From Melbourne Plans to Brooklyn Dreams: How Covid Changed Anthony and Rebekah’s Path to Homeownership

Anthony and Rebekah were planning their move to Melbourne when Covid hit. When the couple finally found a house in Brooklyn they didn’t think they could afford, their life took a different path, especially for Anthony – an architectural designer and the first person in his family to own his own home.

When did you know you’d found the right home?

Three years ago we were living with my parents while we prepared for our move to Melbourne. But Covid changed that. We made offers on 13 houses over nine months. We loved the idea of living in Brooklyn but didn’t imagine it would be possible, financially. We tried to be realistic and not get our hopes too high.

When we saw this three-bedroom house near the windmill in Brooklyn, I could tell it had good bones. It was everything on our wish list: close to town with easy access and good sun. Living somewhere with good sun was a non-negotiable for us because it’s something you can’t change. Being an architectural designer, I also saw the property’s potential.

What was it like stepping into your first home for the first time? What was the best moment?

We’d been disappointed to miss out on other houses. We had to grow a thick skin. On the first night, after we moved in, we lit the fire. That’s when I realised ‘this is our place, we’ve finally made it!’ We were both so happy.

Getting the phone call from Tommy’s to say we’d won the tender. It was a huge relief.

How has your home changed your life?

It’s changed everything. Growing up, I never thought it would be possible to live in my own, warm, dry home. I still pinch myself. The house has been a blank canvas for me as an architectural designer. When we renovated, I designed and drew the plans with the intention to create a nice open functional space and manipulating the sun to highlight the design and bring more natural light into the renovated spaces. I also enjoyed being on the tools and learnt a lot about building along the way.

We’re both from big families so having space to host friends and families and knowing they can stay with us has been a luxury. We’re expecting our first baby soon so we’ve turned one of the spare bedrooms into the baby’s room.

Have you celebrated any milestones or created any special memories in your home yet?

Finishing our renovation was a massive milestone. We lived on-site and did a lot of the work ourselves. We hosted 30 friends and family for a umu at our home once. That was a special event.

How did you find the process of buying a house through Tommy’s? How did the team support you?

I’m the first person in my family to own a house so everything was new to me. I was thrown in the deep end and learnt a lot about everything – real estate terms, home loans and interest rates.

We looked at dozens of properties and there were 30 – 40 people at every open home. Our agent and the team at Tommy’s knew what we wanted and went out of their way for us. They worked together really well.

We built a genuine and meaningful relationship with our agent. We still keep in touch. Our agent empathised with our position and was really proactive and encouraging. We knew we could trust the Tommy’s team so started looking for the green Tommy’s signs everywhere we went!

What would you say to someone looking to buy a new home?

Find an agent you trust so you can build a good relationship with them. It will help them understand what you’re looking for and help you filter out options that don’t meet your brief.

Tap into all the resources available. For example, consider using a mortgage broker. They helped us work out what we could afford before making an offer. They still help us when we want to refix our home loan.

A lot of people have big dreams about the kind of home they want to buy but the reality of what’s possible can be quite different. Make a wish list and consider reducing your non-negotiables to increase the chance of finding what you can afford.

Be proactive. Do your due diligence. Keep asking questions. It will help you feel sure about your investment. And once you’ve moved in, make an effort to meet your neighbours. Having a good relationship with ours has made a world of difference.