Young woman beats the odds to buy her first home solo in Melbourne

In the midst of Australia’s housing crisis, where skyrocketing prices and fierce competition have made homeownership a daunting challenge, a 29-year-old corporate worker has defied the odds to secure her first property in Melbourne. Taylor Jade Harris, originally from New Zealand, has shared her journey of determination and innovation in navigating a market that often favours couples over single buyers.

Having moved to Melbourne several years ago, Harris quickly fell in love with the city and committed to making it her permanent home. She diligently saved for a decade, amassing over $50,000 for a deposit. In January 2025, she was approved for a loan, but she was acutely aware of the challenges she faced as a single buyer.

“The single tax is evident. It is to your detriment to be single,” Harris explained. “You only have one income to service the loan and you’re just way more risky.”

The struggle of single buyers like Harris is reflected in recent data. Finder’s 2025 First Home Buyer Report indicates that only 34 per cent of women purchased their homes as solo buyers this year, compared to 44 per cent of men. This gap has widened since 2021, highlighting the increasing difficulty single buyers face in the current market.

Despite these odds, Harris was determined to succeed. She attended numerous property inspections, often finding herself competing against couples with dual incomes. “When I was looking, it was terrifying,” she said, describing the intense competition and overwhelming demand.

Real estate agents, overwhelmed by the number of interested buyers, often attempted to redirect her to less desirable properties. Harris recounted visiting a popular street in Melbourne, The Avenue, where a two-bedroom apartment was listed between $575,000 and $600,000. The property, located in the trendy suburb of Prahran, attracted a staggering 400 people to its inspection.

“There were like 400 people there and the line went all the way down the street. It was one of the most overwhelming things,” Harris said. The apartment ultimately sold for over $610,000, exemplifying the fierce competition and high prices typical of the current market.

Faced with these challenges, Harris realised she needed a creative strategy to secure a property. She decided to stretch her budget and offered $745,000 for a charming two-bedroom apartment in a trendy suburb. “I ended up pushing my budget higher to try and thwart the competition,” she explained.

To further differentiate herself from other buyers, Harris employed a personal touch by writing a heartfelt letter to the property’s owner. “I wrote a letter to the owner to differentiate myself and sell myself,” she said. In the letter, Harris expressed her deep connection to the property and her desire to make it her home.

“I moved to Australia from London just over a year ago, originally from New Zealand, and have been trying to make this country feel like home,” she wrote. “It’s been a big transition, especially doing it solo, but from the moment I stepped into the space, something felt different. It was the first place I’ve seen where I could truly see myself ‘living’ and be part of the community.”

The letter proved successful, convincing the owner to accept her offer and avoid an auction, which often results in higher final prices. “It was crazy,” Harris said, reflecting on her successful bid.

Even after securing the property, the stress of the process lingered. Harris lost her voice immediately after the purchase, attributing it to the intense stress involved. She also experienced a moment of doubt when she received the keys, as the apartment looked different without furniture. However, she is now thrilled to call it her own.

Harris has shared her journey on TikTok, inspiring other women in similar situations. “I posted a video and shared that I had bought it, and there were so many comments saying congratulations, especially since I was doing it alone,” she said. “People had additional questions that were going through a similar journey of being a female solo buyer and it was so cool to help with that.”

Richard Whitten, a home loan expert from Finder, commented on the challenges faced by solo buyers in the current market. “There’s almost an assumption that home buyers are couples, because the amount of money required is often too much for one person to cover,” he said. He noted that the financial strain of a mortgage is more manageable when split between two or more people, making solo buying increasingly rare.

Despite these challenges, Harris’s story serves as a testament to the power of determination and creativity in achieving homeownership.