Why did I choose to buy an old maisonette in Malta?

One of the main lines I heard from people in general when I said I was going to sign a promise of sale (konvenju) on an old style maisonette was: 'girl...you have no idea what you're getting yourself into.' And the more I went along with the process of regularising, buying, transferring, and refurbishment of the property, the more I realised just how right they were.

However, let's face it, who of us purchasing property for the first time has a sliver of a clue on what the heck they're doing? Whether the place you get is on plan, ready built, fully furnished, or a project to remake completely, each property purchase will come with its own hurdles. The important thing is that whatever you decide to purchase is a place you truly want to call home. It's your money and it's your future, so you decide what to do with it.

So little clueless me, decided to stick to her guns and I went on to purchase the property that spoke to me the most. Below I want to share with you 7 reasons why I decided to choose an old house in a tranquil part of a busy town in Malta, as opposed to a trendy and newly built apartment.

1. The maisonette has its own front door

This was one of the main points in favour for me. After all the stories I heard from friends who purchased apartments and ended up with issues with neighbours due to the common areas, I knew I wanted my own main door. This means I don't have to take out a bucket every 2-3 weeks because it's my turn to supply the cleaner with the tools they need to clean the staircase. I don't have to pay a random person to administer the condominium. I don't have to pay yearly fees for maintenance of the common parts. If I want to fix something in the entrance of my home, or I want to clean or refurbish my facade, I don't have to get everyone in my building onboard and spend weeks hearing this or that opinion.

Anyways, you get my point, I wanted a space that is fully mine. If I need to do something, I do it if and when I want to, no debates needed.

2. The entrance is ground floor

Another thing I took in consideration was having easy access. I don't know if this will be the house I live in for the rest of my life. Maybe it will be, maybe it won't. But I thought a bit about old lady version of Nicole walking up flights of stairs with a big grocery bag and I told myself: a home with a ground floor entrance is what I shall look for.

3. I wanted a space that I could transform

I visited several apartments when I was hunting for a property that was already fully or partially furnished. While for the most part, price wise, they were slightly over my budget none of them really spoke to me much. It felt like if I had to but one of them, I would be going to live in someone else's home, and for the most part, they were the complete opposite of the kind of home I want to create for myself.

4. I wanted a home in a quirky part of a local town

While I didn't have a specific locality in mind, in my head I had a specific kind of street in mind. I wanted my home to be in a quiet side street, where people are friendly and kind to each other. Where my home isn't towered by apartment block after apartment block. And where, hopefully, I would not be eventually forced to sell to the next property mogul so they can build their empire of shoe box apartments. While the street I purchased my home in is not UCA, it's still quite an authentic protected part of the town, and I'm hoping it stays that way.

5. I wanted a home with high ceilings

New apartments or homes built in the recent decades don't have the kind of high ceilings that old homes have. The maisonette I purchased, for the most part, has rooms that are over 3m in height, rather than the new standard of 2.6m. Having been a creative person since childhood, I was always a firm believer that places with high ceilings actually boost creativity. Such rooms always made me feel a sense of freedom that led me to want to create.

6. The build quality is just better

When you go into these older style homes, especially ones that have not been left in abandon for decades, you'd realise immediately they're made different. They have thicker walls made of actual stone, not bricks. The construction is more solid. You'll also instantly realise how the insulation is so much better. I've been going in and out of the house now, in summer, and unless I'm running laps carrying heavy wooden pieces that I need to clear out to make space for the workers, the house is pretty cool inside. The kind of cool you can only dream of in a normal apartment, especially those on the upper floors, blessed directly by the sunlight.

7. I did not want to have just another apartment like everyone else

I think I might have said this one way too many times already, but it's true. I'm exhausted of seeing so many soulless apartments being built all around the Maltese islands. They will never have the same character and life as the houses that used to be built back in the day. Some blocks come with 10-15 tiny and overpriced units, many times in areas that are still being built, exposing you to consistent noise and air pollution, as well as the difficult challenge of finding parking if you don't afford to buy a garage alongside your apartment. Bringing again my creativity in the discussion, these apartments are all uniform in design. Because of this, they leave you with little to no room to make them truly feel yours, and instead you end up living in a place that is a photo copy of the ones living on top of and below your apartment.

What is my advice to you?

After all of this my advice to you would be one and only one: purchase a home that speaks to your soul, whether this is a modern apartment or an old house. While you don't have to remain tied to your first home forever, your first step into purchasing a property should be one you feel truly proud of. So take your time, and enjoy the process. I promise you, when you follow your heart, all of the potential stress that comes along with any project you take on will feel worthwhile.