Unlocking homeownership

Sixteen years ago, Mohammad arrived in South Australia with his family from Iran, excited for a fresh start and to reunite with extended family.

And now, as of May, Mohammad has been living the great Australian dream of home ownership.

Engaged through AnglicareSA’s former Humanitarian Settlement Program, the first person Mohammad met in Australia was Believe Housing Australia (then AnglicareSA Housing) employee Ali, who greeted him at the airport and helped him settle into his new life.

Years later the two crossed paths again, this time to guide Mohammad through the process of buying the Believe Housing Australia community housing property he had been renting since 2013.

After attending a Home Ownership Seminar run by Believe Housing Australia and receiving support from Ali to compile the necessary paperwork, Mohammad started the process of buying his home.

Mohammad said that although his house had felt like home for the past 12 years, officially being the owner of it was a different feeling.

“It has been a good and pleasant time for me,” Mohammad said.

“It’s the first time I’ve had my own property in Australia. That’s a good feeling.”

To Mohammad, his home is more than a place to live – it is where he has raised his three daughters, connected with his community, and started his family-owned Afghan restaurant Rumi Palace on Prospect Road.

Mohammad said that while he and his wife were looking at buying a larger house with an extra bedroom, their youngest daughter ultimately convinced them that no other house could feel like home.

“Our youngest daughter told us not to move from this house and that she has a lot of memories in this house,” Mohammad said.

“This is the only house she has grown up in. She wanted to stay here, and her wish has been granted.”

Mohammad said the support his family had received from AnglicareSA, Believe Housing Australia, and family and friends over the years has helped them throughout the journey of adjusting to a new life in Australia and now achieving homeownership.

“We have received good support from the government and Believe Housing Australia, and we have been lucky because we have family members already living in Australia,” he said.

“It is very good if you have someone supporting you, like friends, family, community, and the government.”

During the 2024/2025 financial year, Believe Housing Australia supported six tenants like Mohammad to become homeowners, creating pathways to homeownership for people who might otherwise be locked out of the housing market.

For now, Mohammad and his family are looking forward to adding some personal touches to their home.

“We are planning to extend the house and make it bigger so that our youngest daughter can have her own room,” he said.

To learn more about how Believe Housing Australia can help you transition into home ownership, click here, or register your interest for the next Home Ownership Seminar here.