‘Buying a property isn’t easy. It’s not meant to be. It’s one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make in your life. But it is worth it … it’s hard, there will be shit bits, but it’s not impossible.’     

At thirty, journalist Nicole Haddow had unstable income, no financial plan and only credit-card debt to her name. But less than two years’ later she was a home-owner.     

In Smashed Avocado, Nicole explains the steps she took to purchase her own home, alongside detailed case studies of other people who have found ways to enter the property market. She shares practical tips from financial planners, mortgage brokers, buyers’ agents, real-estate agents and other property experts, and the acquired wisdom of a new generation of homeowners – down to the micro-details. She even thrashes it out with Bernard Salt, the man who said young people should stop splashing out on expensive brunches if they want to own their own home. Buying property remains a worthwhile investment, and young people are inventing innovative ways of achieving it, including rentvesting, flipping, Airbnb, tiny homes, buying regionally and more.     

Nicole’s story is inspiring and optimistic - but, most importantly, it’s realistic.The home ownership dream might look different today, but it’s still possible to make it a reality.