Community News

Gabriella Constance and Joey El-Fakhouri have finally bought their first property following a 12-month search.

The pair paid $299,900 for a 681sq m block at the $400m master-planned community Eucalee Gleneagle, near Beaudesert, and plan to build a four-bedroom home with pool.

“We were turned down for finance so many times, and we were told by a broker that we wouldn’t be able to buy in our lifetime, so we were starting to think we would have to rent for the rest of our lives,” Ms Constance, 22, said.

“We had been looking at land and properties in Ripley, Springfield and surrounding areas, with 300sq m blocks selling for over $400,000, and old established homes that required renovations starting from $700,000.

“We stumbled on Eucalee, did some research and booked an appointment, and while we didn’t intend to commit to buying on the spot, we loved the community so much and didn’t want to miss out on the offer, so we put our deposit down then and there.

“I always wanted to build our own home but I thought it would be out of reach, and it turns out it really is the only viable option for us right now.”

The couple took advantage of the state $30,000 first home-owner grant paired with a $15,000 incentive thrown in by Eucalee developer Villawood Properties.

“The Australian dream of owning a home is becoming an unrealistic ideal for many young people who are finding the property market increasingly hostile as housing prices continue to increase,” Villawood Properties Queensland general manager Michael Williams said.

“At Eucalee first-home buyers make up 39 per cent of all residents, with nearly 50 per cent of buyers aged between 20 and 30 years of age. “When first-home buyers are prepared to look a little further out of town, they will be rewarded with land that is affordable … where they can build their own home and make that dream a reality.”

Article published in the Townsville Bulletin on 13th April, 2024 – link to article: Online Article