A young Gen Z woman has spoken out against critics who assume her life is easy after she purchased a $1.9 million apartment with significant financial assistance from her parents. Grace Roseby, a 26-year-old schoolteacher, and her 23-year-old brother Pierce, each contributed $50,000 toward the deposit for a two-bedroom unit at The Collective in St Leonards, Sydney.
Parental Support and Public Judgment
Their parents provided a matching $100,000, having promised to match whatever the siblings saved themselves. However, Ms Roseby has faced considerable envy and assumptions from others regarding the purchase. "I tend to not tell people about our purchase because people are quite quick to assume," she told SBS Insight. "They judge us on the fact our parents just gave us a handout."
She emphasised that outsiders are unaware of the hard work behind saving their portion of the deposit. "They don't know how hard we worked for the other 50 per cent of the deposit or the experiences that my parents went through to shape our goals," Ms Roseby added.
Personal Sacrifices Made
The 26-year-old detailed the considerable sacrifices she made to accumulate her $50,000 share. "Leaving school, we didn't go on gap years," she explained. "We went straight to uni. I was working three jobs at one time and was always saving."
Her commitment extended to forgoing social events and personal purchases. "I said no to a couple of social events with some friends and to some shoes because I always had the goal in front of me to save," Ms Roseby revealed.
Mother's Motivations and Background
Grace's mother, Michele, who owns five properties, cited her own challenging upbringing as a key influence on her decision to assist her children financially. She described a family history involving her grandfather, who owned several Sydney hotels. His estate was divided, leading to her uncle acquiring significant wealth, including waterfront properties in Sydney and a beach house.
Michele and her older brother were raised by a single mother, which she said forced them to mature quickly. "We'd go to school by ourselves at five years of age and come back to an empty home. Mum was always at the office, so we had to grow up very quickly," she recalled.
Tragedy and Determination
Her brother, who struggled without a father figure, tragically overdosed at age 23 when Michele was just 21. This left her caring for her mother prematurely. "I felt like I needed to be successful in my own right and thought it was important not to be relying on others for my success or money," Michele stated. "I set a goal and I went for it."
Determined to prevent her children from wasting money on rent, she offered the matching deposit scheme. Michele believes jealousy from others stems from their own life circumstances. "People have applauded me for the decision and think it's terrific," she said. "They're generally people who are happy with themselves and where they are in life. The ones that are jealous aren't at a good place in their life."
She suggested critics may be envious of not having made similar financial decisions themselves. Michele added that she admires rather than envies successful people, seeing them as inspiration.
Broader Trends in Australian Property
This personal story reflects wider national trends. A 2025 survey of over 1,000 Australians found that up to 17 per cent of first home buyers received help from their parents for the deposit. This marks a sharp increase from 2022, when only 11 per cent of buyers had parental assistance.
Furthermore, Mozo's Bank of Mum and Dad Report 2025 discovered that up to 75 per cent of parents who provide financial help have no expectation of repayment. This indicates a growing cultural shift towards intergenerational financial support in the challenging Australian property market.
