A Willoughby family has made what could be one of the most forward-thinking property investments in Australia, purchasing a $1 million apartment for their four-year-old daughter.
Mark and Alana Kensley decided against waiting until their daughter reached adulthood to help her enter the property market, instead choosing to secure her financial future now. Their daughter, aptly named Willoughby after the suburb where she was conceived, is now the owner of a one-bedroom unit in the new Willoughby Grounds development on Willoughby Street.
Mark Kensley described the decision as refusing to kick the can down the road. The Willoughby Grounds development on Walter Street is completing in August 2025, and the family saw the location as particularly meaningful given their personal connection to the area.
Young Willoughby has already begun telling people about her property ownership, though at four and a half years old, the concept remains somewhat abstract. Her parents plan to remind her annually about the investment as she grows up.
The property won’t legally transfer to Willoughby’s name until she turns 18, at which point she’ll have complete control over the asset. She could choose to live in it during university, sell it to fund other ventures, or continue using it as an investment property.
In the meantime, the Kensleys plan to rent out the apartment, banking on Willoughby’s strong rental market and convenient transport links. They’re even planning to make the unit pet-friendly to attract tenants, accommodating their own cavoodle in the process.
This approach reflects a growing trend across Australia, where parents are increasingly stepping in to help their children navigate an increasingly challenging property market. Recent research indicates that 82 per cent of parents are open to helping their children enter the property market, driven by a desire to provide the same financial security they experienced.
The move comes as Australia grapples with a well-publicised housing crisis, with families increasingly exploring various strategies to support their children’s property ownership aspirations.
Tim Abbott from Ray White’s projects and developments division noted that such purchases are becoming commonplace, with parents looking to get ahead of market conditions rather than simply react to them. The Willoughby Grounds development has particularly attracted buyers with personal connections to the area, including those returning after years away.
The Kensleys’ investment strategy demonstrates how some Australian families are adapting to current market conditions by taking a long-term view of property ownership, effectively gifting their children a head start that many of their peers may never receive.
For now, the property serves as both a sentimental gesture and a practical investment, with the family confident that Willoughby’s desirable location and quality development will ensure steady rental returns until their daughter is old enough to make her own decisions about the property.
Published 21-July-2025
