February 15th 2025.
This week, we are taking a peek into the lovely home of Emily McAllister and Ciaran Dennis in Upminster, East London. Welcome back to What I Own, Metro's property series where we chat with homeowners about their journey to homeownership. Emily and Ciaran were able to get on the property ladder at a young age of 23 and 24, respectively, thanks to their savings while living with their parents.
Their two-bedroom maisonette, which they bought for £278,000, has become their cozy haven. They were pleasantly surprised to find that their monthly mortgage payments were actually lower than the average rental rates in the area. This has allowed them to put their own touch on the place and make it their own.
Emily, 24, works as a marketing manager while her boyfriend, Ciaran, 25, is an insurance broker. They also share their home with their adorable Corgi, Padron. Located in Upminster, right at the end of the District Line in Zone 6, their home offers the perfect mix of peaceful countryside living and the convenience of city life. They both grew up in this area and have a deep love for it.
The couple moved into their home in August 2024 after some necessary renovations. They overpay their mortgage by £150 each month to pay it off faster. Their total monthly expenses, including mortgage and bills, come to around £1,817.49. Apart from the mortgage, they also pay for council tax, water, gas, electric, WiFi, TV license, contents insurance, boiler insurance, Ring doorbell, and a window cleaner.
Saving up for a deposit was made easier for Emily and Ciaran as they were able to live rent-free with their families. They also used Lifetime ISAs to boost their savings with a government bonus, and Emily's parents kindly gifted them around £5,000 towards the deposit. When it came to getting a mortgage, they found the process overwhelming at first but had a great mortgage advisor who helped them every step of the way.
Their 35-year mortgage has a 4.89% interest rate. The decision to buy rather than rent was an easy one for the couple, as renting in their area was actually more expensive than a mortgage. They found their dream home as soon as it hit Rightmove and made an offer immediately after the first viewing. Their maisonette, built in the 1960s, needed a lot of work, but the location was perfect for them.
Emily and Ciaran have put a lot of work into making their house feel like a home. They had to do some essential renovations like rewiring, installing a new boiler, building an office mezzanine area, and new flooring. This not only made the house more livable but also allowed them to add their personal touch to the place. They credit their amazing builders at Essex Install for helping them achieve their vision. Emily finds inspiration for her interior decor style from Pinterest and TikTok.
Thank you, Emily, for sharing your property journey with us. We wish you and Ciaran all the best in your lovely home. For more news and updates from the capital, don't forget to visit Metro's London news hub.
Hello and welcome back to What I Own, Metro's property series where we chat with homeowners about their journey to becoming homeowners. This week, we're taking a peek inside Emily McAllister and Ciaran Dennis' lovely two-bedroom maisonette in Upminster, East London. The couple, now in their mid-twenties, were able to get on the property ladder at a young age thanks to their diligent saving while living with their parents. And not only are they now proud homeowners, but they've also found that their monthly mortgage payments are actually lower than the average rental rates in their area. Bonus!
I had the pleasure of chatting with Emily about their experience of buying and renovating their first home. She shared with me that they both work full-time, with Emily as a marketing manager and Ciaran as an insurance broker. They also have a cute Corgi named Padron who happily joins them in their cozy abode.
Their home is located in Upminster, a charming suburb at the end of the District Line in Zone 6. Both Emily and Ciaran grew up in the area and absolutely love it. It's the perfect blend of peaceful countryside living with easy access to the bustling city. They even have a park right at the end of their road for walks with Padron. Talk about the best of both worlds!
The couple got the keys to their property in May 2024, but didn't officially move in until August of the same year after completing some much-needed renovations. And speaking of renovations, Emily and Ciaran are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. They overpay their mortgage by £150 each month in order to pay it off faster and have also put their own spin on the place, thanks to their DIY skills.
As for the cost of their property, they purchased it for £278,000 and put down a 10% deposit of £27,800. Currently, their total monthly expenses, including mortgage and bills, come to around £1,817.49. This includes their mortgage payment of £1,250.20, council tax of £177, water at £40, gas and electric at £100, WiFi at £27, TV licence at £12, and contents insurance at £23.80. They also pay for boiler insurance at £22 per month, a Ring doorbell at £7.99, and a window cleaner at £7.50.
When asked how they were able to save for their deposit, Emily shared that they were fortunate to live rent-free with their families while saving. They also utilized Lifetime ISAs, which helped boost their savings with a government bonus. And to top it off, Emily's parents generously gifted them around £5,000 towards their deposit.
Navigating the mortgage process can be daunting, but Emily and Ciaran had the support of an amazing mortgage advisor, Jason at Grech Wealth Management, who guided them through every step. They have a 35-year mortgage with a 4.89% interest rate.
For Emily and Ciaran, buying a home was always the goal. And in their area, renting is actually more expensive than a mortgage, making the decision to buy an easy one. They found their dream home as soon as it hit the market and immediately put in an offer after their first viewing. Their maisonette, built in the 1960s, needed some work, but the location was perfect and they knew they had to have it.
After getting the keys, Emily and Ciaran wasted no time in making their property truly feel like home. They did a full rewire, installed a new boiler, built an office mezzanine area, and put in new flooring. All of this hard work not only made their home livable but also allowed them to put their own stamp on it. Shoutout to their amazing builders at Essex Install! Emily's interior design inspiration comes from Pinterest and TikTok, and they have truly created a cozy and stylish space to call their own.
Thank you, Emily, for sharing your inspiring home ownership journey with us. It's clear that you and Ciaran have put a lot of love and hard work into making your house a home. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors! And for our readers, keep an eye out for the next installment of What I Own. Until then, have a lovely week!
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