Angela, who works in finance, bought a two-bedroom apartment from Fairview New Homes at Dock28 in Woolwich for £423,000, where she lives with her parents to save on living costs

Needing space to home both her and her parents, Angela found her dream property at Dock28, Woolwich, where they could all enjoy private space while living under the same roof and reduce living costs, “It was important for me to find a property that had enough space for me to home not just myself but my parents too. I wanted to be able to take care of them which is easier when they’re under the same roof, plus we save on living costs living together by splitting food shops.”

Not only this, Angela’s parents also take care of her and the home while she works in the city, “Living with my parents makes life easier as they manage the housework as well as cooking. I work in a busy office job where I’m required to be in four days a week so it’s great to know all my meals and housework are taken care of when I get home. Not only this, it saves me a lot of time as I don’t need to travel far to see them on the weekend, they’re there when I get home!

“I’d advise anyone looking to move in with family members to ensure that everyone has adequate private space for that all-important alone time.”

Angela previously rented in the Isle of Dogs but was keen to get a foothold on the property ladder after growing tired of the unstable rental market, where rents have risen by 7.4% in the last year alone. Angela began looking for a two-bedroom home that she could call her own and was introduced to Dock28 by a local agent. She found that the development was within budget and its completion date matched her targeted moving date range.

She was one of the first buyers to move into her new home at Dock28 in November 2023, just in time for Christmas, “I saved for around 10-years to afford the initial deposit for my new property. Having a record of your expenses and arranging monthly payments helped me to reach a monthly savings goal in order to achieve this.”

“I chose a new-build home because I didn’t want to do any renovative work after I’d purchased the property which would have been both costly and time-consuming. Moving into a new-build is far more straightforward, all I had to do was buy the furniture!

The condition of the property and the price were also big factors, with it being both affordable and built to a high-quality. I love the space and ceiling height that my apartment offers.”

Angela was drawn to Woolwich for its bustling waterside community as well as its fantastic transport links, with the historic town benefitting from a multitude of connections around London thanks to the Uber Boat and newly launched Elizabeth Line. “Woolwich is a hugely convenient area with an abundance of transportation nearby but also being a quiet and serene neighbourhood. It takes me just 45-minutes to reach my office in the city and the local high street is less than a 20-minute walk where you can find everything you need.”

Angela’s advice to other first-time buyers would be to give themselves as much time as possible and make sure to do adequate research, “The earlier you can start planning the better – make sure you do as much research as possible, not just of the property but the local area. Visit the area 3 - 4 times on different days and times to get a proper sense of the neighbourhood and a feel for the community.