WAYNE Gill was “in the right place at the right time” when he bought a unit in Mildura earlier this month.
Mr Gill, who works for a company called Aus Flight Handling at Mildura Airport, bought a unit in Plaza Village on Fifteenth Street just before it hit the market.
“This was a case of not what you know, but who you know,” he said.
“My mum’s best friend lives next door to the unit that was up for sale.
“She knew it was going on the market and gave me (Collie & Tierney director) Ben Ridley’s number and I contacted him and we went from there.”
Mr Gill said he paid “about $230,000” for the unit, which was slightly higher than median unit price in the Mildura LGA of $220,362.
“I’ve bought it for my mum, who turns 80 this year, and she’s going to rent it off me,” he said. “I’ll have the investment and she’ll help me pay if off.
“The local property market is so strong at the moment and this will be a good investment.”
Sunraysia Daily jokingly asked whether he thought his mother would be a reliable tenant.
“I think she might be. If not, she’ll be out on her arse,” Mr Gill said with a big laugh.
Mr Ridley said Mr Gill was a “fairly typical type of buyer, who is purchasing a property for a family member”.
“We are seeing this more often now,” Mr Ridley said.
“Some people around retirement age aren’t necessarily ready to go into a lifestyle or retirement village just yet.
“Even though you have quite a bit of independence in the lifestyle villages, these people want to maintain their full independence.”
