‘Very lucky not to lose money': Aussie woman's housing nightmare exposes how grim the housing crisis has become
A former homeowner has found herself homeless, exposing just how tough things have gotten in Australia.
Shannon McDougall was set up for success. She attended a private school, got a university degree, and bought a home with her former partner when she was in her early 20s.
She's now homeless, sleeping on a camping bed in a friend's lounge room and struggling to find a rental.
The 35-year-old works full-time in a creative corporate role and earns under $100,000. She stressed to news.com.au that she believes her salary is 'very fair' – but sadly, fair just doesn't cut it in a housing crisis.
Ms McDougall purchased her first home in 2012 in Perth alongside her then-partner. When the relationship fell apart in 2019, he paid her out $25,000.
That might sound low now, but it made sense at the time.
When they purchased the property, she was working in an office, on minimum wage, and the former couple struggled to pay off the mortgage.
'All my money went towards the mortgage and we were just paying interest only,' she said.
When Ms McDougall moved on from that home, the Perth property market was experiencing a downturn.
The medium house price was $560,000 when they bought, but by 2019, it was just a little over $530,000.
Perth was the only capital city in Australia besides Darwin that didn't see growth in 2019. Six years later, the average house price in Perth is over $840,000.
'When I explain that I bought a house in 2012 with my ex, and he bought me out in 2019 after we separated, people call me reckless or say I must've blown the money,' she told news.com.au.
'Here is the reality: In 2019, 33.2 per cent of homes and 46.9 per cent of units in Perth sold for less than what they were purchased for.
'Thousands of people were stuck in negative equity, trapped in mortgages, selling at a loss, or just breaking even. I was very lucky not to lose money.'
She still has the $25,000 she got from her first property, but prices have surged, and it isn't enough for a deposit.
Now, instead of looking to get back into the property market, she's going viral for sharing that she's sleeping on a friend's floor.
'People in the comments on my TikTok videos are shocked when I say I'm 35, working, and still can't find a rental or afford a home in WA. I didn't think that would surprise anyone,' she said.
The young Aussie said she has no problem with renting a small one-bedroom but having to fork out $500 a week is rough.
'I can't find a rental. It is like $500 a week for a one-bedroom minimum; it is like $300 to rent a room in a shared house in Perth, which is ridiculous,' she said.
She is also the proud and loving owner of two dogs, and she explained that it is difficult to find somewhere to accommodate her pets.
'I'd sooner get hit by a car then give-up my precious little babies. The f**ked thing is I'm in a position where I'm 35 years old and I can't even rent on my own,' she said.
'I'm sleeping on a mattress on the floor at my friend's place. My only options are to sleep in my car or sleep at my friend's house. How are those my only options?' she asked.
The 35-year-old said she's also frustrated by the cruel response online.
Men making jokes about women wanting to be 'strong and independent' but not being able to hack it.
Others are claiming she should ask herself, 'Where did the money go?' or have claimed she's just 'financially irresponsible' and that is why she's homeless.
The comments are completely ignoring the fact that the full-time worker is trying to navigate a housing crisis.
'When people say, 'just work harder' or 'you must've done something wrong,' it makes you feel like a failure,' she said.
'I didn't buy during a boom. I bought during a downturn – it's just bad luck.'
Ms McDougall said that there's nothing she could have done to change the situation she's found herself. in.
'If you're wondering how someone my age could sell a home and not walk away with hundreds of thousands of dollars and immediately buy another house this is why,' she said.
Ms McDougall argued that anyone who bought in 2012 would understand how she found herself in this predicament.
'Young people who entered the property market in Perth during 2012 – 2019 get it and I doubt they would be shocked by my situation,' she said.
'I'm not making videos simply to complain, I'm making them to highlight housing issues and to help people feel less alone.
'When we talk about it, we realise so many of us are struggling, and none of us should feel ashamed for.'
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