If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking about homeownership and feeling it’s just not going to happen for you, you’re not alone - and according to content creator Laura Cunningham, you might also be wrong.
Speaking on Brendan Courtney’s My First Home, Laura shares a refreshingly honest account of what it really takes to get on the property ladder today.
Her story isn’t polished or picture-perfect, but that’s exactly what makes it so powerful.
A Dublin-based freelance social media director and single mum, Laura bought her first home in 2024 - on her own, for herself and her young son.
And while she’s the first to admit the journey wasn’t easy, her message is simple: it is possible.
"I was a solo buyer," she says. "There were so many moments where I thought, 'this is never going to happen.' But it does - it might take time, but it happens."
For Laura, the biggest hurdle wasn’t just rising house prices, it was trying to save while renting and raising a child alone.
Paying high rent alongside full-time childcare meant putting money aside felt almost impossible.
"The option to save for a deposit just wasn’t there," she explains.
Her turning point came thanks to family. After a moment of overwhelm, her brother offered her and her son a place to stay - a move that ultimately made her homeownership dream achievable.
"It was the only way I could have done this," she says honestly. "When I got that window of opportunity, I grabbed it with both hands."
Still, even with that support, the process required determination, organisation, and a willingness to rethink expectations.
Laura had to let go of the idea of buying in the area she grew up in and instead look further afield.
"You have to get real about what areas you can afford," she says. "Once you let go of what you thought it had to be, it actually becomes exciting again."
Her advice for anyone starting out? Be relentless.
"If there was a way, I was going to find it," she says. "There are so many different avenues, you just have to find out what’s available to you."
That meant exploring every option, from new-build developments to government supports like the Help to Buy and Affordable Housing schemes.
While she acknowledges these systems can be complex, she encourages buyers not to be put off.
"They are there and they can make a real difference."
But beyond the logistics, Laura’s story is also about mindset. Buying solo, particularly as a single parent, comes with its own set of challenges - something she doesn’t shy away from.
"It shouldn’t be that hard," she admits. "I barely managed it with everything I had to use."
And yet, she did manage it. It’s a reminder that behind every set of keys is a story of persistence - and often, a steep learning curve, and that’s where AIB’s expert mortgage advisors come in to save the day.
The moment she finally got her keys is something Laura will never forget.
"I just stood there thinking, 'what do I do now?' Everything had been building up to that moment," she laughs.
A year later, the reality still hasn’t quite sunk in. "I looked around and thought, 'that’s my couch, that’s my wall… I own a house.' It’s mad."
For anyone currently stuck in the cycle of saving, renting, and wondering if it will ever happen, Laura offers a much-needed dose of perspective - and hope.
"Don’t be disheartened," she says. "There were days I thought it was impossible. But it will happen. It might take a year or two, but it will happen."
Sometimes, the most powerful stories aren’t the easiest ones; they’re the ones that prove that even in a challenging market, with enough determination and the right support, the door to your first home can still open.
For more expert advice and tales from the trenches of first time buying, tune into new episodes of Brendan Courtney's My First Home every Monday on all podcast platforms
For more information or to speak to a mortgage advisor, checkout aib.ie.
