At just 19, OpenCorp team member Ilana Ascenzo has already taken her first step into the property market.
Alongside her older sister Olivia, 23, Ilana purchased a property together, combining their borrowing capacity to make entering the Melbourne property market possible much earlier than she could have managed on her own.
Their story was recently featured in realestate.com.au as part of a broader look at how first home buyers in Victoria are finding different ways to get into property.
Buying property at 19
For Ilana, getting into property wasn’t something she expected to put off for years.
Having recently finished school, she had already seen people around her building property portfolios and started thinking about what she could do with her own money.
Rather than spending years waiting until she could buy a property on her own, Ilana explored whether buying with her sister could make it possible sooner.
The answer was yes.
Buying together gave Ilana access to borrowing capacity she wouldn’t have had by herself at 19, while also allowing the sisters to share the journey of becoming property owners.
A different approach to becoming a first home buyer
There isn’t one way to enter the property market.
For some first home buyers, it means saving for years to build a deposit. For others, it may mean moving to a more affordable area, considering a different type of property or, like Ilana and Olivia, buying with a family member.
This is becoming increasingly relevant as affordability continues to shape the decisions of Australian home buyers.
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria recorded 9,407 first home buyer loan commitments in the June 2026 quarter, the highest number of any Australian state.
At the same time, getting into the property market remains a challenge. REA Group has identified Victoria as Australia’s most affordable state, but only around 16% of homes sold over the previous year were within reach of a household earning the typical $127,000 income.
For buyers, that means thinking carefully about what is achievable and exploring the different pathways available.
The importance of starting early
Ilana’s decision wasn’t about having everything figured out at 19.
It was about recognising an opportunity and being willing to think differently about how she could get started.
Her mum helped fund Ilana’s share of the deposit, which Ilana will repay over the coming years, while Olivia funded her own share. The sisters then combined their borrowing capacity to purchase together.
It’s a great example of how family support and a considered approach can play a role in someone’s first home buyer journey.
Of course, buying with family isn’t the right approach for everyone. It comes with its own financial, legal and personal considerations and anyone considering it should seek appropriate independent advice.
There is no single path into property
Ilana’s story is a reminder that becoming a first home buyer doesn’t necessarily look the same for everyone.
It could mean buying with a sibling, moving to another suburb or city, considering a different property type or simply starting to plan earlier.
What matters is understanding your options, knowing what you can realistically afford and having a clear strategy for your goals.
We’re incredibly proud of Ilana and Olivia for taking this step and excited to see where their property journey takes them next.
Congratulations, Ilana and Olivia!
Read the full realestate.com.au story for more on the changing landscape for first home buyers in Victoria.
