Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder.
When Emily McAllister and Ciaran Dennis initially viewed their first home together, they immediately fell in love.
They made an offer straight away, and ended up getting on the property ladder when they were just 23 and 24 respectively, having saved while living rent-free with their parents.
Now, they’ve picked up the keys to their £278,000 two-bedroom maisonette in Upminster, and they try to pay off an extra £150 each month so they can be mortgage-free quicker.
They’ve also found that the cost of their monthly payments is actually lower than the average rental rates for the area – and they’ve been able to put their own spin on the place, too.
Here’s what Emily had to say about their property journey…
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Tell us about yourself!
I’m Emily McAllister, 24, and my boyfriend, Ciaran Dennis, is 25. We’re based in Upminster, East London, with our Corgi, Padron. I work as a marketing manager, and Ciaran is an insurance broker.
Where is your property? What do you think of the area?
We live in Upminster, right at the end of the District Line in Zone 6. We’ve both grown up here and absolutely love it.
It’s the perfect mix of quiet countryside and city living. There’s a park at the end of our road for dog walks, yet we’re only 20 minutes from London by train. It really feels like the best of both worlds.
When did you move in?
We got the keys in May 2024, but we didn’t officially move in until August 2024, after completing some much-needed renovations.
How much does your property cost?
We paid £278,000 for our two-bed maisonette.
How much was your deposit?
We put down a 10% deposit of £27,800.
What is the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills?
Our total monthly cost is around £1,817.49. Our mortgage is £1,250.20, and we overpay by £150 each month to chip away at it faster. Our council tax costs £177, water is £40, gas and electric £100, WiFi £27, TV licence £12, and contents insurance £23.80.
We also pay for boiler insurance, which costs £22 per month, a Ring doorbell at £7.99, and a window cleaner at £7.50.
How did you save up for your deposit?
We were really lucky to be able to live rent-free with our families while saving, which made a huge difference. We both used Lifetime ISAs (LISAs), which helped boost our savings with a government bonus, and my parents kindly gifted us around £5,000 towards our deposit.
What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?
It was definitely overwhelming at first, but we had an amazing mortgage advisor, Jason at Grech Wealth Management, who guided us through every step. We honestly couldn’t have done it without him.
Can you share details on your mortgage (rate/term)?
We have a 35-year mortgage with a 4.89% interest rate.
What made you want to buy rather than rent?
We’ve always saved with the goal of buying a home, and renting in our area is actually more expensive than a mortgage. So, it was a no-brainer for us to buy rather than rent.
How did you find this property? What made you choose it?
We spotted it as soon as it hit Rightmove and booked a viewing straight away. It needed a lot of work, but the location was perfect. We walked out of the first viewing knowing we had to put in an offer – so we did, immediately.
How have you made the property feel like home? What’s the inspiration for your interior decor style?
We did a lot of work when we got the keys. We’ve had a full rewire, a new boiler, we built an office mezzanine area and new flooring.
Doing all of the work was essential to make it liveable, but also meant we could really make it feel like our home by putting our stamp on it – huge shoutout to our amazing builders at Essex Install. I get most of my interior design inspiration from Pinterest or TikTok.
What’s your favourite room and why?
Probably our open-plan kitchen/living area – it’s great for hosting because whoever is cooking can still be part of the conversation. I also love our office mezzanine. It was a wasted space before, and transforming it into a functional area was such a satisfying project.
Do you feel like you have enough space?
For now, yes. Even though it’s a two-bed maisonette, we’re lucky to have loft access and a garage for extra storage. Creating a separate office space also made a huge difference in keeping our work setup away from our main living area.
Do you have plans to change the property?
We’ve done a lot already, but the list never really ends. Our next big focus is tackling the front and back garden to get it ready for summer. Inside, we still need to install built-in wardrobes in the spare room and paint all the doors.
Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?
Since our home was built in the ‘60s and hadn’t been updated much, we had quite a few issues. We had to do a full electrical rewire and install a new boiler, along with lots of cosmetic updates. It was a lot to handle at first, but worth it in the end.
What do you want people to know about buying a home?
Everything costs twice as much as you expect. Also, Facebook Marketplace will be your best friend when it comes to finding affordable furniture and decor.
Be patient – things take time and money, and it’s better to live in your space before making big interior decisions. Trust me, you’ll change your mind more than once.
What are your plans for the future in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long-term?
We’ll probably stay here for another two to three years before looking to buy a house in the same area. Ideally, we’d love our next home to be our long-term/forever home – I’d like to avoid the stress of moving and renovating again for as long as possible.
Shall we take a look around?
This article was first published on February 15, 2025.
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