I am glad to see you suggesting a young person breaking into the property market by buying a home and renting out the spare rooms. It was how I got myself into the house market back in 1980, having moved out from living with my parents, when they moved and still needed to finish off an apprenticeship. I shared a couple of places before, so leaned the art of how renting works. In the last 3 months of my apprenticeship I was sent up North of SA to get more experience. Accommodation and meals were part of the package so came back to Adelaide with a nice bank balance, plus a lot of experience looking after ones self. With my trade now under my belt, I transferred to another government agency with a depot in the Southern area of Adelaide.

I had saved nicely and had $4k in the bank, then borrowed $2k from my parents (yes bank of M&D was a thing then as well), l purchased an slightly run down home in the suburbs. Immediately I let out the spare room and began a crash course in being a landlord. With shift work I was able to pay my house off in 3yrs and 6mths. Was a great platform for our start. Yes I managed to get married at the end, not to one of my housemates I may add.

You may be wondering the price of that first home, $24,500 after knocking down the asking price $500. Yes how things have changed, but it was still hard work and dedication.

Patrick and Jenny. Aldinga Beach, South Australia.

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