Publication Date: 12-07-2024 09:00
First-time buyer uses £13,000 mortgage contribution to buy her own apartment in Bexleyheath
First-time buyer Alina Moroko has bought a new apartment in Bexleyheath after 10 years of sharing a rented two-bedroom flat with her parents in South London.
The project director used a £13,000 deposit contribution from Bellway to help her purchase a one-bedroom apartment at the housebuilder’s new Eastside Quarter development in Bexleyheath.
Alina was living in a flat in Crystal Palace with her parents, Mila and Ivan, and working five days a week at an office in London Bridge until Covid-19 struck.
“After the lockdown, I was working two or three days a week from home which was far from ideal as my father was having to work remotely too,” she said. “I often needed a private space for phone calls or Zoom meetings, so I had to be in my bedroom which meant for a lot of the time I was working and sleeping in the same room. At times, it almost felt like being in a prison cell.
“By 2023, I knew it was time I looked for my own place. I had been saving for 10 years and had been given a lump sum from my grandmother so I had a deposit which I thought might work. Initially, I ruled out new-build apartments because I thought there would be no way I could afford to buy one within striking distance of central London, where I work two or three days a week.”
Alina searched the internet, disregarding new-build developments and looked at older apartments until an estate agent pointed her in the direction of Bellway’s Eastside Quarter.
“She told me that there were one-bedroom apartments within my price range at the development and that Bellway were offering incentives too,” said Alina. “I made an appointment and me and my father, who went with me to every viewing, went along for a look.
“There was a nice vibe about the place and we could see that it was only a five-minute walk to all the shops and cafes in the centre of Bexleyheath, which was a big plus. When we viewed a one-bedroom show apartment I loved it as it was so spacious and light and airy, with lots of natural light coming in through all the large windows.
“I thought it was the style of apartment I should buy and that feeling was confirmed when my father said it was the best property we had seen in terms of build, specification and finish. When I sat down with the sales advisor Elliot told me they would give me a £13,000 deposit contribution, which helped bring my mortgage payments down to a level I could afford.”
Alina moved into her new £288,000 home on the seventh floor of the Aberleigh Court apartment building in January.
“I love everything about this apartment,” said Alina. “When I am working from home I sit at a desk and when I need inspiration or a screen break, I can adjust my chair, look through the balcony doors and take in the fabulous view of fields and trees and a lake. My new home is big enough that I have a cooking area, a dining area, a work area and a chill out area where I watch Netflix on my iPad.
“I have noticed that because the apartment is so energy efficient, I don’t have to have the heating on very often and when I do it retains the warmth very well. Talking of heat, I can’t wait to get out onto the balcony to start my day with a cup of coffee in the morning when the weather gets better.”
Alina keeps fit by using the on-site residents-only gym three times a week and oftens uses the concierge to take in packages she has ordered online, if she is not at home.
“I pay an annual maintenance fee but it is lower than many apartments I looked at which didn’t even have a gym or a concierge, so I think this represents good value for the services on offer. The gym is very clean and modern and has all the equipment I need. It is also incredibly convenient and stress-relieving to know that the concierge will take in parcels or to leave spare if the builders need to access my flat to do work when I am out at work.”
The location of Eastside Quarter means that Alina can get into central London for work or a meet with friends in just over an hour.
“I can get a train from Bexleyheath or Bexley station and be at London Bridge, where my workplace is, in 30 or 40 minutes which means that door-to-door it takes just over an hour to get to the office, which is a reasonable commute.
“Now my work life and private life are not blurred anymore and I have everything I need on my doorstep. I feel very lucky to have found this place and still can’t quite believe this lovely apartment is actually mine.”
There is currently a choice of two-bedroom apartments available to reserve at Eastside Quarter, with prices starting at £362,000. For more information call the sales team on 020 8131 6218 or visit https://www.bellwaylondon.co.uk/new-homes/thames-gateway/eastside-quarter.
