Josh, a 23-year-old from Auckland, purchased his first home six months ago. Having worked towards this dream since he was 16, he and his wife have finally made it happen.

In today’s market, it’s unusual for a 23-year-old to get on the property ladder, especially in New Zealand’s most expensive city.

Here’s how Josh and his wife achieved their goal of building a new life together in Auckland.

What Motivated You?

Josh’s journey began with his first job at a bike store in Wellington. When he started working, his parents encouraged him to set up a KiwiSaver account. “I don’t know how I decided to put 10 per cent of my payslip into KiwiSaver, but I just did,” he says.

Although the idea of home ownership wasn’t on his radar at the time, he loved his work. And it wasn’t until he married that the dream of owning a home became more pressing.

After their wedding at the end of 2023, the newlyweds moved to Auckland. Immediately, they were thinking about the future: how were they going to build a life together in this new city?

What Sort Of Property?

The couple found a charming 2.5-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom duplex with a small front yard, a bit of land on the west side and a cosy backyard. They purchased the property for $759,000 as a freehold new build, completed in March 2024.

For them, location was more important than the developer, especially after encountering issues with one developer mid-construction.

Josh explains that his wife works in Mount Eden, and he’s based at the airport most days. So, being close to those locations and having access to public transport were important factors in their decision.

At that time, they still qualified for the Kāinga Ora grant scheme. This allowed them to use a 5 per cent deposit for a property priced up to $875,000.

The Hurdles

Josh said the biggest hurdle to overcome was themselves. It’s hard to be in a new city and not exploring around – for a while they wanted to “have it all”.

“And Auckland has plenty of that to offer, especially for two big foodies like us,” he says.

But while going out and trying it all was certainly tempting, the couple also saw that as a barrier to helping them achieve what they wanted … ultimately putting their roots down in Auckland.

Future Goals

Looking ahead, Josh hopes to own a holiday home somewhere in New Zealand and perhaps two or three investment properties.

“We’d also like to start a family eventually,” he adds. “Our focus is on developing a diversified investment strategy for the future, including retirement.”

Advice For Buyers

When the couple spoke to a mortgage broker, they were very surprised to learn their dream was possible much earlier than they thought.

He says for many first-home buyers, that’s the trap – they think: “I’m not there yet, I’ll wait.”

It’s the mindset that buying a home is unattainable. But if you look beyond the headlines and talk to the experts, there is an opportunity if you’ve made the right preparations.

Josh’s experience might resonate with many investors. Maybe you’re thinking about buying your first home, but you’re not sure if you’re there, or maybe you want to start building a life for yourself or your family.

If you want to use property to create a different future lifestyle for yourself, consider booking a Portfolio Planning Session with us at Opes Partners.

Disclaimer: Just remember this is a column in a magazine, going out to thousands of people. It’s not personal financial advice. But, it is an example of what can be achieved with personalised financial advice. If you are wanting to book a consultation, email us through the website at https://www.opespartners.co.nz