The first stage of finding a house is excited though.

Every time I looked at a place, I had everyone in my family come in and expect the house as well.

Even a cousin from overseas, who I don't think really knew what was going on, came once.

But through this journey, I quickly discovered how important it was not simply fall in love with a house based purely on what it looks like.

Land size, location and even looking at the homes next door is a good way to determine whether the home is right.

Some owners aren't as open to negotiate so people shouldn't feel bad if they reject an offer I was like a brick wall after I finally found my home.

I think generally about $20,000 less than their asking price is a good way to start especially if poeple are negotiating on a cheaper house.

The first home I ever viewed was at a house in Leumeah. It ticked every box on my checklist.

Except for one thing the neighbour's front garden. You can call this too picky but that is something I had to look at every time I left the home and at the end of the day I couldn't live next door to a home that looked like a rubbish tip.

Another house I viewed in Eagle Vale was beautiful. It had new wooden floors, a fresh lick of paint and a large deck at the back. But it was on the main road and I could not handle, before and after school hours, as there was a school at the front of the house.

But then I found it (so I thought). It was a nice house in St Andrews, cement-rendered, huge deck and a cosy kitchen. The neighbours seemed friendly and, for me, this was it.

I made my first offer but that was rejected. Second, rejected. I stretched my budget to a third offer and it was rejected. For a long time, I didn't want to look at anything else.

I went overseas for about a month and when I got back, the house was gone so I started back at square one.