Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder.
This week, we’re in sunny St Neots, Cambridgeshire, visiting 51-year-old Richard Tosh. Having relocated to New Zealand 17 years ago, he wanted to reconnect with his British roots.
And so, along with his wife and youngest daughter, he packed up his Kiwi home earlier this year, and moved to the UK for a fresh start.
Left with a blank canvas, they were able to bring their own spin to the home – and bought entirely new furniture for the occasion.
Here’s what Richard had to say about their property journey…
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Richard Tosh, and I’m 51. I’m a solicitor, and my wife Jennifer, 47, was a school administrator in New Zealand. We lived in New Zealand for 17 years, but we felt it was time for a change.
Jennifer’s originally from New Zealand, but I was born in Scotland and grew up near Middlesbrough before spending 10 years in London.
We moved here with our 13-year-old daughter, Lauren, and our two miniature schnauzers. We also have a 19-year-old daughter, Brianna, who still lives in New Zealand.
In my free time, I enjoy walking and have been getting back into it since we moved. The walking trails around here are fantastic for that, as well as for taking the dogs out.
Whereabouts is your property? What do you think of the area?
Our property is in Cala Homes Wintringham development in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
When did you move in?
June 1, 2024.
Where did you live before this – were you renting or living with family?
Auckland, New Zealand, in a house built in 1989 which we owned.
How did you find this property? What made you choose it?
We found the property on Rightmove. We liked the size, design and features of the house and the sales team was friendly.
We decided to move to St Neots because it felt like the right place for us to start fresh and be closer to family and friends.
Being originally from the UK, I felt a strong pull back to my roots, and Jennifer and I wanted a home that offered the modern features we’d been missing in New Zealand.
What’s your favourite room and why?
Our favourite part of the home is the kitchen/dining area. We love the skylights which make the house lovely and bright.
Do you feel like you have enough space?
Yes, it’s very spacious and decorated really well, and we love the space in the kitchen/dining area.
We have a four-bedroom, three-storey home which is great so our daughter can have one floor and guests can have another. We also have a big garage which is great for storage.
How much does your property cost?
£550,000.
How much was your deposit?
£300,000.
What is the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills?
£3,000.
How did you save up for your deposit?
We used some of the proceeds from the sale of our house in New Zealand.
What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?
It was harder than we thought it would be because we had lived overseas for 19 years.
Can you share details on your mortgage (rate/term)?
It is a five-year fixed term and the interest rate is 4.73%.
What made you want to buy rather than rent?
We wanted to continue to own a home, as we did in New Zealand, and pay off a mortgage rather than pay rent to a third party with no prospect of ever owning the home.
How have you made the property feel like home? What’s the inspiration for your interior decor style?
We have bought nearly all new furniture. We were advised not to paint the walls or hang anything up on them for two years as the new building materials, such as wood frames, concrete and paint, need time to dry out and settle.
Cala advises customers not to decorate in the first couple of years because the house needs time to ‘settle,’ meaning the walls and ceilings, need to dry out and adjust to their environment.
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So for now, they are still all white and very minimalist, but we’re looking forward to decorating when we can.
Do you have plans to change the property?
No.
What do you want people to know about buying a home?
Try and do it as soon as you can rather than paying ‘dead’ money to a landlord. Pick an area you like and then look at a sample of new and used homes in your price range before deciding what is best for you.
What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long-term?
Our youngest daughter is in year 10. We will wait for her to finish her schooling and then we will see what we want to do at that stage. We might stay on, or we might look at a move to Yorkshire.
Shall we take a look around?
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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