Well over 100 people gathered at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall last night to hear about accessing home ownership. The information night, sponsored by Mullumbimby’s Tallowood Ridge Estate, attracted a broad cross section of the local community from those keen to enter the housing market to agents and architects.

Following an introduction from Mandy Nolan, who shared thoughts on placentas, the big prawn and council approvals, guests heard from Future Housing Taskforce Founder Kevin Doodney, whose presentation covered:

• How housing affordability has changed  In 2001 the median house price was 4.7 times the average annual income. In 2011 it was 7.3 times. The average tax on a $450,000 mortgage (a Greek word meaning until death) is $150,000. All up, a $450,000 loan will cost over $1 million during the life of the loan, with weekly repayments of $672 on today’s interest rates. Historically the boomers paid a third of their income on a mortgage. Today people are being asked to pay up to 76%, which is why we are becoming a nation of renters. In 1950 the average home was 115m². Today it’s 250m².

• Smarter housing  15% is lost in hallways and wasted space such as dinosaur rooms, which are rooms you use less than 15% of the time (formal dining rooms etc). It costs the same to build a two car lock up garage as it does to build a lounge room, whereas a two car port could be one tenth of that cost. One $12 switch that cuts all power at night can save $1,000 per year on standby electricity charges alone.

• Practical housing design options
– The Individual Design dwelling costs $268,400 full turnkey (aerial, landscaped, key in the door, air conditioned) for two homes. “The beauty of it is that you can rent one side” said Kevin. “This is a duplex with two bedrooms on one side and one on the other. A second bedroom can be added for $15,000 to give two two bedroom homes”.
– The Dual Key dwelling, which is practical for those with ageing parents or teenage children, can work as one large five bedroom home or two homes with three bedrooms and a two car lock up garage on one side and two bedrooms and a one car lock up garage on the other. “Or you can rent one side, live in the other and reduce your mortgage considerably” said Kevin.

Other speakers answered questions on building and finance, President of the Mullumbimby Community Gardens Greg Dutton asked “What do you grow in a community garden?” and Christopher Dean spoke about the vision for the Tallowood Ridge community.

Burringbar single mother Michelle Matus asked about ways to access a mortgage without a deposit. “It’s good to know that Tallowood Ridge has the community in mind”, she said at the end of the night. “They are open to a more sustainable vision, with community gardens”.

“There were several layers to the evening” said Alina Burdechevsky. “There is a business opportunity on an amazing piece of land. I can see community and commerce co-existing.”

The night raised approximately $500 for the Mullumbimby Youth Cottage.

For more information visit www.futurehousingtasforce.com.au or www.tallowoodridge.com

For further information, interviews or images please contact Caroline Desmond
02 66875674  0415 499429  caroline@carolinedesmond.com.au