Supporting home ownership: Mitchell’s story

Through the Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme, Mitchell has achieved something he once thought unlikely - purchasing his first home and securing a place of his own. The opportunity to own a home wasn’t just about entering the property market. For Mitchell, it meant finding a safe and healthy place to live. He had been facing challenges in his rental property, where ongoing issues were beginning to impact his wellbeing. 

“I began looking for a house once I realised the black mould in my rental was beginning to take a toll on my health. The Help to Buy Scheme gave me that opportunity to leave. I didn't leave my rental for a long time because, while the mould was a problem, the rent was still relatively cheap compared to everything around me.”

Adding that the outlook for changing his living circumstances was initially bleak, Mitchell says that recent initiatives like Help to Buy are giving aspiring home buyers increasing confidence in the housing market.

“I have long thought the housing crisis was a problem that would keep getting worse, but in the last few years, I have seen tremendous progress.”

“I had been trying to find a house for about a month before being conditionally approved for Help to Buy. Before seriously looking, I would spend some evenings looking at properties for sale online and imagining owning my own place before thinking ‘this will never happen’.”

Mitchell first discovered the Help to Buy scheme online and quickly recognised its potential to help.

“I looked through the Scheme and thought it was a great way to assist lower-income people without pushing up house prices. Looking at the requirements, I realised that it would be a perfect fit for me.”

Reflecting on how much the Scheme has helped, Mitchell shared how much his outlook for the future has changed and how many more options he has available to him as a home owner.

“Without Help to Buy, I wouldn't have had a chance to secure my home. I would have either been in complete unaffordable debt or forced to live an hour or more from where I currently live and work.”

“Without the Government's contribution through the Scheme, I may have been limited to a single bedroom unit. Instead, I’ve been able to find somewhere I could see a life emerging - with the potential for a family.”

Now settled into his new home, Mitchell values both the lifestyle and sense of freedom it provides.

“My home is a comfortable place to live with a lot of opportunities to improve and apply my personal tastes. I love its location most of all. Being close to friends and shops is great and well-accustomed to my lifestyle. It also means stability and the ability to progress in my life.”

Looking ahead, Mitchell is excited not just about home ownership itself, but about what it enables.

“There are so many opportunities from owning a home and I'm most excited for sharing it with my friends and family. I've already received so much advice and ideas from people in my life and I’m excited to see what I can do with the place.”