Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder.
This week, we’re back in London meeting property consultant Nathan Khider, who also competed in the latest season of The Traitors.
He might’ve been banished at the first hurdle, but since he parted ways with the Round Table, he’s kept himself busy renovating his £750,000 two-bedroom penthouse flat in East Canonbury.
Nathan first bought the property in 2017 as an investment, but decided to breathe new life into the place and move in full-time with his wife.
Here’s what he had to say about his property journey…
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Nathan Khider, I’m 39 years old and owner of the top-ranked property consultancy, Nathan K Real Estate.
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I specialise in buying and selling some of London’s most unique and exclusive homes, working with high-profile clients across the entertainment and business industries.
I featured on Season 3 of BBC’s The Traitors as a Faithful. The experience was incredible, and very intense.
As a business owner, it was actually quite stressful after leaving the house, as I had no communication or access to emails.
I found being on the Traitors less stressful! It was very full on with extremely long days, but absolutely brilliant. I genuinely loved it and would recommend it to anyone. If you love the show, apply!
Whereabouts is your property? What do you think of the area?
The property is situated in Islington, East Canonbury – right in the heart of a conservation area.
When did you move in?
I moved in the first week of May once the refurbishment was completed. I originally purchased the property back in 2017.
It was a complete refurbishment, so we put in a new kitchen, new bathrooms, new flooring, and new lights. Everything was stripped out and gutted – it’s made a real difference.
How much does your property cost?
It cost me £750,000 to buy.
How much was your deposit?
The deposit was £150,000.
What is the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills?
For both mortgage and bills, it costs around £2,500 a month.
How did you save up for your deposit?
I used a mixture of savings, investments, and previous properties to fund the deposit.
My business partner and I own multiple properties. These are all buy-to-let or investments in Zone 1 and 2 that we’re currently refurbishing and going to be selling.
We have somewhere between four and eight because we’ve bought a building that will be converted into four flats in Stoke Newington.
What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?
It was a really difficult process applying for a residential mortgage, especially being self-employed.
They asked for a lot of information and went through everything from bills to company expenditure and how much you pay yourself.
Can you share details on your mortgage (rate/term)?
I’m with Nationwide. 25 years, £600,000, and interest only (3.9%). I pay £1,950 per month, approximately.
Where did you live before this – were you renting or living with family?
I’ve lived in Islington before and love the area. Before this property, I lived with my wife in a property we own in Clerkenwell. This will be rented out or we’ll sell the penthouse, depending on how much we can get for it.
I’ve lived with my wife for the past 11 years and before that, I rented a property in Crouch End, which I did try to buy, but then my wife convinced me not to and to go for a property in Islington instead.
What made you want to buy rather than rent?
My personal preference is to buy properties rather than rent them. I bought this as an investment so it can become a home, but if I get a good offer on it, I will sell it.
How did you find this property? What made you choose it?
It was never actually on the market. A client and business partner of mine highlighted the building to me and let me know that he was going to build some penthouses on the top, and asked if I would be interested in buying one. I thought it was a good price at the time, so I went for it.
How have you made the property feel like home? What’s the inspiration for your interior decor style?
I’ve gone with recent trends such as herringbone flooring, white, clean lines in the kitchen, underfloor heating, and surround sound. I’ve had an interior designer, Element One Housing, do work on the furnishings, too.
What’s your favourite room and why?
The living room is my favourite room purely because it grants direct access to the south-facing terrace, which has stunning views over the city.
Do you feel like you have enough space?
Yes, absolutely. We have more than enough space with this property, which is about 800 square feet, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large open plan kitchen, and a living space.
Do you have plans to change the property?
No.
Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?
No, luckily, there haven’t been any problems that I’ve had to deal with. The property has been really, really good with no issues at all.
What do you want people to know about buying a home?
I would always recommend and encourage people to buy property. But they don’t have to leverage themselves so highly to begin with. If they have £100,000 in savings, it doesn’t all have to go on the deposit.
People should be really sensible with how much they leverage and how much they mortgage. Or all they’ll end up doing is working to pay the mortgage every single month, and it’ll be quite stressful.
Buying a property costs big money, especially with stamp duty and refurbishment costs alongside everything else, so I would definitely suggest that people not overleverage themselves to begin with.
What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long-term?
I don’t plan to stay here in the long term.
I’m going to see if there are any teething issues with the property; if there are any, then I will sort them out. If and when I’m happy with it, I intend to put it back on the market and sell it.
Shall we take a look around?
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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