Gold Coast woman buys property sight unseen after attending 50 open homes

PHOTO: From location and financing, to renovations and regrets.

This week on First Home Buyers, 23-year-old Maddie Walton wound up securing a property sight unseen, after attending over 50 inspections and going through eight mortgage brokers.

I was at work when my buyers agent called to tell me my offer had been accepted. Then it dawned on me I’d just bought my first home sight unseen.

The best way to describe the feeling was – I was a mess. I was crying happy tears. It was just amazing to know my hard work had paid off.

I was just 15 when I had the dream of one day buying my first home.

I read the Barefoot Investor and that sparked everything for me. I got into finance and property podcasts as well as learning about the share market when I was 18.

When I was 20, I learned about the First Home Super Scheme. So, I started saving $10,000 through the scheme each year through my part time job while studying full time at university.

But my issue was only having a part time job, it was difficult to service a loan.

At 23, I was offered a full time role as a medical researcher, and kept my part time retail job on the side to boost my deposit. I worked 70 hours a week between both jobs to boost my borrowing power, and add more cash to my down payment.

First Home Buyers Maddie Walton Gold Coast woman buys house sight unseen attending after over 50 open homes — **Walton had been to over 50 open homes, a struggle while working seven days a week. She engaged a buyers agent for support. (Supplied)**

If that wasn’t enough of a challenge, the prices of Gold Coast properties had increased drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’d been to over 50 open homes and made several offers but nothing was really sticking. It was also tough getting to open homes because of working seven days a week.

I decided to employ a buyers agent to assist me throughout the process of my purchase. Yes, they’re expensive, but it helped me so much with open homes and handling all the things I didn’t have time for.

I was a 23-year-old with no help around her. No one really took me seriously.

Even when I told them my income and told them what I wanted, they just said ‘we’re so busy right now, it’s going to take us a long time to get back to you’. This was for mortgage brokers, real estate agents and the likes.