Thursday 18 May 2023
From Tokyo to Ealing
First-Time Buyer Finds Ideal New Home to Start a Family in West London
Goki Kazama (36), a Senior Product Manager at Amazon, moved to the UK three years ago to pursue his career, having lived in Tokyo, New York, and Singapore previously.
He initially moved to the Borough of Ealing, more precisely North Ealing which has a big Japanese community, renting a two-bedroom flat with his family.
As he grew acclimated to his new life and with the arrival of a new baby underway, Goki decided it was high time to make his dream of stepping on the property ladder a reality.
‘’ I have always wanted to buy my own property which is more financially beneficial than renting ever since I was in Japan. The housing market in Tokyo is riskier than in London so I decided it was a better option to buy my first home in the London where I would be working for the foreseeable future.’’
Goki liked the idea of buying a new-build home where he could also benefit from the Help to Buy scheme, using the savings he had built up since working in the UK. He started looking at a few locations in the nearby area including Park Royal, North Acton, Acton Town and Southall but unfortunately, those developments were in high-rise buildings which he didn’t like due to the mental health risk associated with high-rising buildings.
He came across Hanwell Square, a development across only 7 floors which ticked all his boxes. He decided to buy a spacious two-bedroom first-floor apartment priced at approx. £580,000 with a 5% deposit, 40% Help to Buy loan and 55% mortgage. Hanwell itself offers plenty of green surroundings which Goki enjoyed and superb links to the Amazon office in Liverpool Street and his frequent international trips easily accessible via Heathrow from the new Elizabeth line at Hanwell Station which is convenient 10-minute walk away from the development.
‘’Hanwell Square is the ideal location for me and my growing family, the development is in a relatively safe location with low crime rates, it has a great community feel and is undergoing a transformative regeneration which I expect to bring more value to the property which is helpful for future planning if I ever need to go back to Japan and need to sell."
The local area comes with a plethora of amenities within walking distance from a Lidl superstore, great value for everyday shopping, and bus and train links into Central London and nearby bustling Ealing Broadway. Local gems include Emporium W5 which offers a great brunch selection with friendly staff and outdoor seating whilst The Little Wonder, serves delectable baked goods. There are also over 82 outstanding or good primary and secondary schools in the borough, plenty of open green space and even a Japanese weekend school which will be helpful for the future Kazama baby.
Good quality of life is important to Japanese-born Goki, as well as living in a high-quality home which Hanwell Square ensures.
“The apartment at Hanwell Square is very cleverly designed with a high specification including Bosch appliances and little details like having two storage areas, a built-in bin and wardrobes as well as the overall sleek look of the kitchens. I really enjoy the natural wooden flooring and large dual aspect windows and a balcony which helps to bring the outdoor look seamlessly inside as well as easy access to the community courtyard and landscaped roof gardens.”
The amenities at Hanwell Square were a key feature of Goki’s buying decision. The on-site gym means that the fitness fanatic doesn’t have to pay for an expensive gym membership or travel far to workout, whilst the concierge adds an additional safety layer.
Thinking about the future, Goki would like to live at Hanwell Square for the foreseeable future as his spacious two-bedroom apartment provides plenty of space for the growing family. But even in the likelihood that he might move back to Japan to look after his family in the future, he is confident that he has made the right decision by buying in a regeneration hotspot which will prove a great investment for him in the long run.
He initially moved to the Borough of Ealing, more precisely North Ealing which has a big Japanese community, renting a two-bedroom flat with his family.
As he grew acclimated to his new life and with the arrival of a new baby underway, Goki decided it was high time to make his dream of stepping on the property ladder a reality.
‘’ I have always wanted to buy my own property which is more financially beneficial than renting ever since I was in Japan. The housing market in Tokyo is riskier than in London so I decided it was a better option to buy my first home in the London where I would be working for the foreseeable future.’’
Goki liked the idea of buying a new-build home where he could also benefit from the Help to Buy scheme, using the savings he had built up since working in the UK. He started looking at a few locations in the nearby area including Park Royal, North Acton, Acton Town and Southall but unfortunately, those developments were in high-rise buildings which he didn’t like due to the mental health risk associated with high-rising buildings.
He came across Hanwell Square, a development across only 7 floors which ticked all his boxes. He decided to buy a spacious two-bedroom first-floor apartment priced at approx. £580,000 with a 5% deposit, 40% Help to Buy loan and 55% mortgage. Hanwell itself offers plenty of green surroundings which Goki enjoyed and superb links to the Amazon office in Liverpool Street and his frequent international trips easily accessible via Heathrow from the new Elizabeth line at Hanwell Station which is convenient 10-minute walk away from the development.
‘’Hanwell Square is the ideal location for me and my growing family, the development is in a relatively safe location with low crime rates, it has a great community feel and is undergoing a transformative regeneration which I expect to bring more value to the property which is helpful for future planning if I ever need to go back to Japan and need to sell."
The local area comes with a plethora of amenities within walking distance from a Lidl superstore, great value for everyday shopping, and bus and train links into Central London and nearby bustling Ealing Broadway. Local gems include Emporium W5 which offers a great brunch selection with friendly staff and outdoor seating whilst The Little Wonder, serves delectable baked goods. There are also over 82 outstanding or good primary and secondary schools in the borough, plenty of open green space and even a Japanese weekend school which will be helpful for the future Kazama baby.
Good quality of life is important to Japanese-born Goki, as well as living in a high-quality home which Hanwell Square ensures.
“The apartment at Hanwell Square is very cleverly designed with a high specification including Bosch appliances and little details like having two storage areas, a built-in bin and wardrobes as well as the overall sleek look of the kitchens. I really enjoy the natural wooden flooring and large dual aspect windows and a balcony which helps to bring the outdoor look seamlessly inside as well as easy access to the community courtyard and landscaped roof gardens.”
The amenities at Hanwell Square were a key feature of Goki’s buying decision. The on-site gym means that the fitness fanatic doesn’t have to pay for an expensive gym membership or travel far to workout, whilst the concierge adds an additional safety layer.
Thinking about the future, Goki would like to live at Hanwell Square for the foreseeable future as his spacious two-bedroom apartment provides plenty of space for the growing family. But even in the likelihood that he might move back to Japan to look after his family in the future, he is confident that he has made the right decision by buying in a regeneration hotspot which will prove a great investment for him in the long run.
