Team GB's Sophie Ingle on buying her dream house at 25

Chelsea and Wales footballer Sophie Ingle feels honoured to be representing Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics and can’t wait to help the squad’s push for a medal.

She has been with Chelsea since 2018, after spending three years playing for Liverpool – a 50 to 60-minute drive by car from Stafford, where she bought a house.

Now that she is based near London, she has decided to sell the house, which has a living room she describes as ‘really spacious and great for relaxing in, after a busy day’.

Tell me about your first home?

I bought the house in 2016 when I was aged 25. I had been saving for a few years and knew it was always something I wanted to do once I had the funds.

It’s a three-bedroom detached house in Stafford just off the M6. The location means that it is ideal for commuting either up north to Liverpool or Manchester or within the Midlands area.

It is a modern property on a new build estate with a living room and separate kitchen/dining area.

I am actually selling the house currently with Purplebricks and it’s on the market for offers in excess of £250,000.

Why did you choose it?

I chose the house as it was a new build which made the process of getting it a little bit easier as I didn’t need to do any work to it.

It was just a case of decorating which was ideal to do alongside football.

What was on your wish list when looking for a home?

There wasn’t too much on the wish list. Ideally, I wanted a detached house with a garden as I have two dogs and so wanted some space for them to play outdoors.

What are your home’s best features?

The most attractive features in the home include the living room, which has double doors which open straight onto the garden, making it feel really spacious
and great for relaxing in after a busy day.

How did you come to buy in Stafford?

I chose to live in Stafford because at the time I played for Liverpool and my partner is from Cannock, so it was a compromise to move a bit further north for
my commute to Liverpool every day.

Have you found a new home yet?

I’m not in the process of buying just yet. It is hard when you play football as I don’t want to commit too early to purchasing a property again because if I were to move teams then I could be in the same predicament as I am now with renting in London but having a mortgage on my house in Stafford.

But it is something I will be looking into as I currently have a two-year contract with my team.

What advice would you give to aspiring homeowners?

Owning your own home really is the next step in adulthood, I feel, after living at home with family, renting or studying, for example. I would say don’t rush into it and make sure you have your finances sorted as there are a lot of fees you have to pay at the start.

But once you are on the property ladder it’s a great feeling when you can actually say you own it.

Do you have a second home?

I don’t have a second home or holiday home at the moment. I’m expecting to sell my Stafford home and buy again when the time is right, but for now I rent a three-bedroom house with a garden and drive in the Surrey area.

The property is about a 20-minute drive to my training ground in Cobham – so nice and close.

Sophie is selling her home through PurpleBricks, the technology-led estate agent. Head here to check it out.

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