What I Own: Teacher Carl, who put down a £4,500 deposit on his Hertfordshire flat with shared ownership

We're chatting to Carl this week (Image: Susannah Eire)

That is What I Personal.

In the event you’re new right here, we take you inside the house of a unique home-owner each week. This time it’s the flip of Carl, who moved into his Hertfordshire flat final yr. 

He was a first-time purchaser who used shared possession to get on the ladder as a single revenue family.

That is what he needed to say about his shopping for expertise…

I'm 32, I’m a trainer at a social, emotional and psychological well being faculty and I'm based mostly in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. 

My property is in Hertfordshire, about half an hour out of London. I like the realm, it’s very quiet and the persons are pleasant. Transport hyperlinks are good, there’s hardly any visitors and most of my pals had moved out of London – so I’m nearer to most of them now. 

Carl was a first-time purchaser and moved in final yr (Image: Susannah Eire)

I moved in June 2021.

£250,000.

£4,500.

Roughly £1,200.

Lockdown undoubtedly helped as I used to be in a position to save greater than half of my revenue a month. As I wasn’t in a position to exit for nearly six months, it was simple to avoid wasting. 

He went down the shared possession route (Image: Susannah Eire)

It wasn’t too unhealthy. I had a mortgage in precept however the firm then weren’t in a position to provide the mortgage as that they had oversubscribed the event so it went by way of about three different firms earlier than it was secured – however I had a dealer who handled all of it, which was nice. The method itself was very simple.

With household.

I had set myself a purpose to be a house owner in 2021 and by no means even thought of renting. I wished someplace to name my very own.

Carl plans to remain right here for just a few extra years (Image: Susannah Eire)

I used the ‘share to purchase’ web site and checked it often and this was a new-build improvement and the deposit was affordable and the anticipated month-to-month prices have been achievable on a single revenue.

I checked out 4 totally different flats on this improvement however this one had an en-suite toilet and had an incredible view out of the balcony doorways. The sunshine that is available in within the mornings offered it for me additionally. 

I haven’t totally put my stamp on it but. It was all model new once I moved in so I’ve put in my furnishings and a few footage however, by way of adorning, I haven’t completed something but.

My plan is to brighten in the summertime – after I’ve been right here for a yr. 

I’ve stored every little thing black. I like darker colors, it’s principally an IKEA showroom. I’ve stored it easy because it’s my first house so I don’t actually have a method but – I’m positive I’ll develop one over the following few years.

Undoubtedly my lounge. I like my sofas and my TV set-up. The unit homes my rum assortment. I additionally like that it’s open-plan so when I've family and friends spherical, I can nonetheless socialise whereas I’m cooking. Additionally, it permits essentially the most mild as I've patio doorways and home windows on two partitions so the view is nice, too. 

In the meanwhile sure. My second bed room is useful for friends, in addition to my coach and aftershave assortment.

His spare room homes his aftershave assortment (Image: Susannah Eire)

Simply plans to brighten throughout the subsequent few months so as to add some extra character to the rooms.

I feel I’ve been fortunate that it has been plain crusing since shifting in.

It’s undoubtedly an incredible feeling the day you go to choose up your keys. Additionally in case you can, begin shopping for issues earlier than you’ve even discovered a spot you want. I had virtually every little thing for my kitchen at my mother and father’ home earlier than I even began viewing properties, so once I moved in I didn’t have to purchase a lot as I had virtually every little thing I wanted. 

Additionally, typically it was an actual take a look at of endurance ready for mortgage firms and solicitors but it surely was value it in the long run.

And measure every little thing twice. My fridge virtually didn’t slot in my entrance door.

I plan to remain right here for just a few extra years, by then I’ll most likely be settled down with youngsters and a canine who is aware of – so will want someplace larger and possibly just a little nearer to London.

Let’s begin the tour (Image: Susannah Eire)

The principle house (Image: Susannah Eire)

The lounge space (Image: Susannah Eire)

The TV unit homes Carl’s rum assortment (Image: Susannah Eire)

It opens into the eating room and kitchen (Image: Susannah Eire)

Carl loves the open plan house for entertaining (Image: Susannah Eire)

A number of storage space (Image: Susannah Eire)

We spy an air fryer (Image: Susannah Eire)

Into the bedrooms we go (Image: Susannah Eire)

The main bedroom (Image: Susannah Eire)

Carl says he plans to brighten this summer season (Image: Susannah Eire)

He advises to begin shopping for issues earlier than you progress in (Image: Susannah Eire)

The spare room (Image: Susannah Eire)

The toilet (Image: Susannah Eire)

(Image: Susannah Eire)

Do you need to characteristic in What I Personal?

What I Personal is a Metro.co.uk collection that takes you inside individuals’s properties, to take an trustworthy have a look at what it’s like to purchase a house within the UK. In the event you personal your property and could be up for sharing your story, please e-mail lizzie.thomson@metro.co.uk. 

You’ll additionally should be okay with sharing how a lot you’ve paid to dwell there and the way you afforded the deposit, as that’s fairly necessary. 

In the event you’re renting, you may participate too! What I Personal runs alongside What I Lease, which is identical collection however all about renting. Once more, in case you’d wish to become involved simply e-mail