Two-thirds of first time buyers in the last two years have moved to an area they had never visited to get on the property ladder. One couple, Marios Panayi (30) and Theo Tsikkou (28), however, have taken this to the extreme, relocating from the small Cyprus town, where they met nine years ago, to London. The couple have just purchased their first home together, a one-bedroom apartment at Barratt London’s Hendon Waterside development in Hendon, NW9.
After leaving their hometown for the bright lights of London, the couple rented in Aldgate for five years while they completed their studies. With one in five London jobs now in the creative economy. London seemed like the best step for their creative careers, with Marios now a freelance music teacher, while also playing local gigs on the side, and Theo an architect.
Marios and Theo bought their one-bedroom home for £350,000. Their monthly payments including bills are £1500 a month, over £400 cheaper than the rent they were paying previously at Aldgate. Theo said, “We’re so thankful we’re finally able to start paying off our own mortgage, instead of someone else’s.”
Marios explained that “When we first moved to the UK, central London had so much to give, we knew it had a buzzing creative scene, and we would be able to gain a first-rate education in our desired sectors. Cyprus is a very small country, and you can see the whole town we’re from in 15 minutes, so it was a big change. We were excited for the adventure, and wanted to experience a completely different culture to the one we grew up in.”
After the pair’s stint in Aldgate, they started to grow tired of the constant commotion of the capital and wanted to settle down in one of London’s quieter suburbs. Theo added: “After living in central London for so long, we needed a break from the busyness. We still love the city, and it made sense for my work to look for a property that still had good transport connections. Now from home, I can jump on the tube to my office in Farringdon in 20 minutes.”
Now well versed in uncharted territories, the couple only visited Hendon for the first time last year. Throwing caution to the wind, they put an offer in there and then, without looking anywhere else.
Marios explained: “We had the idea that north-west London had plenty of green space for some much needed quiet. As we get older, we have realised that the slower pace of life we used to have in Cyprus is becoming more appealing. However, in London you still have access to the creative job market, a lively social scene, and plenty of great food and shops, so we knew we wanted to stay nearby. In all honesty, we had never visited Hendon before we viewed the property, and didn’t know much about the neighbourhood at all!”
Theo adds: “Once we viewed our property at Hendon Waterside, we instantly felt at home. The development was surrounded by so much nature and felt safe and secure. We instantly fell in love with the neighbourhood and now spend our weekends exploring Hampstead and Belsize Park or going for a jog around the reservoir on our doorstep.”
Joseph Antoniazzi, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt West London comments: “As we see an increasing number of first-time buyers moving further afield to secure their position on the property ladder, ‘home’ is quickly becoming an adaptable word, with many settling in places they were previously unaware of.
“Thanks to the area’s recent regeneration, Hendon Waterside is presenting a unique opportunity for buyers like Marios and Theo, looking for their own pocket of peace that is still part of an up and coming culturally vibrant and creative hub.”
Surrounded by over 170 hectares of green space, the homes, set on the Welsh Harp Reservoir, are encompassed by nature. As a recipient of an ‘Outstanding Building for a Healthy Life’ certification, the ground feature natural playgrounds and nature trails for residents to explore.
Convenient amenities such as a Co-Op and Starbucks can also be found nearby, while Brent Cross Shopping Centre is only a mile from the development, where residents can choose from a number of shops, bars and restaurants.
For commuters, the development has excellent transport links offering services from Hendon Railway Station, and Hendon Central tube station, reaching central London in under 20 minutes.
Current prices at Hendon Waterside start from £380,000 for a one-bedroom home. To find out more, visit www.barrattlondon.com or call 0330 057 6666.
First Time Buyer is an exciting bi-monthly glossy which takes a stylish and comprehensive look at all the options available, setting them out in an entertaining and informative way, and helping potential customers navigate their way through what is often a daunting and complex process. We dispel the myths, reinforce the facts and arm the reader with the tools necessary to make their homeownership dreams a reality.
