Well when I was 16 I bought a block of land for $40,000, didnt bulid on it till three years ago. Before I started to build the land was valued at $220,000, built a big house and now total value of house and land is around $800,000(give or take with todays economy). Left school at end of year 10, then got a job as a apprentice lecko. Now have a well paying government job still as a leko, the mrs is a school teacher at a private school. I dont see why its that far fetched that I can afford a $400000 home loan. We pay extra a week and its only $1000 per week. I paid for my phoon with my savings as I didnt need a deposite for the house because of the equity in the land. Now with the equity in the house I can borrow against it to get my rental. Need to know anymore about my finances just let me know....