@mogga - hi - the housing shortage is something which I do not understand. I/my husband bought our first home, which, it turned out, was on the condemned 'list' and because the seller knew 'someone' on the council, was allowed to sell to us. He financed it (all of $7000 back in early 1970) - my husband, not a trained brickie, but trained in all the metal trades, and some design- and drafting experience, 2 years evening courses in engineering in Sydney as well - managed to make it into a decent house - it is still standing, has changed hands 3 times - people living there told me, that an artist and 'musicians' lived there (that was us!) - it was wonderful to see people living happily in what was a humble worker's cottage from the early 20th century, and only because my husband 'rescued' it - from sheer necessity. I walked out the back and simply had to touch the rough tiles which were still there on the floor and shed a tear.
Same guy sold us another run-down home, which 'we' (I and kids did some chipping of bricks, painting on it) rescued - that too is still lived in and taken care of lovingly. We came to Perth in the early 1980s (9 years later) with over $50 000 in cash and were able to purchase another home, but that's another story.... Sadly he died, aged 56 - I still miss him.
People aspire to too much -
Another story - we got involved with a group of migrants (from the old Austrian 'empire' - many languages spoken, many from Northern Yugoslavia, some Hungarians, some country Austrians, all tradesmen) who came with a company called 'Thermobau' who had been engaged by the Western Australian government to build cheap pre-fabricated homes. The whole kit and kaboodle was purchased from Austria, the pre-fab parts as well as the tradesmen, who put them up. I don't think it was asbestos, but a similar material. This was a generation who had experienced WWII - they were all in their mid-twenties, happy to work hard and create something.
My husband and I were from the next generation - and we became involved in 'their' club for a while,
hence I know many stories, I even wrote the story of one guy, who had become a big success, financially, also with building activities, mostly 'in the bush' where he always took a small team of trusted workers, plus his 'old' father- and mother-in-law (who did the cooking).
The last home he and his wife owned was of palatial proportion in a good suburb, with a small pool, marble tiles, genuine persian carpets.
I still remember his last Deed: when he was already on his death-bed, he invited all his grand-and greatgrandchildren - there he was in a wheelchair, handing out envelopes containing $1000 to each of the 20 plus small children and toddlers lining up - who had no idea of the generosity of the gift.
A little bit more entrepreneurship is needed by both our aspiring home-owners as well as the various governments - and maybe relaxation of council by-laws etc. is also needed.
I am sure, you have a similar story . . .
Go well
Taurisk
