Find certainty by finally escaping the rent race.

The weeks before Christmas in 2018 were chaotic for South Australian couple Anthony Watson and Simone Kirvan. With their newborn son barely home from hospital they were forced to leave their rented home when the landlord cut their water off.

Their only option was to return to Anthony’s parents’ home. While they were thankful for the safety net, the situation was hardly ideal.

“We had a 6-week-old baby and a partner I needed to find a home for,” Anthony said, admitting he was “panicking a lot” at the time.

The couple faced other setbacks: Anthony was made redundant, and Simone was involved in a car accident.

But all the while they kept focused on their long term dream: to have a home they could call their own.

Change your saving habits.

This focus was borne partly out of the reality of the rental market. With a vacancy rate of around 1 per cent, the couple knew the challenges being a tenant can bring, with unexpected rent rises, and the possibility of eviction ever looming.

So instead of queuing for rental inspections the couple started researching affordable ways to build their own home.

“We went to a lot of building consultants and a lot of people ignored us,” Simone said.

She admitted the couple were naive to the reality of what it took to secure finance for a home.

“You don’t get taught in school about what bills you have to pay. There's nothing about how you should do it (save for a home loan).”

Simone said after being turned away from several developers who dismissed their chances of securing finance, the couple met Daniel Stone at Fairmont in 2019.

“We had no idea about finance - what to do (to get a mortgage).”

Simone said Daniel introduced them to mortgage broker Gary Benson to partner on their journey.

Instead of dismissing them as others had done, they took the time to educate the couple about the changes they would need to make in order to get finance for their home.

“He explained we would need to sell some assets, and then come back in six months,” she said, referring to their two cars and a jetski, which were all acquired through personal loans.

Anthony added the education was a lightbulb moment - when they realised all their “toys” were holding them back.

“Don’t wrap that finance around your neck,” he said, admitting he had no idea things like paying $150 a week for a jetski were preventing the couple from their housing dream.

“He said ‘I know you love your car, let’s get rid of those things, go for finance and then you can slowly get those things back.’”

Anthony said other short-term changes made buying a home possible too.

“Sacrifice going out with your friends a little bit too. We don’t drink or smoke. It’s the gym memberships, the playstation subscriptions. It’s all those little tiny things banks look at. If you can put it all off for 12 months, every little saving is going to go so much further for you.”

Making the change.

Simone said although some of those changes were difficult, they were reminded of their goal every day, as the young family were living in a small cottage in the back of Anthony’s parents’ home.

“We really struggled. We didn’t have our own bathroom. I would have to carry Harrison, and lay him inside the shower. Then carry everything back out there (to the cottage).”

“It was important for us to save and to build,” Anthony added. “The jetski went. The cars. We knew we would get them back.

“Stop telling yourself you can’t do it. A little bit of hard work goes a long way.”

The couple have now realised their dream, building their home in the Barossa Valley town of Nuriootpa.

“It’s a two min drive from where we did live. The estate was established - but there were about 10 blocks still available. And we thought it was so close to town. You can walk there,” said Anthony.

Simone added the location made it a lot easier for her to return to work, and then come home and enjoy time with their son.

“I am a two minute drive or a 10 minute walk to work. And there’s a park and a little creek across the road.”

She said one of the biggest rewards is the knowledge this house is their home - they can put their own touches on it.

“Anthony had the front yard done in two weeks (after they moved in). He had the backyard done too.”

Anthony said the couple takes a lot of joy in owning their own home, and thinking about the future possibilities.

“You can rest knowing you’ve got a place to stay, but the excitement builds from there. The garden and the home are yours.”

If you’re thinking of building a new home, Fairmont Homes’ friendly team are ready to help with an exciting selection of home designs, house and land packages and in-house custom design services. Take the first step to building your dream home and contact us today!