20 QUESTIONS
James MacPhail is Head of Sales & Marketing at Settle, a housing association committed to providing affordable, high-quality homes across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. James has worked in housing for 20 years, for several housing associations offering a range of affordable housing products. Having joined Settle in 2021, James loves working with his team to provide Shared Ownership homes to people who’d otherwise struggle to get on the ladder Would you rather live in the bustling city or in the country? I grew up in London so always thought I’d live in London. But house prices in London meant, like many others, I found myself priced out. So a few years ago we left for a small Bedfordshire market town and now I can’t see myself living anywhere else but in the country (but with easy access back into the capital). If you were buying a property overseas, in what country would you buy a home? I would buy a home in Italy. It’s a lovely country with delicious food and wine. We particularly love Sardinia. Would you rather have a bigger property or a better location? A better location. What is one thing you couldn’t live without at home? Our dog. She brings us so much joy. She’s so quiet and placid we can take her anywhere (she particular enjoys a trip to the pub!). But when she’s not around it feels like something is missing from our home. What’s your favourite way to unwind at home after work? If it’s a nice sunny day you’ll find me out pottering in the garden. If not, watching the latest must-see TV series on one of the streamers. What’s your favourite thing about your home? That it’s the first home my wife and I bought together. It was a blank canvas when we bought it and since then we’ve made it our own. Where did you buy your first home? My first home was a one bed Shared Ownership resale flat in Colliers Wood, south west London. It was in a great location within easy reach of Wimbledon and Clapham. What advice would you give a first time buyer? Do your research. If you can’t afford a place in your ideal location explore other areas nearby. Be prepared to compromise, no one ever finds a home that ticks all the boxes. And remember that it being your first home it’s unlikely it will be your “forever home”. What are your views on Shared Ownership? Shared Ownership has, in recent years, received some bad press by concentrating only on the negative aspects and unfairly comparing it to owning a home outright. But as long as you go in with a full understanding of Shared Ownership, its pros and cons, it can often be cheaper than the private rented market and provide the security that renting privately can’t. A great resource to discover more about Shared Ownership is the National Shared Ownership Campaign website sharedownership.net. There’s a range of buyers' stories to read and videos to watch showcasing real purchasers, which is always helpful. What are your views on the property market? When you’ve been in housing as long as I have you’ve seen the property cycles come and go. Over that time I’ve seen the challenges of the 2008 banking crisis, Brexit, Covid and more recently the cost-of-living crisis. The only constant throughout has been the shortage of genuine affordable housing.
What room at home is your favourite? My kitchen is my favourite room.We updated it when we had our extension built and I love trying out new recipes at the weekend. What’s your favourite gadget or technology at home? That has to be our robot vacuum. Our rescue dog joined us a few months before the first Covid lockdown and has brought us so much joy. But she sheds hair all year round so having a robot vacuum has been a real time saver. What colour do you think everyone should have in their home? The great thing about a place of your own is being able to decorate it in whatever colour you want. So go with what suits your style. Which three people would you invite over for a housewarming party if you could have any guests? I love going to the theatre, there’s nothing better than seeing live performances. So I’d invite Michael Sheen, David Tennant and Dame Judi Dench over. I’d just sit back and listen to all three of them discussing life and their love of theatre. What’s your favourite memory from your childhood home? I grew up in the same house throughout my childhood. In fact it’s the same house my parents still live in. My favourite memory is playing Super Mario on our Nintendo with my twin brother. What is your favourite song and why? Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran. It was always being played on the radio when my wife and I first got together so it was the song 20 QUESTIONS James MacPhail
we chose to have our first dance to at our wedding. Would you rather have a garden or a balcony?
Definitely a garden. It was top of my list when we moved out of London. I wanted a house with a garden as I love gardening. I find it a great way to unwind. Do you prefer modern homes or period properties? I love period properties. We saw some lovely ones when we were looking to move. But when you look into the cost of maintaining and heating them there’s a lot to be said for modern homes. Would you rather have a library room or media room at home? Definitely a media room with a full on surround sound system and projector. I love going to the cinema so recreating that magic at home would be great. Would you prefer a luxurious bathtub or a sumptuous shower? A luxurious bathtub where I can relax and read a good book.
settlesales.co.uk
146 First Time Buyer August/September 2025
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