the woodchip wallpaper that Natalie is eagerly waiting to peel off.
And that's it for our chat with Natalie about their property journey. We hope you enjoyed getting to know their story, and we wish them all the best as they continue to turn their house into a home. Until next time, take care!
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