Latest news with #TrentSmith
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Blue-collar squeeze: Logan locals priced out, pushed west to buy
Tow truck driver Trent Smith and his wife Sammy had a long-term plan to save for a home deposit, but surging prices pushed them out of their hometown. The couple, both fulltime workers with two-year-old twin boys and an older son, hoped to buy in Logan, on Brisbane's southern fringe, but struggled to find anything decent within their $600,000 budget. 'We were stuck with a certain amount we could spend, and it was getting more concerning as we were looking in Logan where we lived. It seemed like every week the properties were getting worse or smaller for the price you paid,' 29-year-old Mr Smith said. They widened their search westward after routinely missing out on the few suitable properties available locally as rival buyers offered $50,000 to $100,000 above asking price. The couple eventually secured a property in One Mile, Ipswich, on a 642 sqm block. The centrally located three-bedroom, one-bathroom home was move-in ready, a big backyard for the kids to play, and was affordable at $600,000. 'I always thought the place had a bad rap, but after living there the last month, I'm glad I agreed,' Mr Smith said. 'I was worried, but Sammy really liked the place from the get-go.' Mr Smith is a self-employed contractor who was able to transfer to a local branch of the company, while Ms Smith, 34, now commutes to Slacks Creek for work and daycare. 'It is a compromise but if you can get into a home, it's worth it,' he said. They worked with mortgage broker Tristan Vercoe, of Fortifi Finance, to secure a loan requiring just a 5 per cent deposit through the government's First Home Guarantee scheme. 'Most self-employed people think they will have to wait two years to get into a home, but if you get the right team working together you can get it done in six months with some forward planning, like we were able to do for Trent and Sammy,' Mr Vercoe said. He said getting on the property ladder required a positive mindset but often also a reality check. 'Instead of focusing on the opportunities they don't have, the people who are successful are looking at the cards they've got and making the most of it. 'Trent and Sammy know this isn't their forever home, but they have already manufactured equity in that property by upgrading the floors and they are so happy,' Mr Vercoe said. PropTrack modelling paints a stark picture of how far affordability has shifted in the past five years, by projecting 2030 home prices if recent growth continues at the same pace. A typical house in Logan Central, now priced at $657,000, would hit $1.5m, based on 129 per cent growth since 2020. One Mile, while currently slightly more affordable at $600,000, was on a similar growth trajectory of 134 per cent – with a projected median of $1.405m if the trend persists over the next five years.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children 'smiles better' after Easter Bunny hops into Worcester hospital
THE Easter Bunny made a surprise visit to children in a Worcester hospital, bringing smiles to every face as he hopped into the children's ward with 150 chocolate eggs. The big-hearted gesture at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester was possible because of donations from members at TSC Centre, a personal training gym in Wyld's Lane, Worcester. WELCOME: The Easter Bunny Trent Smith with nurses at Worcestershire Royal Hospital as they brought smiles to faces in the children's ward (Image: Supplied) But one gym bunny - owner Trent Smith - really got into the sprit when he transformed into the Easter Bunny. His hope, and that of gym members, was that he could put smiles on faces and a spring back in the step of children who have to spend Easter in the children's ward instead of at home with their families. KINDNESS: The Easter Bunny (Trent Smith) brings smiles to faces in the children's ward of Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester (Image: Supplied) Mr Smith, 29, who owns TSC, dressed up as the Easter Bunny when he hopped into the children's ward at the hospital as the team brought in 150 chocolate eggs on Tuesday. He said: "There was a lot of excitement and smiles all round. It was heart-warming. "TSC gym members dug deep to give a cracking Easter for children in hospital over Easter." He said the gesture was made possible thanks to members making donations. One of the nurses wrote: "Thank you so much for coming along and donating so many Easter eggs - we really do appreciate it. Judging by the smiles on the children's faces, it was clear they really enjoyed and appreciated the treats too."
