“Just do it, you won’t regret it. I really did feel that the whole experience was very positive.”
Convenience, lifestyle, location, accessibility and affordability were the top five ‘must-haves’ on Jess’ house hunting list.
The 34-year-old thought finding all those big-ticket items at an affordable price, and through the Opening Doors shared home ownership initiative, was a big ask.
But, she was ecstatic to be proven wrong.
“It was about knowing what I wanted and then just really understanding what was available and out there at the time,” Jess said.
After chatting to Keystart Home Loans, the State Government’s lending arm, to determine her eligibility, she kept her finger on the pulse as to what properties were available on the Opening Doors website.
“The whole process was ridiculously easy and simple, and I was very supported,” Jess said.
The psychologist, who had been living with family in Dianella, found her brand new, one-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Perth, a mere 10-minute walk from her work.
She has a 70 per cent share in her Aberdeen Street home, with the State Government chipping in 30 per cent towards the cost of the property. This means she shares the mortgage, not the home.
Jess pays the rates, strata levies and maintenance on the property, but she doesn’t have to fork out rent or interest on the State Government’s portion of the property.
Having achieved independence, and now paying off her own mortgage rather than someone else’s, Jess said stepping through the door to her new home for the first time was very surreal.
“There were mixed emotions of feeling relief, and excitement, and possibility, and then responsibility,” she said.
“It’s a good stepping stone. It’s a good opportunity to start my journey into the property arena and I don’t think I would have been able to do it without utilising the shared home ownership initiative at this point in time.”
Jess encourages other low to middle-income earners chasing independence and a place to call their own to consider Opening Doors.
“Just do it, you won’t regret it,” she said.
“I really did feel that the whole experience was very positive.”