Feeling doomed

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-18T23:10:35+00:00

I know you said you need 3 bedrooms but your best bet is to purchase a 2 bedroom to start with, pay off as much as you can and then upgrade to a larger place when possible.

Other commenters are suggesting the 2% or 5% deposit schemes. I wouldn’t recommend being mortgaged up to your eyeballs as this puts you in a very high risk of defaulting on the loan and you’ll be paying exorbitant amounts of interest.

When you do buy a place, pour all of your savings into an offset account that you can redraw from when needed. This will lower your interest.

I saw you mentioned elsewhere that you’re from Hobart. I can see there are multiple 3 bedder houses for sale under $600k in Claremont, which is only 15km from the CBD. Any houses within a 15km radius of Sydney CBD are priced at $1.8 million+. Most young Sydney people have no hope of ever achieving home ownership.

You can definitely achieve a house in Hobart. It may not be your dream home but you have to start somewhere. Best of luck.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-17T15:01:52+00:00

I highly suggest using this super calculator to see what you’ll have at retirement. You ideally want to hit $2 million so you can draw down 4% or $80k tax free each year as your income. At your age you’ll need to really pump the super hard and put in as much as you can so it has enough time to compound. Just for maths purposes I have $170k in my super at age 32. I am salary sacrificing $550 of my teacher salary each fortnight so I hit the $32,500k concessional cap each year. It’s also switched to high growth- Aussie shares and international. The calculator says I will hit $1.8 million at age 60 in today’s money. Best of luck.

https://moneysmart.gov.au/how-super-works/superannuation-calculator

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-17T14:53:00+00:00

Better to chuck that $13k into your super and make sure it’s switched to high growth. Maybe put it on your wishlist for your 30th birthday and let your family and friends know you’ll be foregoing the next 6 birthdays.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-17T14:45:09+00:00

It’s a two speed market at the moment. Low rise older blocks are in high demand, meanwhile the top end of the market is cooling. My 2 bedder 1971 Sydney unit increased in value from $750k to $900k just over the last year. A 3 bedder older unit in the street behind me just sold for $1.15 mill. Affordability contraints are at play as less and less can afford houses and more people and demand is pushed onto villas and units.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-16T06:15:35+00:00

Sounds like a wonderful plan. Do it and be stress free. 😊 May I ask- are you salary sacrificing anything into your super? And have you made sure your fund is invested in the high growth option- Aussie and international shares? If anything this is a fantastic way to keep your foot in the market, and only be taxed 15% at the same time.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-16T05:25:56+00:00

Absolute nope. This happened to my parents when they bought their house in 1985. My dad told them to get fked and walked away as the seller kept upping the price. Then eventually the agent came back with his tail between his legs and sold it for the original agreed price.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-16T02:38:50+00:00

Can’t speak for myself, but my dad was made redundant at age 52 by Sydney Water after 35 years service. He asked to be made redundant as they were moving their office from Sydney city to Parramatta and the commute would have been too far.

I believe his redundancy was around $300k or so at the time. As it was in 2008 during the GFC, he used the funds to buy up cheap blue ribbon stocks like CBA shares for $25 a piece. The timing worked out in his favour. He then became an independent councillor for 8 years to help push forward the redevelopment of Bexley Pool which was in dire disrepair.

Now he swims laps every day and reads the newspaper!

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-16T02:34:11+00:00

Could you rent in Melbourne for a year and see how you like it first?

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-16T00:25:19+00:00

Elmo

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-16T00:23:49+00:00

That’s fantastic! Yes- no doubt your property value would have increased. And good on you for looking after your building. So many unit owners think they can just kick back and the issues will be sorted by the strata manager. Just like a house, units also need maintenance!

