First time buyer finds perfect city home at Factory No.1

First time buyer finds perfect city home at Factory No.1

Like many when the pandemic hit in March 2020, Jess Dowdall’s job moved online, so the 27-year-old decided that instead of locking down by herself, she’d end her lease and move home to Wales for a few months. Not spending that money on rent meant that Jess’s savings grew quickly, and she decided that the time was right to buy her first home. Earlier this year Jess did just that, using Help to Buy to get on the ladder at City & Country’s Factory No.1 development in Bedminster, Bristol.

Jess explains: “At the start of 2020 I landed a new job which required me to be in the office in Bristol, meaning I needed a base locally. I was renting a two-bedroom apartment in Oldmarket, but not long after I moved in Covid hit and my job went virtual. As soon as I could get out of that contract, I left and went to live with my mum in Wales, as it felt silly wasting money on rent when I could work from anywhere. Six months there saw my savings grow massively, so I decided to hold on a little longer and buy instead of renting again once lockdown was over.

“Researching Help to Buy made me realise that I could afford to buy far sooner than I had originally thought, which was a lovely surprise, especially when I then realised it was available at Factory No.1, a development I had my eye on. I’d always loved the building, as I come to Bedminster a lot and admired the history and character. I was thrilled when I realised I would be able to live there, as I had thought it would be out of my price range.”

Jess continues: “Apartments were selling fast; the two-bedroom apartment I was originally looking at sold the day before I went to reserve, but I was lucky enough to secure the one directly above with the same layout. I love the high-quality finish of the apartment – the authentic windows and high ceilings, I’ve had such fun decorating it. I love art, colours, and contemporary things, so finally having my own space in which to do that has been great.

“As a young female professional, feeling safe in my new home was very important, and all of the security measures City & Country has installed, as well as the concierge, definitely does that.”

Jess also loves the location of Factory No.1, both with the amenities on the doorstep and central Bristol close by.

“I love the area, it’s just a stone’s throw away from amazing cafes, bars, the harbour, gyms, and it’s so close to the station which is great as I work in London a lot. I actually did a lot of research on the planning applications in the area and they are looking to pedestrianise East Street, which I knew for me would be a great investment in the long run.”

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