Source
Sep 22, 2023
In regional Victoria, a couple with limited budget found creative ways to buy their first home. They searched off-market properties and renovated a fixer-upper themselves to meet housing affordability realities.
Facing steep housing prices and limited affordable listings in their region, Emma and Jake (both 25) took matters into their own hands. With a budget under $500,000, they began going door-to-door and found a 1980s red-brick house for $440,000. Though run down, the house presented opportunity. Emma, owner of a cleaning business, and Jake, a carpenter, decided to do much of the renovation themselves; originally estimating $30,000 in fix-ups, the costs are now higher, but they’re pushing on without taking more debt. They share their journey on social media, where they’ve gained a following for their determination in a tough property market.