What I Own: We moved from Latvia to Wakefield — and bought our dream four-bed for £250,000

This weekend, we’re in Wakefield meeting Kaspars and Elina (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder. Kaspars moved to the UK from Latvia a decade ago, and soon started saving up to buy his own home. By 2025, he’d met his partner, Elina, online, and together they went through the fair share of landlords. But together, they managed to set aside a £15,000 deposit to buy their four-bedroom home in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. And the best part about being home owners? They don’t have to ask for permission to get a pet. Now, they’ve got three cats. Here’s what Kaspars had to say about their property journey… Tell us about yourself! Ready to start your homebuying journey? You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK’s leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won’t charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. My name is Kaspars, I’m 33, and I’m originally from Latvia. I live with my girlfriend Elina, and our three cats — Ula, Rudi and Amber, who are very much part of the family. I work as a lorry driver, while my partner works in customer service. We’ve built a life together here, and we’re really enjoying this chapter, especially having a home of our own that suits our lifestyle and gives us stability. We met online, and we’ve been together for two years now. We’ve both lived in the UK for 10 years. Kaspars moved from Latvia to the UK about 10 years ago (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Where is your property? What do you think of the area? In November 2025 I purchased a Keepmoat property in South Elmsall, Wakefield, at the Station View development. It’s a very nice area and extremely convenient. Everything we need is close by, including local shops, schools, doctors and there are great public transport links. It makes day-to-day life much more comfortable. How much does your property cost? I bought my four-bedroom house for £250,000. How much was your deposit? They’ve now got three cats: Ula, Rudi, and Amber (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Our deposit was £15,000. What’s the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills? Our total monthly cost, including the mortgage and household bills, is around £1,500 per month. How did you save up for your deposit? We worked extremely hard over the past few years to save up. It required a lot of discipline and commitment, but it was more than worth it in the end. What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging? There’s a lovely outside space (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Saving for my home wasn’t easy, but it was incredibly rewarding. The process was very stressful at times, and the most challenging part was making sure all the paperwork was filled in correctly, especially when dealing with solicitors. Buying a new build made things much less stressful, as there was no chain involved and the process felt more straightforward and reassuring. Can you share details on your mortgage (rate/term)? Our mortgage interest rate is 4.7%. Where did you live before this – were you renting or living with family? Before buying our home, we were renting in Grimethorpe. What made you want to buy rather than rent? Kaspars works as a lorry driver, while Elina works in customer service (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Owning a home has always been a dream for my family. Rent has become very expensive, and we also found it restrictive. In rented properties, you’re not allowed to make changes such as painting walls or changing flooring, and often you aren’t allowed pets. Previously, everything was controlled, and there were frequent inspections, which made us feel unsettled. We wanted the freedom and security of owning our own home. How did you find this property? What made you choose it? We were passing through the area one day and decided to stop and have a look. We immediately liked the location and the feel of the neighbourhood, and that’s what made us decide to buy here. How have you made the property feel like home? The couple met online a couple of years ago (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Although it’s still very much a work in progress, we’ve already begun personalising some areas to match our personal style with different colours and decor, but with three more bedrooms to decorate, there’s still plenty to do. Over time, we’re looking forward to putting our own stamp on each space and making it truly feel like ours. Do you feel like you have enough space? Yes, we definitely feel we have enough space for the family. The house is very spacious! Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with? No, we haven’t experienced any problems; we’re very happy with our new home. There are reminders of Latvia dotted through the home (Picture: Paul David Drabble) What do you want people to know about buying a home? One of the most important things is to make sure you choose a good solicitor. Having the right support makes a big difference during the buying process. What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long-term? Yes, we plan to stay here for a long time. It feels like the right place for us to build our future. Shall we take a look around? Welcome home! (Picture: Paul David Drabble) ‘Having a home of our own gives us stability,’ says Kaspars (Picture: Paul David Drabble) They moved in in November 2025 (Picture: Paul David Drabble) They’re big fans of hosting family and friends here (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Their four-bedroom home cost £250,000 (Picture: Paul David Drabble) We’re sensing a Highland Cow theme here (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Their mortgage and household bills comes to around £1,500 (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Everything does happen for a reason (Picture: Paul David Drabble) We’re spotting more cows (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Meow (Picture: Paul David Drabble) We’re sure the cats are pleased about this (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Kaspars saying it took a lot of ‘discipline’ to save (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Kaspars said that the paperwork was challenging (Picture: Paul David Drabble) …but the house-buying process ended up being rewarding (Picture: Paul David Drabble) There was no onward chain when they ended up buying (Picture: Paul David Drabble) …because it was a new-build (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Their interest rate is currently 4.7% (Picture: Paul David Drabble) They were renting in the area before they bought here (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Kaspars has always dreamed of buying a home (Picture: Paul David Drabble) He found his previously high rent very ‘restrictive’ (Picture: Paul David Drabble) They wanted to be able to make changes inside their home, like painting walls (Picture: Paul David Drabble) …they also used to have frequent inspections (Picture: Paul David Drabble) It’s another cow (Picture: Paul David Drabble) …and another one (Picture: Paul David Drabble) They decided to stop and have a look at the area when they were passing by (Picture: Paul David Drabble) …they really liked the feel of the neighbrouhood (Picture: Paul David Drabble) They describe their home as a ‘work in progress’ (Picture: Paul David Drabble) …they’re looking forward to putting their own stamp on each room (Picture: Paul David Drabble) They feel that the house is very spacious (Picture: Paul David Drabble) They’d urge other buyers to choose a good solicitor (Picture: Paul David Drabble) ‘Having the right support makes a big difference during the buying process,’ they say (Picture: Paul David Drabble) They want to stay in their new home for a long time (Picture: Paul David Drabble) ‘It feels like the right place for us to build our future,’ says Kaspars (Picture: Paul David Drabble) There’s also space for a mini dressing room (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Such a poser (Picture: Paul David Drabble) …and there’s another one! (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Green space was also important to Kaspars and Elina (Picture: Paul David Drabble) This’ll come in handy during the summer (Picture: Paul David Drabble) Deals of the Day K-beauty is taking over skincare in 2026 – and this new serum is leading the way The best outdoor candles to buy now for alfresco dining and bug-free nights This tablet recreates the feeling of writing on paper – without the mess Shopping for new bedding? Simba Sleep’s latest launch has options for every sleeper Buy one, get 50% off – stock up on SPF for less with iHerb's limited time deal This article was originally published in February 2026, and has since been updated. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk. 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