Benjámin (27) and Dorottya (30) saved for five years to buy their first home together in October 2024. The young couple thought about buying outside of London, but decided they weren’t ready to give up the London lifestyle, so opted for a two-bedroom apartment at Fairview New Homes’ Park Quarter development in New Barnet for £419,000.

“We actually began our search in areas outside the M25 – Cheshunt, Broxbourne, Hoddesdon and Waltham Cross to name a few – but after visiting these areas we quickly realised we weren’t ready to move out of London just yet. Even though we could’ve afforded a house with a garden in these locations, the areas just don’t offer that London buzz,” said Electrician, Benjámin.

The couple had previously lived in Finchley where they rented a one-bedroom flat for £1,175 a month. Their 25-year, two-year fixed mortgage has left them with higher monthly outgoings, but with that comes the multiple benefits of homeownership.

“We had a monthly budget in mind and our mortgage is below that, at just under £1,900 a month. It’s not a problem for us as we can afford it and most importantly, the property is ours! We also have more space, using the second bedroom to work from home and for friends and family who come to stay, so it’s worth the extra money. Oh, and now we have space for our cat Django to have his own sofa!” said Dorottya, who works as a Quality Assurance Engineer.

Despite moving a little further from the city centre to get onto the property ladder, Benjámin and Dorottya still enjoy fantastic transport links across London through National Rail at New Barnet station, just four minutes away from Park Quarter by foot. The Northern line is also available a little further away at High Barnet, a 23-minute walk.

Dorottya continued, “My office is in Holborn, I can be there door-to-door in less than 40 minutes, and it’s a much more comfortable journey than when we were in Finchley. We love going to gigs too and the connections to Wembley (62 minutes), The O2 (56 minutes) and Camden (34 minutes) are also good - We’re close enough that it isn’t a pain to get home when the gigs finish at about 1am!”

New Barnet itself can be described as an “urban village” – a sense of small-town community with an abundance of green space and a host of great restaurants, bars and cafes, all within touching distance of the city.

As the young couple’s home purchase price was under the current Stamp Duty threshold for first-time buyers of £425,000, they didn’t have to pay a penny on tax, as opposed to £5,950 which they’d have had to pay if they purchased after 31 March 2025.

“After completing on our home purchase, we had money left to buy all new furniture and a few other things, but if we’d have had to pay almost £6,000 on Stamp Duty - that definitely would’ve stung!” said Benjámin.

Benjámin and Dorottya’s search for their first home was initially focused on older properties and houses rather than apartments. However, after several viewings, and some research, the couple quickly learned they would have to spend a significant amount following completion to bring a previously owned home up to the standards they were looking for.

Benjámin said, “Once we saw the apartment at Park Quarter, we instantly loved it. We like the fact that we are the very first owners, everything is brand new and we don’t need to do any work on it.

“We love the kitchen with the open plan living room and the terrace. We also have more space to cook which is something that we enjoy, and Django likes the big windows!”

Benjámin and Dorottya’s apartment is modern in design, with Quartz worktops and integrated appliances in the kitchen, sun-bleached oak Amtico flooring throughout and generously sized windows inviting sunlight into the space, all which help to create a sleek and high-quality feel.

When asked what advice she would give to any other first-time buyers looking to take their first step onto the property ladder, Dorottya said, “Take your time to research and have a specific idea about what are the must haves in your future home. A detailed list can be your best friend and can help you avoid spending months viewing unsuitable properties.”