Single parent Queenie Gay, above, is testimony to the success of the "no money down'' philosophy after moving into her $295,000 Warwick apartment a year ago.

Living in shared accommodation for the previous three years after a divorce was not the ideal beginning but Queenie stuck to the task of saving her cash.

She said: "I have a 14-year-old son and I needed a place. It is very stressful to keep having to move or never knowing when the rent is going to go up. I didn't have much money.'' She attended the "no money down'' seminars and was impressed. "There was no question they didn't have the answer for,'' she said.

"So I decided to help Mr. Butler and Mr. Smith out, I bought all the books.

If only people would buy the books.'' She shaved around $30,000 off the price of buying a home by doing the search herself and locating a bargain.

And she bought her home in Hill View with just a $1,000 deposit.

Reluctant to reveal her age Queenie says it is never to old to buy a home.

She is now paying less in mortgage payments than she would have to pay to rent a two-bedroom apartment.

"It's something single parents should go for,'' she said.

Now Queenie is thinking about buying a second property.