Table of Contents

Acknowledgements v

Introduction vii

Part I: the swift kick 1

Part II: reality check 47

Part III: the emotional purchase: we’ve all been there 103

Part IV: coming to terms 161

Maggie’s top 10 property tips 235

The home buyer’s budget 239

Maggie’s favourite reads 243

Maggie’s favourite websites 245

Maggie’s cheap and cheerful lemon and tuna risotto 249

Glossary: the jargon explained 251

About the Author

Antonia Magee is a Melbourne journalist who finally has a little place to call her own. She is deputy news editor at the Business Spectator and the author of Living Thin.