What I Own: At 26, I own two homes — I didn’t see my flat in person before buying it

Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder.

This week, we’re up in Scotland having a nosy around 26-year-old Liv Conlon’s Glasgow property.

Mum-of-one Liv is a successful business woman with her own staging company – giving homes on the market a whole new look in the hope of drawing buyers in.

It meant that she was just 18-years-old when she was able to buy her first home in Marbella, Spain, and in 2022, she decided to invest in another.

Now, she uses her Glasgow bolthole as a retreat, flying back from Spain every few months to spend time there with her 22-month-old son, Cash.

Here’s what she had to say about her property journey…

Tell us about yourself – how old are you, what do you do for work, and where are you based? 

I’m 26 years old and I live in Marbella, but regularly spend time in Glasgow, where I’m from.

I run two companies remotely from Marbella: my home staging company, ThePropertyStagers, that furnishes over 400 properties per year, and StagerBoss, which coaches other women to get into the staging business.

Whereabouts is this property? What do you think of the area? 

The south side of Glasgow. My area is very leafy with lots of cute eateries nearby. I love it as it’s trendy, but not snobby.

I’m the youngest person in my block easily by 30 years, which I love as I’m all about a quiet night in and an early bedtime.

When did you move in? 

This is my second home, which I bought in May 2022, and had fully renovated by August 2022. I managed the property renovation remotely which was challenging, but I do it every day as my job, so it comes naturally.

How much does your property cost? 

£158,000, which was £3,000 over the asking price. I spent £40,000 refurbishing it and have recently had it in 2024 at around £210,000.

How much was your deposit? 

£40,000.

What is the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills? 

£800 per month (£441.56 mortgage, £350 bills).

How did you save up for your deposit? 

Earnings from my business – I had money sitting in my account, which was doing nothing and I wanted to invest it.

What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging? 

I purchased my first property as a teenager, so I had already been through the process, and I knew what to expect. That had been a lot more challenging as I had very little track record with a credit score or income.

On my second time around, securing a UK mortgage wasn’t difficult as I had a more than seven-year track record with my business, I’d built a good credit rating and I had an amazing mortgage advisor who shopped the market for me. Also because I was only 23, I qualified for a long mortgage.

Can you share details on your mortgage (rate/term)? 

35-year mortgage, 2.22% fixed rate for five years.

Where did you live before this – were you renting or living with family? 

This is a second home for me, so I only spend a few days every few months here. My full-time residence is the villa I own in Spain. I live there with my son, and my mum has recently moved in with me.

What made you want to buy rather than rent? 

I wanted to stamp my own personality and design flair on the property. I view it as an investment in mine and my son’s future. Instead of saving each month, in 30 years I’ll have property I can pass to him.

How did you find this property? What made you choose it? 

Rightmove. I never even viewed it in person as I was in Spain, so I purchased it solely from the images. I loved the area, and I could see the opportunity to develop it.

How have you made the property feel like home? 

I’ve completely renovated the property, replacing everything. The kitchen was previously separate from the living space, so I knocked down the wall into the living room and made it an open-plan living/kitchen area.

I’ve also fitted a new kitchen, media wall, and a new bathroom, and I’ve re-plastered, re-carpeted and decorated the whole space.

What’s the inspiration for your interior decor style? 

There was no pre-planned decor idea, I just wanted to create a home with all the things I love. My style is luxe art-deco. Every wall is painted in a dark teal/blue, and I’ve incorporated rich velvets and lots of mirrored furniture and gold.

The kitchen is a traditional cashmere door with gold handles. In both the primary bedroom and bathroom, I opted for pink wallpaper with green palms which definitely adds a Hollywood glamour feel, like walking into the Beverly Hills Hotel.

What’s your favourite room and why? 

My favourite room is the living space. I love the open-plan style where I can be making dinner or a cocktail and my family can be relaxing on the sofa. I also love the built-in fireplace and the cosiness of the space.

Do you feel like you have enough space? 

Yes, as it’s a second home that I spend a few days in every few months, there is more than enough space. However, I would love an extra bathroom as it only has one.

Do you have plans to change the property? 

I renovated everything upfront, but I didn’t replace all the radiators, and would like to do so.

I’m sure over the coming years I’ll make a few changes as my tastes change, or when my very cream rugs are destroyed! When I designed the property, I hadn’t had my son, so I didn’t make it baby-friendly in some colour choices.

Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?

No, but there were a few leakage issues with the public carports (which are now sorted).

What do you want people to know about buying a home? 

It can feel like a lengthy process when applying for a mortgage and waiting for it to complete, but it’s worth the wait.

My home is one of my most valued assets and I take pleasure in it every single day, having it exactly as I want it. The security of owning a home is priceless.

What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long-term? 

My current plan is to keep my apartment in Glasgow for 35+ years and pass it to my son as his inheritance. I love it, it’s my little bolthole and an investment – win-win!

My villa in Spain is currently under renovation, and I plan to either live in this long term or there may be opportunities to sell it for a profit and buy another development project. 

Shall we take a look around?

This article was originally published on August 3, 2024.

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