A nineteen-year-old who bought her first home is said to be facing financial hardship after a clause in the sale's contract left her exposed when the settlement date faltered.

The Dominion Post has covered the story of nineteen-year-old Jasmine, who bought a $220,000, three-bedroom home in Porirua with a $15,000 deposit from a deceased estate in February. Although settlement was set down for 10 March, a clause in the contract allowed the settlement date to be pushed back if legal documents relating to the deceased estate did not arrive in time.

When the papers needed to complete the estate sale did not arrive from Australia in time for settlement, Jasmine was left homeless - and 11 weeks later she still has not taken possession of the property.

She did not seek legal advice before signing - nor was she advised to do so, she said.

She said the real estate agent assured her the clause was just a legal formality. "She promised me the papers were going to be through well before March 10."

The delay had cost her hundreds of dollars in bank fees, she said. She also faced a higher mortgage interest rate now, and no longer had a guaranteed flatmate.

"The way it's been handled - I'm not going to be able to afford repayments when I move in."

For more information see article Purchasing Property from a Deceased Estate.