For Bronwyn, owning a home meant security and a place to base herself regardless of what was happening in her life. 

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts she moved overseas to live, but upon her return to Perth all she wanted were her own four walls. On a single income, she thought it would be difficult to become a home owner, but just before her 30th birthday, Bronwyn bought a two-bedroom one-bathroom unit in Cockburn Central. It ticked all her boxes – it was walking distance to the train station, close to shopping centres, easy to clean and maintain, and the mortgage repayments were achievable.  

“When I first moved into my apartment, I felt such joy about being able to experiment with decorating my place to my tastes and buying real, lasting furniture,” Bronwyn said. 

“It was fun doing the ‘adulting’ things like having a mortgage, whitegoods, insurance and inviting friends over for dinner parties.”  

Bronwyn bought her home through the State Government’s Opening Doors shared home ownership initiative. She purchased 70 per cent of the home, while the State Government contributed 30 per cent towards the cost of the home. 

After a few years of living in her apartment Bronwyn’s circumstances changed and she wanted to buy a house with her now husband. She sold her apartment and used part of the revenue to put a deposit down on a property in Yokine. 

When it came to purchasing her second home, Bronwyn said she had the advantage of already experiencing the journey into home ownership. 

“There are so many things to think about, so having some prior experience really helped,” she said. 

For those wanting to purchase a home, the 34-year-old encouraged others to go for it. 

“Work out what you want lifestyle-wise, and work out what you can afford to buy and live on that is within your means,” Bronwyn said. 

“Decide if it’s the best option for you.”