First-Step Stories with Pandora Christie

DJ Pandora Christie, 37, presents Heart FM’s nationwide mid-morning show. After 10 years of searching, she finally bought her first home where she lives with Henry, her Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross.

November 2019, in Fulham, south west London. 

I love the vibe of Fulham - I can just walk down the road and there’s greenery, a cinema, cafes and bars.

It’s a one-bedroom garden flat in a gated community. There’s a sauna, steam room and swimming pool, so I get to feel like I’m on holiday every day.  

It’s like being in an episode of Neighbours; one big family. The other day I was sitting on the floor in the hallway with my neighbours, all chatting and petting each other’s dogs. 

Literally hundreds. It’s been a 10-year process. Sometimes I regret not buying earlier, but I just kept putting money away all that time. With hindsight I can see I was too swayed by everyone else’s opinion and advice, rather than my own heart. 

I spent 11 months full-on searching in south west London. I was looking at flats and houses every single day. For me, having a garden and being near a park were the only non-negotiables. 

It wasn’t stressful; I actually had fun, especially looking at places way out of my price range and living out that fantasy world before I narrowed down my search to within my budget.

There was a flat in a tree-lined street in South Kensington I fell for. I saw it three times but eventually I had to admit that, though the outside was gorgeous, the bedroom was too small and the spiral staircase into the garden was a big security risk and a pain to remove. 

Flat-hunting became a bit of an addiction and I hardly saw my friends. I’d finish work by lunchtime, go to a coffee shop and scroll through for new properties, then arrange viewing appointments for the evening. 

The ultimate irony is that I actually bought in the same complex I was already renting in. I got chatting to a lovely couple one day when I was walking my dog Henry in the communal garden. They said they were looking to move, invited me to come and look and I fell in love with it instantly.

I remember Henry felt so at home he jumped on the sofa straightaway. We did it officially through the estate agent with three more viewings and each time I just loved it more.  

The only slight minus is that when the main doors bang I can just about hear the noise from my bedroom. My advice to any first-time buyers is don’t compromise. Why spend the most money you’ll ever spend in your life on a home that doesn’t make you happy?

My friends and family kept telling me I should be looking at two-beds or bigger for more flexibility. But having a one-bed has never felt like a compromise. I’m single and I can’t remember the last time I had a friend stay overnight. I just could see no reason for an extra bedroom, other than to fill it with rubbish. But it took me a while for me to make that decision for myself.

It was just under £600,000. 

I’ve been saving all my working life, but for the last six years I made a commitment to put money away every month and not touch it.

Very smoothly, in about four months. I was the one who delayed it most. When you’ve got a busy life, the paperwork can feel overwhelming. I actually went in person to the estate agents and the solicitors and asked them to explain all the jargon because I wanted the whole conveyancing process done properly and so I understood it all. 

Ecstatic. I just love coming home to my own place. I’ve never cleaned so much in my life, because I love it all looking perfect.  

This is going to shock you but the couple I bought from actually left me their sofa and TV. Within a month my inner interior designer had burst out. The first things I bought were new bed linen and a glass dressing table with a mirror that I spotted on Instagram. I’m saving up for a massive rug and I’d like a new grey sofa eventually. 

There is no such thing as a big enough deposit. If you’ve saved £50,000, try for another £10,000. This is the biggest financial commitment of your life, so you want to make your mortgage payments as manageable as possible. 

Don’t rush and be patient. Don’t compromise. Buying your own home is a mental process as well as a financial one, so try to enjoy it.

I read a phrase recently, “your home is your vacation from life”. That sums up exactly how I feel about my flat. It’s my happy place; my inner sanctuary and that feeling is priceless. 

All about…Fulham

Fulham offers all the benefits of living in London but with a village atmosphere and green spaces. SW6 is popular with families and young professionals, many of whom will take the district line from Fulham Broadway tube station (Zone 2) on their daily commute. on the district line. It takes just 28 minutes to Monument in the heart of The City.

Using the Imperial Wharf Overground in Fulham, it's just one stop to Clapham and three stops to Shepherd's Bush, with Westfield Shopping Centre and the central line. There are many useful bus routes, including the 22 to Piccadilly Circus and the 28 to Notting Hill.

Fulham is home to Fulham F.C.’s home ground, Craven Cottage, as well as Chelsea’s famous stadium, Stamford Bridge.Fulham boasts plenty of open spaces for exercising and dog walking. Bishops Park is next to the Thames and has an urban beach while the Parkland Sensory Gardens has an outdoor workout space and a great playground.

The area is renowned for its traditional pubs, including The Sands End for a Sunday roast and The White Horse with its outside drinking area. Fulham also has lots of independent cafes and coffee shops, independent boutiques alongside the usual High Street stores, family- run delis and independent bookshops.

• Alice Vincent on buying and renovating her one-bedroom flat

• Mother Like No Other Becky Edwards on buying a family home in Norwich

• Expert tips for using colour in your home