For last week’s sister column, What I Rent, we visited 23-year-old content creator Maddie Borge, who moved from Norway to start her dream life in central London five years ago.
This week, we’re in Nottingham visiting 28-year-old Emily Smith, who, together with her husband, bought a new-build property during the pandemic and, four years later, has transformed it into a colourful haven with velvet sofas and wall prints galore.
When the pair initially visited the property, they thought it was way out of their budget… until they learned about a little-known loophole that made it instantly affordable. The rest is history.
Here’s what she had to say about their property journey…
I’m 28, and live in Nottingham with my husband Jake. I work part-time as an NHS medical physicist in X-ray, and spend the rest of my week creating social media content – amongst a few other freelance projects. I love doing a little bit of everything!
I live on a new-build estate in a lovely suburb of Nottingham – the location is perfect for me. I love that I have easy access to the city centre, as well as more local amenities.
We moved in November 2020 (mid-lockdown!).
It cost us £298,000 including an NHS discount that we were very lucky to receive and made the house affordable for us at the time.
£15,000 – 5%. We also used the government’s help to buy equity loan which gave us a 20% top up.
Approximately £1,250.
Very gradually, ever since finishing university – saving for a home was always a priority. We opened lifetime ISAs which topped up our savings with a bonus that could be used towards a deposit.
Being first-time buyers moving into a new build, the process of buying the house was very straightforward for us. Applying for a mortgage was a fairly simple task online/over the phone.
We’re on our second two-year fixed rate – but a little nervous that the interest might jump up when it renews this year!
Renting a similar property a little further outside the city.
I’ve always wanted the security of owning a home, and the chance to really add my own stamp to my home. The freedom to decorate and DIY is great!
At the time, we weren’t actively looking for a house. But it was lockdown, and there were some new houses being built in an area that we loved, so we thought we’d go and have a look around. We weren’t financially ready to buy yet, we were just nosey!
When we saw the house, we were so impressed with the light and space. We loved it, but it was all still for a hypothetical “one day” until we found out about the NHS discount… we hurried home to do some maths, suddenly realising that the house might be something we could actually afford right away. It was the perfect place and the perfect timing.
Since moving in we’ve decorated pretty much everywhere – colour and fun makes this place feel like home.
We were determined to put our stamp on the house as soon as possible, moving away from the generic new build style and towards something that shows off more personality. The bright white that covered every wall when we moved in is very nearly all gone!
I want our home to be a happy place that reflects who we are – this manifests as fun, bright, modern and practical decor. I aim to make it a joyful space, with as much bright colour as I can get away with while keeping it classy!
The living room is my favourite. It looks onto the garden and is always light. It feels like it has the perfect balance of fun and sophistication, and the yellow sofa has always been my pride and joy.
I love that whichever way I’m looking, there is something joyful to see – the gallery wall, the garden, the art TV above the cabinets I DIY-ed, or the whimsical cuckoo clock that pops out every hour and somehow, four years in, still brings me delight every time.
Absolutely. We’ve always made the most of every bit of space here. We use the second bedroom as a home office, and the third smaller room as a dressing room, so every room in the house gets used every day.
That said, we’re currently reshuffling everything to make room for a new little arrival… so let’s see how the space copes with three people!
No major changes are on the horizon, just the fun project of creating a nursery for the little one!
We haven’t had any issues since living here – the benefit of a house where everything’s brand new when you move in!
Buying a home and to have a space that’s truly your own is such an incredible privilege.
My advice would be to buy something practical that has the space you want, in the area you want. No matter how plain it is when you buy it, you can add character with your decor. Don’t shy away from being a DIY beginner; owning my home has taught me so many skills I never tried before.
Ultimately, we will want to move as our family grows – but for now, this house is perfect. When we moved in, we thought of it as a five-year sort of home. We’ve been here nearly four years now.
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