I was born in Footscray to parents who arrived from Lagos in 2002. I grew up between Yarraville and West Footscray, never moved more than 8km, and I’m currently renting a four-bedroom Federation share with two flatmates. I work in operations at a logistics firm in West Melbourne. On the side I write the renting and first-home pieces I wish someone had handed me at 22, when I signed a lease on a “renovated unit” that turned out to be a 1972 walk-up with a painted-over fuse box.
What I write about. Renting in the west honestly: what investor-grade fittings actually look like at an inspection, what break-lease clauses really cost in 2026, and why the Domain median is the ceiling not the floor for inspections in Footscray, Yarraville, and West Footscray. First-home-buyer mechanics for a single income — the actual deposit, the actual stamp duty, the actual settlement timeline. The five tells of “investor stock” I learned the hard way: hollow doors, painted aluminium, a kitchen with three plug points, a bathroom fan that vents into the ceiling.
How I work. Numbers first. Every claim is sourced to a Domain quarterly report, an REIV bulletin, a Consumer Affairs Victoria guidance page, or a State Revenue Office calculator with the date pulled. I cite the quarter, not “recently”. I attend my own inspections — I have walked through 47 properties since January. I do not accept invitations from agents to be a “case study” and I do not work with buyer’s agents.
Where you’ll find me. Sun Theatre on a Tuesday. Footscray Market for the Sunday pho run. West Footscray library when I need three hours of quiet. The 82 tram, although I’d rather walk it.
Conflicts of interest. None. I do not consult for any agency, brokerage, or property platform. My partner works in healthcare. I have never accepted a referral commission or a finder’s fee.
Sample headlines I’d write:
- “Footscray vs West Footscray: where to actually rent at 26 in 2026”
- “Domain says median rent in Yarraville jumped 14%. Here’s what that means in practice”
- “What ‘investor stock’ looks like at an inspection — five tells I learned the hard way”
Articles by Ndidi Eze are based on first-hand inspections and publicly sourced data with the quarter cited. She has no relationship with any agency or buyer’s agent and accepts no sponsored content.