Jonathan ChancellorDecember 7, 2020
The $500,000 early 2014 purchase in Reservoir was House Rules contestant couple Bronik and Corrine's first property purchase.
Bronik Davies also advised Channel 7 viewers that he was the first of his male descendants to own a house. It is in Melbourne's northern suburbs.
He has a $448,000 mortgage which would be wiped if the couple win the renovation competition.
Reservoir's median house price is at $538,000, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
He is the only carpenter in the competition.
Bronik, 27, has spent the last 10 years working as a chippie and it's a job he loves. "I enjoy building something from scratch and seeing what I end up with," he says.
His girlfriend of two years, Corrine, 28, describes Bronik as being ‘super impulsive', like the time he bought their house without telling her.
"We were out watching the cricket and he gets this call," she laughs. "He's like, 'Babe, guess what? We just bought a house!' I still get goosebumps thinking about it."
The 1960s weatherboard they bought early last year was the first house they looked at.
Despite it being a ‘bombsite' and an ‘eye-sore', it was situated where they could see themselves raising a family.
"We want to make this place our forever home; an open space where we feel comfortable and can raise some kids," Bronik said.
The only habitable area is the living room which is where they eat and sleep.
While they had a vision for the property, hefty mortgage repayments have stalled renovations.
"Knowing that we have such a huge mortgage hanging over our heads has put a lot of strain on us financially," Bronik says.
"We can't afford it financially," Corinne advised, with House Rules just the opportunity they'd been waiting for.
Corrine's no stranger to renovation, having remodelled a milk bar she once owned into a funky café. Corrine now holds down two jobs as a barista and retail assistant.
Victoria took the House Rules title in 2014 with Adam and Lisa's win.
Bronik, a dual Frank Rosbrook Medal winner, captains the Cougars in the AFL Northern Football League.
