This month FTB goes on the hunt with Marco and Justin Wilson-Agnietto who are looking for a shared ownership one bedroom apartment in Enfield, north London or surrounding areas
What they wanted…
We are looking for a beautiful home that we can call ours. We’ve been living in house shares for too long and though we’ve had some amazing times living with friends and loving London, we’re desperate for our own space. We love the idea of a modern apartment and can’t wait to look around and see what’s on offer in our price range. Marco works mostly in Hackney, so he’d like an easy commute to work, and I work from home mostly, so am really quite flexible. We have an active social life and don’t want to give that up or make it too difficult by moving to a remote area – but are also really hoping to find somewhere where we can create a calm and tranquil retreat where we really feel we can put down some roots. I have a lump sum from a redundancy a few years ago that we’ve been adding savings to with the view to saving a deposit. We finally have enough to look with the intent to buy!”
Face File
- Names Marco (34) and Justin (44) Wilson-Agnietto
- Occupations Hairdresser; Administration Manager
- Maximum budget £200,000
- Requirements An apartment with one or two bedrooms, a balcony or shared gardens, good transport links to central London and some lively areas nearby
What we found…
The Quiet Neighbourhood
Cassia Oakwood, N14
From £105,000 – Based on a 30% share of the full market value of £350,000
Known for its leafy feel, quality parks and good schools, desirable Oakwood offers a peaceful location just a 30-minute tube ride from central London. The one and two bedroom apartments available are bright and spacious, with private outdoor space and communal gardens to enjoy. Chase Side high street is a short stroll, while nearby Barnet is great for theatre, cinema and a good choice of eateries. The homes here have a Georgian influence, with stylish and contemporary open-plan interiors. All apartments feature private outdoor space.
What they thought
We have friends in nearby Cockfosters and Southgate – and we think this looks like a really nice part of north London. The transport links to central London look great from here – there’s a choice of tube stations within walking distance. And there’s a lot of green space – we do love Trent Park, it is huge and would be great for jogging and summer walks, and we may even get the rescue dog we’ve been hoping for. The development itself is super stylish, and the fact that there’s parking is a big bonus.”
The Convenience King
Meridian One Enfield, north London
From £87,500 – Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £350,000
These one to three bedroom apartments and duplexes offer a well-rounded London lifestyle. The contemporary homes lie within walking distance of great rail links (25 minutes to Euston from Meridian Water station) as well as supermarkets, well-equipped high streets, green spaces and amenities. The properties are arranged around a private central courtyard with seating and a play area, while inside, the apartments are bright and modern with open-plan living areas, tiled bathrooms, en suites in larger properties and large windows for optimal light.
What they thought
This looks like a lovely development – we love the idea of the central gardens and the large, corner balconies that would be perfect for enjoying morning coffee and sundown drinks. This is a good location, so close to the station, and there are lots of amenities and things to do at the weekend close by; plenty of things to explore. It would be so convenient for Marco to get to work from here; he’s not great at early mornings, so having the station so close would be genius for him!”
The Parkland Setting
The Chase Collection Trent Park, Enfield, north London
From £110,625 – Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £442,500
Things couldn’t look any greener at this new collection of one bedroom homes set within 413 acres of stunning parkland. The properties sit within Trent Park, which consists of ancient woodland, lakes and historic monuments. Cockfosters high street, with cafes, restaurants and local shops, lies within walking distance, while travel from nearby Cockfosters tube takes less than 30 minutes to King’s Cross. The apartments are thoughtfully designed, with well-sized living spaces and decked balconies that enjoy beautiful views.
What they thought
Wow, what an amazing setting. We never imagined you could buy a new build apartment in London with such fantastic, green surroundings. These homes would be a tranquil retreat for us – and all so close to Cockfosters and central London. There are some great sports facilities right on the doorstep, too, which would be such a positive for us as we’ve been hoping to get back into running and tennis. We’d need to work out if the commute works well for Marco, but this is a serious contender.”
The Wildcard
SO Resi Whetstone, Whetstone, north London
From £100,000 – Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £400,000
Only a few one bedroom apartments remain at this popular development in the leafy suburb of Whetstone. The homes are located on a tree-lined residential road and sit around a pretty, landscaped central courtyard. Inside, the interiors are lush and stylish, with oak-effect flooring, open-plan living areas and well-sized integral balconies. The High Road, for cafes, shops, foodie pubs and an underground station, is a short walk away, and London Euston can be reached in 26 minutes from the travel Zone 4 Totteridge & Whetstone station.
What they thought
We don’t know a great deal about this area, but we have visited friends in Whetstone previously, and we really loved the beautiful period homes and nice shops and cafes in the area. We also really like Barnet and Finchley, so we would definitely be open to living close by. We love that these apartments are on a tree-lined, residential street – we have quite busy lives both at work and socially, and really do want our home to be a peaceful escape from everyday life.”
First choice! The something for everyone
Nexus, Ponders End, north London
From £90,750 – Based on a 30% share of the full market value of £302,500
Situated close to the edge of the Lee Valley Regional Park, these contemporary new homes lie within easy reach of cycling and walking trails, reservoirs and green space – as well as some of London’s most thriving neighbourhoods. The one and two bedroom apartments are set within communal landscaped grounds, and all homes feature open-plan living space that opens to a balcony or terrace. London Liverpool Street is reached in less than 20 minutes by train from nearby Ponders End station, while the local areas of Stoke Newington, Hackney and Walthamstow are all an easy train or bus ride.
The Next Step
“We’ve been planning to buy for a while, so have spoken to a mortgage broker and received a mortgage offer in principle – we really are ready to go! We’ve expressed our interest in this development and will be spending a few of our weekends looking around the area. We’re really excited that this could be our new home and already have our Amazon wish list on the go!”
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