Melbourne housing affordability: How single mum made her home ownership dreams come true in Melton

Single mother Jennifer Parkes and her young son are just about to sign the dotted line on their new home in Eynesbury. Picture: Wayne Taylor

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Single mum Jennifer Parkes is on the cusp of having her own place to raise her son, but she had to move back in with her parents to get there.

“I was very lucky to be able to move in with my parents for a while to save. Not a lot of people in my position are able to do that so I’m very fortunate,” she said.

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“My new home has everything my son and I need, plenty of space and room to grow. We just need more transport and a high school in the area, I think this will come with time.”

The Melton region is budget buyers’ best bet in Melbourne, with a $610,000 median — that can be much less in its most affordable pockets.

First National Melton director Jade Carberry said most buyers in the area were first-home buyers taking advantage of the grants currently on offer.

Jen says she was ‘very lucky’ to get into her own home, by moving back in with her parents in order to save. Picture: Wayne Taylor

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“Investors have definitely dropped off out here but our first-home buyers are coming in strong, which has inevitably been a positive thing for those looking to secure their own home,” Ms Carberry said.
“Melton being on track to be the fastest growing municipality in the state, we need the government to come on board to ensure amenities like the hospital, improved public transport and shopping centres are built to cater for all the new estates that are being built.

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“Inner Melton has access a lot of the services already, but the newer parts of Melton like Cobblebank and Rockbank, it is still a paddock and plans aren’t set in stone and there are estates in Melton that still don’t have access to freeways. There is still a lot that needs to happen out here to ensure Melton gets the love and attention it deserves.”