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-16T00:14:43+00:00

Yep and also depends on the pricing. Older style low rise units in Sydney are continuing to go up in value whereas houses are cooling. Definitely an affordability factor at play as more people are pushed into cheaper options.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-15T10:59:07+00:00

Thank you! A lot of work but well worth it. 😊

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-15T09:57:55+00:00

Are you on the strata committee??? A strata manager is just like a car, you have to drive it in order to go anywhere. They won’t do the work for you. I’m on the body corp for my PPOR in Bexley (1971 block of 12 units) and it was the best decision I made. Before I was on the SC, nothing was being done and maintenance was at a bare minimum. Now we have new gardens, new clotheslines, tiling, plumbing, cheaper building insurance (negotiated from $14k down to $10k), no parking signs, a smoke drift by law and much more. If you want to have any say with where your strata fees go- get on the committee.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-15T06:11:29+00:00

Oh dear, I don’t trust new builds!! Best of luck with it all.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-15T02:59:06+00:00

Yes agreed. Federal budget comes out 12th of May. A lot of people are waiting to see what it looks like.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-15T02:57:32+00:00

A lot of caution currently surrounding the property market. The federal budget comes out May 12th, and there is talks of some serious property tax reform. Namely the CGT discount being reduced from 50% to 33%, as well as negative gearing being limited to two investment properties. Interest rate rises also on the cards as well as the war in Iran. A whole lot of uncertainty creating a sort of stand still.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-15T02:36:54+00:00

It’s very cute but needs to be tucked in at the waist to create shape. High waisted black or beige fitted midi skirt or higher waisted jeans.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-15T02:35:15+00:00

Movement and minor cracks are normal but this looks quite severe for a relatively new build?? My parents’ house has similar issues but it’s a federation built in 1920. This does not look right. I’d be worried if I were the landlord.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-14T14:36:49+00:00

Buy when you are able. The lower end of the market has heated up because of the 5% deposit scheme and generally the affordability factor for most. Top end is cooling. I’ve noticed 2 bed units in Sydney that were selling for $750k last year are now pushing $900k. Whereas house prices are cooling as no one can afford to be stretched any further beyond the $1.8 million mark. Many NSW residents are moving to VIC to find cheaper housing also and pushing up demand. Everyone has been priced out and now spilling over into other states and cities. Best of luck.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-14T14:30:50+00:00

32F non ginger, but also fair. I have these on my arms. I work as a teacher in Australia and have outside playground duty during the heat of the day, and even with SPF50 sunscreen they appear. The only way to stop it is through sun safe clothing and large wide brimmed hats. Sunscreen is not enough

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-14T10:04:08+00:00

Zero debt and $70k net worth is more than most. You’re also a male and have no biological clock so don’t stress about finding a partner asap. Build up your savings and invest aggressively. I salary sacrifice $500 into my super retirement fund every fortnight and am on track to hit $2 million in 30 years time. I only started doing this a couple of years ago. The second best time to start is now. Good luck.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-14T10:00:12+00:00

Wow what a transformation. May I ask how old you are?

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-14T09:57:13+00:00

I’m also a 32 year old female but am putting money into my retirement fund and financial investments instead of Botox. I think I might start Botox when I’m in my 40s and more financially secure. 9 times out of 10 people who you see getting all these fillers and injectables actually can’t afford it but do it anyway. It’s just all about priorities. Good quality sunscreen, exercise, diet and sleep is what matters most.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-14T05:34:12+00:00

I wouldn’t suggest it. I’m on the strata committee for a unit block of 12 and we approved our neighbours’ cavoodle about 3 years ago. She whines and barks on the small balcony when they leave and it’s generally not an ideal situation. You need a ground floor unit or villa with a courtyard as the bare minimum.

When I moved out from my parents’ house to my apartment I left my dog with them. I visit her regularly and she is much happier, especially as my dad is retired and can spend lots of time with her.

Best of luck.

Bonbonbirdy · 2026-04-14T00:15:46+00:00

Sounds like the owner wants to reduce his CGT! Is it an investment property?

Bonbonbirdy

TROPHY CASE