Young Professionals Break the Rental Cycle on Gold Coast

Jessica and Tom, both 28, were successful professionals working on the Gold Coast but felt trapped in the expensive rental market. Despite earning good incomes, the high cost of living and rent made it nearly impossible to save for a traditional deposit.

"We were paying $550 a week for a 2-bedroom apartment, and rent prices just kept going up," explains Jessica, who works in marketing. "Every year we'd get a rent increase notice, and we felt like we were just making our landlord rich while getting nothing in return."

Tom, an IT consultant, adds: "We did the math and realized we'd paid over $85,000 in rent over three years. That money could have been going toward our own mortgage instead."

The couple had heard about using superannuation for property purchases but didn't understand how it worked until they discovered GettaHome's community funding model.

"The GettaHome team explained how we could leverage our super as part of the funding structure without the traditional deposit requirements," says Jessica. "It was exactly what we needed - a way to get into the property market without waiting years to save."

The process moved quickly once they were approved. Within 8 weeks, they had secured a modern 2-bedroom apartment in a sought-after Gold Coast location, complete with ocean glimpses and resort-style amenities.

"The apartment has everything we wanted - modern finishes, a great location, and amenities like a pool and gym," says Tom. "We're actually paying less per month than we were in rent, and we're building equity instead of throwing money away."

The couple particularly appreciates the security that comes with homeownership. "No more worrying about rent increases or being asked to move," says Jessica. "This is our home, and we can make it exactly how we want it."

Looking back, both Jessica and Tom wish they had discovered GettaHome sooner. "We wasted years thinking we needed to save a huge deposit," says Tom. "This program showed us there was another way, and now we're homeowners living in our dream location."