Student with own home 'exception'

FIRST STEP: Brandon Lipman decided to buy his first home in Hamilton as an investment.

An Auckland student who became a homeowner after living rent-free at his parents' house is not a fair representation of all students, says the national students' association.

Brandon Lipman, 22, bought his first property for $300,000 in Hamilton in April.

The University of Auckland commerce and science student saved for a $45,000 deposit by working from 9pm to 5am at Countdown for a year, and by living at his parent's house rent-free for two years.

The New Zealand Students' Association said Mr Lipman's story did not represent the financial hardships faced by many students.

"Most students are wondering how they'll afford next week's rent or ever pay back their mounting loan. Mr Lipman's story is the exception, not the reality," said association president Rory McCourt.

He said he did not begrudge Mr Lipman's success, but said a "toxic mix of high rents, big debt and insane house prices" were huge obstacles for the majority of those in tertiary education.

Most students were forced to borrow money for living costs and tuition, and left with about $50,000 in debt, he said.

He said students worked an average of 17 hours per week to meet basic costs, and employment options were limited by some course requirements.

Mr Lipman said he understood that his circumstances were not available to everyone.

He said he still had a student loan for his tuition fees, and had to pay to travel for the hour-and-a-half commute to university from his parents' house.

He was also perplexed by a lot of negative comments from people aimed at him after the Herald article.

"The crux of it is that hard work can pay off, and a lot of people say, 'I have tried to do this, but still can't buy in Auckland', but it's just part of it." NZME