Anamika has purchased a new home after overcoming a range of challenges during the months she spent looking to buy. Pictures: Jake Nowakowski/Mark Stewart.
First-home buyer Anamika began taking a friend to property inspections after encountering one too many flirtatious real estate agents.
After missing out on several residences during her months-long search for a home, she will soon move into the townhouse she purchased in Melbourne’s west last year.
Anamika, 30, said she had encountered agents and mortgage brokers who did not take her seriously due to her age.
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Some even questioned if she really meant to buy before getting married or would start flirting with her.
“So it would become really confusing and a bit jarring, because I was sharing my number and everything to find out more about the housing around me,” Anamika said.
“It was a bit hard and I realised from that point, I was going to take a friend with me for every inspection to make sure I felt safe.”
However, she ended up having a great experience with the agent she purchased through, LJ Hooker Point Cook’s Natalie Newdick.
Anamika is now preparing to move after buying a townhouse. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.
New research shows that women are tens of thousands of dollars worse off when buying a home in a host of Melbourne suburbs due to the gender pay gap.
A report from the property and homeownership education and consulting company Stop Renting Australia reveals a $525 to $660 weekly difference in women’s’ typical weekly wages compared to mens’ in locations such as Point Cook, Eynesbury, Exford, Brighton, Mt Eliza, Manor Lakes, Beaumaris and Lysterfield.
The study examined Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census data for income disparities in the nation’s suburbs, excluding areas with less than 200 residents of either gender.
Greater Melbourne’s median house price hit $1.012m in December 2025, according to PropTrack. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.
Stop Renting Australia founder Shawn Waugh said substantial men’s salaries in places like Point Cook and Brighton set the tone for what buyers could borrow.
In the two suburbs, women are respectively taking home $27,000 and $23,742 less than men each year.
According to PropTrack, median house prices across these areas range from $650,000 in Manor Lakes to $3.25m in Brighton.
A report from the Melbourne-based Women’s Property Initiatives Group states that out of the 288,000 Australians seeking assistance from homelessness services each year, two out of every three are women.
In order to save money for a place to call her own, Anamika sought advice from her accountant uncle and set up an Excel document to track her spending.
She also purchased her townhouse under the Victorian government’s Homebuyer Fund program.
Anamika advised other women wanting to buy a home to make sure they read and understood all details in a sales contract, plus what items home insurance would cover.
She also said that it was always a good idea to commission a pest and building inspection prior to buying.
While looking for a home, Anamika prepared ‘offer to buy’ letters and cover letters to give agents at inspections.
Anamika advised women looking to buy a property to make sure to take time out for themselves during the process.
This meant, even if she missed out on a home, the agents would remember her and contact her about new and future listings.
“And take some days for self care, because it’s really like a challenging and mentally exhausting process,” she added.
Anamika said if it was possible, saving enough money to cover some future mortgage payments and general life costs, or even a holiday, was another important thing to do.
ABS figures show Australia’s full-time adult average weekly wage was $2106.40 for men and $1864.10 for women, as of May 2025, making it harder for women to buy or rent a home.
Now after eight to 10 months of searching for a home to buy, she is looking forward to devoting more time to creative pursuits after moving into her townhouse.
This includes plans to invite her friends over to help paint the abode’s interior walls.
“There have been times when people have allowed me to be with them in their homes, to make me feel safe, and this is a safe haven I’m trying to create,” Anamika said.
“So I’m really excited to bring my friends and do some creative stuff in my house.”
The Women’s Property Initiatives Group report found that one in every two Australian women with children seeking help for homelessness is escaping a violent situation.
Ms Newdick said the behaviour of a few agents in the wider real estate field gave the profession a “bad rap”.
“I think sometimes the strong masculinity of some of the people in my industry make it difficult for women to buy on their own as well,” Ms Newdick said.
However, she emphasised none of her colleagues engaged in this sort of conduct and treated all buyers with respect, regardless of gender.
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