That first meeting ended with a handshake and a promise: “I’ll be back.” Three years and $90,000 of paid-off debt later, Glen and Nish didn’t just come back – they powered through every setback the Auckland housing market threw at them.
Some stories in the mortgage business stick with you. Glen and Nish’s journey is one of them. I first met Glen over a decade ago, in what became one of those memorable ‘spit on the hand and shake hands’ moments. His promise was simple: “I might not be able to buy a home now, but when things change, I will come back.”
True to his word, Glen returned in 2020, but the numbers didn’t quite stack up. When he came back again in mid-2023, though, everything finally aligned. It’s the kind of persistence that defines successful first-home buyers, and Glen and Nish’s subsequent 18-month journey to finding the right property offers valuable insights for anyone starting their own house-hunting adventure.
Their story begins, as many do, with tackling debt. When Glen and Nish first got together, they were facing a combined debt of about $90,000. Instead of letting this derail their homeownership dreams, they methodically worked to become debt-free. They even managed to reach a point where overseas holidays became possible, enjoying family trips to Sydney and Rarotonga. It’s a testament to their financial discipline and long-term vision.
Like most first-home buyers, they started with a wish list. Four bedrooms, double internal access garage, a large backyard with a tree for a swing, and two bathrooms. But the Auckland property market has a way of teaching hard lessons about expectations versus reality.
Their search led them through countless open homes (eight they were keen on!) and introduced them to what they call ‘terrible real estate agents’ spiel.’ They encountered the familiar story of price expectations creeping up week by week – a typical example was one home they saw which was initially quoted at $700k-$800k and suddenly pitched at $800k-$900k, only to sell for nearly $1.3 million at auction.
The process wasn’t cheap either. They spent approximately $15,000 on lawyers’ fees and building reports during their search, including about $5,000 on building inspections. But these costs, while significant, protected them from potentially costly mistakes. Through their building inspector, they eventually learned to spot warning signs themselves – and to know when to walk away when they spotted them.
The turning point in their journey came when they met, a real estate agent who in their eyes just stood out from the crowd. ‘Out of every single real estate agent we came across, Dan was just wicked. He was awesome,’ says Nish. They found his honest approach refreshing – instead of the usual sales pitch, he’d be straight with them about property issues and realistic prices.
Their eventual success came with a property that initially didn’t tick all their boxes. It wasn’t standalone and lacked the dreamed-of double garage. But sometimes, you just know when a house is right. ‘I took one step in the house and I was like, ‘I want this house.’ It felt like home,’ says Nish.
What makes their story particularly relevant for today’s first-home buyers is their perspective on the concept of a ‘forever home.’ As Nish wisely advised, ‘Don’t think of it as your forever home… Life changes and it changes daily.” This mindset helped them focus on what really mattered – getting into the market and creating a home for their family.
Their journey wasn’t just about finding a house, it was about learning valuable lessons along the way. They discovered the importance of having trustworthy professionals in their corner, from their building inspector to their mortgage adviser. For aspiring first-home buyers, Glen and Nish’s story offers hope and practical advice. Their journey from significant debt to homeownership in Auckland’s competitive market shows that with persistence, good professional guidance, and a willingness to adapt your expectations, the dream of homeownership is achievable.
The process of buying your first home will always be challenging – as Nish puts it, it ranks up there with marriage, death and divorce in terms of life’s most stressful experiences. But with the right approach and support, it’s a challenge worth taking on. After all, at the end of it, you might just find yourself, like Glen and Nish, with a place to truly call your own.
Looking back on their journey, Glen and Nish have some hard-won advice for other first-home buyers:
- Find trustworthy professionals – a good mortgage advisor, a real estate agent you can trust, and lawyer who communicates clearly about the legal process.
- Be patient with the process – sometimes, the right property takes time to find. ‘Cam kept on saying you’re alright, the right property is going to come up.’
- Keep perspective – remember that your first home doesn’t have to be your forever home. As Nish emphasises, circumstances change and first homes are stepping stones.
- Build a support network: But be mindful about whose advice you take. As Nish points out, even well-meaning friends and family will give you their opinion on what you should do, but ultimately, you’ve just got to remember what is true and what makes you happy.
If you’re looking to buy your first home or are seeking some advice, let’s sit down for a chat and figure out your next steps. You can get in touch here.
