A flying start to first-home buyer’s quest
Abandoned in a rubbish bin at birth, Vicki Van is now hunting for a first home of her own, with fliers. Colleen Hawkes reports.
Vicki Van of Christchurch was born in China in the 1980s, when the one-childfamily policy was firmly in place. And that was her misfortune. ‘‘Most couples were keen to have a boy,’’ Van says. ‘‘My parents were so disappointed to have a girl that they discarded me into a rubbish bin outside a fruit shop.’’
But Van’s fortune changed – the fruit shop owners heard her crying and rescued her, and they kept her and raised her as their own daughter.
Fast-forward more than 20 years when Van heard about New Zealand while working as a guide in the Australian Pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.
‘‘One day I visited the New Zealand Pavilion next door and I was so amazed at your country, I applied for a one-year working holiday visa.
‘‘I have been here ever since, because I am deeply in love with this country, and now I want to buy a house here.’’
Van has been saving for the deposit for 10 years, with just one goal – security with a home of her own.
‘‘I have to give up many things, such as buying clothes, going out for dinner, and I have to be careful of my expenses.’’ she says.
But now, she has hit a snag – she has $450,000 to spend, with a loan approved, but she cannot find a house to buy. So Van has decided she needs to be proactive.
She has resorted to a letterbox drop in St Albans and Mairehau, which is getting her noticed.
‘‘I used an electric scooter to drop off fliers and I marked the houses with fliers in my iPhone map so that I have clear record,’’ she says.
‘‘I am looking for a three-bedroom home in brick and tile for myself – I really want the permanent cladding.
‘‘I have been contacted several times and looked at two houses. But they were both at the top end of the market [for the suburb] and out of my price range. One of them had overcapitalised and the price they were looking for was way above the RV.’’
Van also wants a big section so she can have a garden.
Her flier is compelling – it has the personal touch, although she laughs that she has put it in 150 letterboxes.
The flier says: ‘‘I’ve driven past your home often and I really like it. I wonder if you would consider selling.
‘‘I love the area. I am a first-home buyer and have been approved by the bank for a loan. You will save the agents’ fees and I will love your home as you probably do.’’
Van is currently renting and working as a gemologist in a vintage jewellery store. In addition to her savings, she will use her KiwiSaver towards the cost of her first home. And she will have flatmates to help pay the mortgage.
Last weekend, Van delivered another 50 leaflets and has received six replies so far. She has several properties to look at over the next couple of days.
But Van also has other things on her mind at present – her family in China is affected by the coronavirus.
‘‘I have to give up many things, such as buying clothes and going out for dinner.’’
Vicki Van
‘‘My [adoptive] parents have owned a supermarket in Jinyun County for about 20 years now, and they had to close it for several weeks.
‘‘I speak to my family often and it has been worse than you think. My two brothers had to go into lockdown for two weeks and ran out of food.
‘‘But I spoke to my parents today and was told the market is back to normal so they are able to buy food from all the markets.
‘‘Everyone is hoping that when the warmer weather arrives, the virus will disappear.
‘‘We say we live in the poorest city in the richest forest.
‘‘My parents work really, really hard, and in all those years they have never had a break, except when my brother was able to work in the supermarket two times to let them come and visit me here.’’