December 14th 2024.
Hello there! It's great to have you back for another installment of "What I Own," Metro's series where we chat with homeowners about their journey to owning a property. This week, we're in the beautiful town of St Neots, Cambridgeshire, where we meet 51-year-old solicitor, Richard Tosh. After spending 17 years in New Zealand, Richard and his family decided it was time for a change and made the move back to the UK earlier this year.
Richard, his wife Jennifer, and their youngest daughter packed up their Kiwi home and embarked on a new adventure in St Neots. With a fresh start ahead of them, they were excited to make their new house a home and even bought all new furniture to bring their own personal touch to the space.
Let's hear from Richard about their property journey...
First, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your family?
Well, my name is Richard Tosh and I'm 51 years young. I work as a solicitor, and my wife Jennifer, who is 47, was a school administrator in New Zealand. We have two daughters - 13-year-old Lauren, who made the move with us, and 19-year-old Brianna, who is still living in New Zealand. Jennifer is originally from New Zealand, but I was born in Scotland and grew up near Middlesbrough before living in London for 10 years.
What made you decide to move back to the UK?
After living in New Zealand for so long, we felt it was time for a change. Jennifer and I both have British roots and wanted to be closer to family and friends. Plus, we were ready for a new chapter in our lives.
How did you come across this property?
We found it on Rightmove. We were drawn to its size, design, and features, and the sales team was really friendly.
And why did you choose St Neots as your new home?
We had heard great things about the area and felt it was the perfect place for us to start fresh. Being from the UK originally, I was especially drawn to the idea of being back in my home country. Plus, we were excited to have a modern home with all the features we had been missing in New Zealand.
What's your favorite part of the house?
Definitely the kitchen and dining area. We love the skylights that let in so much natural light.
Do you feel like you have enough space?
Absolutely. The house is really spacious and beautifully decorated. We especially love the kitchen and dining area, but we also have a four-bedroom, three-story home, which is great because our daughter has her own floor and there's plenty of room for guests. We also have a large garage for storage, which is a bonus.
Can you tell us a bit about the cost of the property?
The house cost £550,000, and our deposit was £300,000. Our monthly expenses, including mortgage and bills, come to around £3,000.
How did you save up for such a large deposit?
We used some of the money from the sale of our house in New Zealand.
Was the process of getting a mortgage challenging?
It was a bit harder than we expected because we had been living overseas for so long. But fortunately, we were able to secure a five-year fixed term mortgage with an interest rate of 4.73%.
Why did you choose to buy rather than rent?
We wanted to continue owning a home, like we did in New Zealand, and have the opportunity to pay off a mortgage rather than just paying rent to a landlord.
Now that you've settled in, how have you made the house feel like home?
We actually bought all new furniture for the house. We were advised not to paint or hang anything on the walls for the first two years to allow the new building materials to dry out and settle. So for now, everything is white and minimalist, but we're looking forward to adding more personal touches in the future.
Do you have any plans to make changes to the property?
Not at the moment. We're really happy with how it is, so no changes are needed.
What advice do you have for others looking to buy a home?
If you can, try to buy a home as soon as possible. It's much better than paying "dead money" to a landlord. Also, take some time to explore different areas and look at a variety of new and used homes before making a decision.
What are your future plans in terms of housing? Will you stay here long-term?
Well, our youngest daughter is in year 10, so we plan to stay here until she finishes school. After that, we'll see what we want to do. We might stay here, or we might look into moving to Yorkshire.
Well, it's been great chatting with you, Richard. Can we take a look around your home?
Of course! Come on in and take a look at our beautiful kitchen and dining area, the spacious garden, and our adorable miniature schnauzers. And don't miss the giant Rubik's cube and our festive Christmas decorations in the living room. Thanks for visiting!
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
