Comments on: 10 Reasons Staying in Your Starter Home Is a Smart Move

By: Aaron Moon

Aaron Moon — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 00:04:28 +0000

Awesome points made! We’ve passed this on to our family and friends for a good read!

By: Jacquie Webb

Jacquie Webb — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 03:19:08 +0000

Hi Emma. I have just come across you page It is fantastic reading. I have a budget plan very similiar to yours. I would love to own my own home. Thank god I pay cheap rent. I live in Invercargill. So the Sterio Type of Invercargill also makes for cheaper houses in Nz more so if you live in South Invercargill. The Nz Governmenment brought in kiwisaver over 10 years ago which be used to buy your first/starter home. Plus there are also other benefits you could be entitled to as well. But depending on the bank you are with you need a 20% deposit or one bank offers a 10% deposit. Being a seasonal worker e.g Freezing Worker you soon learn how to live frugally in the off season. My dream is to own a house that has a heat pump and a heater in the bathroom. ☺

By: Jo

Jo — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 13:15:58 +0000

Sounds great! Don’t think we have them in the UK but it’s a nice idea.

By: Niki

Niki — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 13:18:50 +0000

This article is not only helpful for the new home buyers but also I totally agree with the idea! Very well explained!!

By: The Opposite of Living Beyond Your Means

The Opposite of Living Beyond Your Means — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 20:28:00 +0000

[…] A starter home. Currently, an earthquake damaged starter home. Three bedrooms, big garden. Close to the central city. Bought with a 90% mortgage in 2011. Related post: Why Buying a Starter House (and staying in it forever) Is a Smart Move […]

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 09 May 2017 19:07:50 +0000

You make some really great points! Paying off a house more quickly and thus being able to direct funds to savings goals is an especially smart move. I will have to consider all this whenever I buy my first home. Thanks for sharing!

By: Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 18:47:34 +0000

I enjoyed this article. All of your points were spot-on. Starter homes are almost always a great investment.

By: Jasmine Vanasselt

Jasmine Vanasselt — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 08:05:28 +0000

I love that you are striving to become a location independent entrepreneur and still believe in owning a property. So great to have a home as an investment while you chase the sun! That’s inspirational. Thanks for sharing, Emma!

By: Emma Healey

Emma Healey — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 23:51:56 +0000

In reply to Vesper. Thanks, Vesper. I love that you had those lightbulb moments! They are such a gift, because once you start questioning things like the housing ladder, other 'norms' follow. Really, a great life can be had for very little outlay, if one is prepared to think differently. It's wonderful. Welcome to the club!

By: Vesper

Vesper — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 20:46:13 +0000

I completely agree with your entire fabulous article. We are fed this housing ladder nonsense from birth and rarely question it. I only started questioning it myself when I started reading about minimalism and early retirement in mid 2015 (lightbulb moments!). I recently read an article on interest.co.nz saying you can move up the property ladder everywhere except for Auckland (mostly) and Queenstown (where I live). The article just presumed we all need to upgrade to the McMansion etc. Even my in-laws question us staying in our so-called starter home. We can’t afford to ‘upgrade’ without moving towns now anyway, and it would have been extremely painful even before the housing crisis. 120m2 with 2 wee ones suits us too, especially after I decluttered. Thanks for challenging the paradigm 🙂