Electrician, 19, reveals the saving trick he used to buy a three-bedroom home without the help of his parents - and how he plans to pay off the mortgage
- Leon van der Heijden, 19, bought a home in Onehunga, Auckland, last month
- He scored the three bedroom townhouse for $510,000 after winning an auction
- The electrician said the secret to saving a deposit is making your own meals
- He would batch cook, spending only a dollar on lunches for the past three years
A teenager who has just bought a three-bedroom townhouse has revealed how he ate $1 lunches for the past three years in order to reach his goal.
Leon van der Heijden, a 19-year-old electrician, snapped up a $510,000 property in Onehunga, Auckland, after placing the winning offer at an auction last month.
The first home owner said the secret to saving a deposit is making your own meals.
'I just love cooking and I make big batches of food, pack it up and take it for lunch,' he told OneRoof.
Leon van der Heijden (pictured with a friend), 19, bought a home in Onehunga, Auckland, after placing the highest offer at an auction
The teenager snatched up the three-bedroom townhouse at 4/107 Church Street (pictured) for $510,000
Mr Van der Heijden said he always wanted to get into the property market but did not want his saving goals to zap enjoyment from life.
By striking a balance, he managed to save a 20 per cent deposit without help from his parents.
'I save where I can but I still try to live the best way possible. I didn't want to ruin my teen years because I wanted to save for a house but it was definitely something important to me,' he said.
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Although the teenager beat three other buyers, who were making bids over the phone, his top price still fell short of the seller's reserve.
He then negotiated with the vendor, taking the keys to 4/107 Church Street for just over half a million dollars.
The tradesman plans to renovate the kitchen (pictured off the living room) and bathroom
Mr Van der Heijden said he will move into the home once New Zealand's stage three lockdown is eased (bathroom pictured)
Mr Van der Heijden said he will move into the home once New Zealand's stage three lockdown is eased.
The property was previously bought for $295,000 in 2012, with the price of houses in the up-and-coming suburb soaring in recent years.
The average cost for a three-bedroom house in Onehunga is currently $1,088,652.
The tradesman plans to renovate the kitchen and bathroom before renting out two rooms to help with his mortgage repayments.
'I will be paying about the same as when I was renting,' he said.
