British immigrant buys dream home in Sunshine Coast real estate auction

A woman rebuilding her life following a marriage bust has broken down after she was finally able to buy her dream home at a Sunshine Coast auction.

There were emotional scenes as a British migrant-turned private investigator overcame a marriage breakdown to buy her dream home in an auction on the Sunshine Coast.

Peregian Springs resident Emma Key jumped out of her seat as she picked up the keys for 7 Banyandah St, North Yandina for $1,020,000 in the 2023 Ray White Coastal Living‘Auction event.

More than 200 bidders took part in the auction at the Mercedes-Benz Sunshine Coast dealership at Maroochydore on Sunday, that resulted in $27m in sales, with the highest sale price achieved being $5.31m for a block at 22 Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba.

After moving to Australia from the United Kingdom in 2019, Ms Key moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2021, before trouble struck in paradise.

“My husband had an affair, so I lost everything financially and had to start again with my two children,” she said.

Peregian Springs resident Emma Key. Picture: Supplied

Ms Key threw herself into her work, with the business analyst going onto become a private investigator.

She also relentlessly searched the property market for her “forever home” describing the purchase of the five-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a pool as her “happy ending”.

“This is my dream home,” she said.

“I’ve been looking for a few years at places on the Sunshine Coast, I had a list of criteria and my dream home had to tick every box which this property did.”

7 Banyandah Street, North Yandina. Picture: Ray White

The 40-year-old was a late entrant in the auction, requiring finance for the purchase.

The auction paused following an offer from a cash buyer for $925,000, with the owners then allowing those with finance behind them to enter the fray.

Supported by her real estate agent Jason Mills and partner Daniel, Ms Key out bid other finance-backed buyers to seal the deal.

“I felt absolutely sick with worry because I was fearful that I wouldn’t get my dream house, so Jason said why don’t I come in there with you and offer you some support,” she recollected.

“Every time the other party made a bid, we would go up by $1000 and then they tapped out 1,020,000 much to my delight.

“I jumped out of my seat and hugged Jason next to me, he’s been there with me through the whole process.”

Peregian Springs resident Emma Key and Ray White Maroochydore Real Estate Agent Jason Mills. Picture: Supplied

Ray White Maroochydore director and auctioneer Dan Sowden said the purchase was a special moment at the auction.

“The room was amazing, there was a sale of note for North Yandina,” Mr Sowden said.

“There was tears, she forgot to hug her partner, she hugged the agent instead.

“It was just one of those amazing experiences and certainly from our point of view as marketing agencies, it’s what we love.”

While the headline sales of the auction were a developer’s dream block and luxury penthouse at Mooloolaba, Mr Sowden said several residential properties drew significant attention.

“One of the highlights of the auction was the first actual property that went to the market was a great family home at Wurtulla, literally a couple 100 metres to the beach,” he said.

“It really is a signal that the beachside suburb is in good demand, selling for $1,180,000 which was almost $200,000 over the reserve, so a really great outcome again and that was supported by no less than 15 bidders.”

Originally published as British immigrant buys dream home in Sunshine Coast real estate auction