THE ongoing housing affordability debate has covered issues such as smashed avocado and caffè latte consumption by young people, through to the latest Census data showing home ownership in Australia is declining, both for properties owned outright and those under a mortgage.
But soon-to-be-local couples are bucking the trend.
Alfie Stevens and Emily Clark, both 20, work in retail and were just 18 when they started saving for a house together. A year later they signed up to build at Peet’s newest development at Flagstone.
“Kids can’t stay with their parents forever so we wanted to move out, but why rent if we could find a way to buy?” Miss Clark said.
“We never thought of ourselves as ‘pioneers’ but it’s great to be part of something so new.
“I didn’t want a tiny house and we didn’t have much to spend, so when we found Flagstone it was decision made.”
Miss Clark and Mr Stevens have managed to travel widely, both together and with their families, including a trip to Bali where they got engaged this year. A wedding is on the cards in the next two years.
- Read more: Unravelling the local property puzzle
- Read more: Logan City in $1.8b housing boost
- Read more: Greenbank development gets green light
“Our friends are pretty pleased for us. Most of them are still in party mode and we gave up a lot to do this,” Miss Clark said.
“We don’t drink a lot at weekends, or eat out, or spend willy-nilly on clothes and cars, although we do love to travel.
“Our parents are really supportive. They let us live with them and not pay rent so we could make this happen.”
New beginnings
Michael and Kay Adams currently live in the Ipswich suburb of Camira and are expecting to move into their new home at Park Ridge by Christmas.
Mrs Adams said they had looked for land at Springfield and Brentwood Forest before settling on The Rise, Fraser Property’s master-planned community.
“The Rise won us over because of its size, location and quiet streets,” she said.
“We hope to move in by Christmas, and we are looking forward to a new beginning and meeting our new neighbours.”
Development issues
The final and eighth stage at The Rise will be released this month, featuring lots ranging in size from 300 to 1002 square metres.
The news comes after the announcement of Mirvac’s 481-hectare development at Greenbank.
Community concerns about the continued development in the southern Logan region include lack of public transport and insufficient infrastructure, particularly roads and schools.
