Under-30s house buyers draw fire: What about today's strugglers?

Questions have been raised about three under-30-year-old Auckland house buyers who featured in the Herald today and how relevant their lives are to today's strugglers.

Phil Twyford, Labour's housing spokesman, said all three had bought four to eight years ago, well before loan-to-value ratios were introduced, when prices were much lower so today's millennials could not follow their lead.

He questioned the article Buying a home before hitting 30 because it only showed people who had bought years ago and was not at all reflective of the struggles of today's Auckland millennials.

"Four to eight years ago, it was certainly easier to buy. Auckland house prices have doubled in the last eight years. Home ownership rates are plummeting for the under-30s, not because people are lazy or lacking ambition but because we now have some of the most unaffordable houses in the world," he said.

"I take my hat off to people like these in the story who have obviously been disciplined, focused, hard-working and good on them. Of course, it's possible for some millennials to buy a home. It certainly helps if mum and dad can help with the mortgage or provide free accommodation while you're saving but not everyone is that lucky.

Phil Twyford praised the three under-30s who bought Auckland houses, but said that happened years ago and it was so much harder today.

"It also helps if you bought before 10 per cent minimum deposits were introduced two years ago. But let's be clear: Auckland housing is now three times more unaffordable than it was a generation ago. No amount of smashed avocados or lattes can make up for that," Twyford said.

The Herald's Facebook feed was also crammed with questions about the article.

"Tell us stories about people doing that in 2017, not years ago when prices have more than doubled," said one commenter.

"Here's an idea: Do a piece showing purchasers in the last two years," said another.

"They bought their houses years ago. I wonder how many millennials bought their first house without the help of their parents in the last 12 months?" asked another.

But alongside the critics were a number who said while prices were up and borrowing restrictions tougher this didn't make it impossible to buy today.

Along with the criticisms were a handful who said they were able to buy a property, even after the market began overheating.

One managed to secure a mortgage just one year ago, with less than a 20 per cent deposit.

"We were renting at the time as well, just because a couple of banks said 'no' doesn't mean all of them will."

Someone else said they'd bought a newly built 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom place in Auckland on a 10 per cent deposit in 2016.

The person, who was on a $100,000 salary, said it took him three years to save from $0, while paying rent and other bills.

He said it was a comparable position to what many couples, on individual salaries less than his, could face in today's market.

Another said she'd managed to buy a new home, just outside of the Auckland region, with a 10 per cent deposit in January.

"Our repayments are still $100 less than weekly Auckland rent. It's doable. We moved to Hauraki Plains region so we could buy and Husband commutes for work ... just an hour's drive."

In the article, Tony Misa, 29, said: "If you don't have enough money in your day job, you go out and find a second job."

Misa bought eight years ago.

Steven Palmer, 28 and Megan Palmer 27, said: "Buying meant I could pay my own mortgage rather than someone else's."

The Palmers bought in 2013.