Aussie couple find perfect family home on Gumtree after ‘frustrating’ search

WHEN Keirra Massoud spotted this historic, colonial farmhouse, it was love at first sight. The only problem? It was 145km away.

QUEENSLAND couple Keirra and Chris Massoud knew exactly what they wanted — a picturesque, historic, colonial farmhouse that could be relocated onto their farm.

But they were growing frustrated by their long, unsuccessful search — until Mrs Massoud’s father suggested they look on buying and selling platform Gumtree.

It didn’t take long to find exactly what they were looking for.

Keirra and Chris Massoud’s home arrived on their farm on Valentine’s Day. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Massoud stumbled upon the perfect 1900s-era farmhouse that had been listed in a “random category” by the seller.

As the award-winning, sprawling, five-bedroom house was the couple’s dream home, Mrs Massoud contacted the seller expecting it to have already been snapped up by a keen buyer.

But the Massouds were in luck — the home was still available, and the seller was only too keen to help the young couple achieve their dream.

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Mrs Massoud, a former Queensland Firebirds netball player, said finding the home was “meant to be”.

“I thought Gumtree was for buying furniture or fridges, not houses — but there were a few houses on the site, and ours was one of them,” Mrs Massoud said.

“The house only had 20 views and was the most beautiful picture I’ve ever seen.

“I thought, ‘this can’t be right’ — it seemed weird it had no views — so it felt like it had been waiting there for me.”

The couple quickly arranged an inspection, and bought the house from the seller in August 2017.

Keirra and Chris Massoud with their kids Henry, 3, and Maisie, 20 months at “The Crossing”. Picture: Instagram

The home, located at Narangba in North Brisbane, then had to be cut in half and driven 145km away to the Massoud’s farm, “The Crossing”, in Kybong in Mary Valley on the Sunshine Coast.

But before moving day, the couple had to “jump through hoops” to get council approval to move the home.

Finally, it was transported to the farm on February 14 this year — on Valentine’s Day.

“It’s a beautiful Queenslander, and it looks really fabulous,” Mrs Massoud said.

“I knew it could be done, I just had to believe that it would happen.

“But I had a real sense it was the right thing for us and it was meant to be — it just sits like it’s been here forever.”

Mrs Massoud said the home had become a focal point for passers-by.

“People stop to take photos of it down at the boom of the road and aside from the excavator sitting next to it, you wouldn’t know it hadn’t always been here,” she said.

Keirra Massoud said finding the home was “meant to be”. Picture: Bambi Gosbell

“It was always the intention to bring an old home back to life and do the farm justice by having a home that fits in with the environment.

“For us it wasn’t so much about money, it was about finding the right house for the farm.”

While Mrs Massoud would not reveal the cost of the home, she estimated the total price, including moving costs and renovations, worked out to be “around half” of what they would have paid had they built a similar home on their property — a path Mr Massoud was initially tempted to take.

Mr and Mrs Massoud and their two young children, Henry, 3, and Maisie, 20 months, are now living in a nearby home while they get the house into a liveable condition.

At the moment there is no power, plumbing or sewerage on site, and the family are preparing for another few months of work before they can finally move in.

They also plan on renovating the kitchen, repainting and doing some cosmetic work.

Mrs Massoud said the process hadn’t been easy, and that there were times when her husband, a former Noosa Dolphins Rugby Union player, was convinced it was a mistake.

They were faced with extensive paperwork in order to get the move approved by council, as well as a series of roadworks along the route the home had to travel.

Storms also hit while the home was without a roof, adding to the family’s stress.

But Mrs Massoud said it had all been worth it, and that she had “enjoyed the challenge” of finding her dream home.

She has started an Instagram acocunt, @thegumtreefarmhouse, chronicling the home’s journey.

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