When Chris and Jess Pilkington realised they could be priced out of their dream home, they made the bold call to buy it early — and rent out a room to help pay the mortgage.
“We truly did not think, until we spoke to our broker, that we could buy a house,” Ms Pilkington said.
“This is future proofing … we thought if we don’t bite the bullet now, we might never be able to.”
Chris and Jess Pilkington were surprised they could afford their new home in Lota – but realised if they didn’t buy it immediately, they might have been priced out permanently. Picture: Liam Kidston
The Pilkingtons are one of many couples navigating increased mortgage repayments.
New data from Compare the Market has found Brisbane residents were now paying $22,000 more per year on an average home loan: $3,000 more than the national hike of $19,000.
Monthly, Queenslanders paid $3,901 on average in 2025. A decade ago, this number was $1,877 cheaper, at $2,024.
Brisbane homeowners are now paying $22,000 more annually for their home loans, according to research from Compare the Market.
Ms Pilkington knew she wanted a home since she was 15 years old, and started working early to help afford a place.
“I was working about three different jobs for about four years,” she said, which included an office job in the day, a restaurant job at nights, and regular gig work as a musician.
“My parents had always instilled that into me and my siblings, to ‘make your money work for you’ … and if you can get into the property market as soon as you can, you’re going to end up where you want quicker than you expected.”
Ms Pilkington worked jobs since she was 15 to help afford her first home: a townhouse at 7/22 Cola Cres, Wynnum West, which she is selling to help fund her new purchase.
By 23, Ms Pilkington was able to afford her own home — a townhouse at 7/22 Cola Cres, Wynnum West.
After she and Mr Pilkington married, they were able to pool their finances and get the needed deposit for a $2m home in Lota.
The two are currently selling their former home with Place New Farm, which has just launched on the market.
The married couple realised to pay off their new mortgage at a reasonable rate, they would need to rent out one of the rooms as separated living to another party.
With plans for a child, the two decided they would need to rent out a room in their new house for at least two years to help get ahead of the repayments.
“We wanted to buy a home before it got too expensive to raise a family, and be there for a long time,” Mr Pilkington said.
“We didn’t want to have a big mortgage while Jess is trying to be a mother.”
“We wanted to buy a home before it got too expensive to raise a family … we didn’t want to have a big mortgage while Jess is trying to be a mother.” Picture: Liam Kidston
“If we make the sacrifice of buying the dream home earlier than expected [and renting out], maybe the repayments won’t be as bad when we are on one income. And it still allows us to have a lifestyle now.”
The couple said they hoped to rent the room out to a person their age, possibly looking to save for a home as they were.
“We’re not trying to gatekeep,” Mr Pilkington said. “We feel like we want to help someone our age as well, because we know what it’s like.”
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