But Ms Kirby, 25, is keen to buy her first home.

''It's just a milestone in everyone's lives to have your own place, something that you can call your own,'' she said.

''And obviously [it would be good] to get away from living at home: time to grow up and move up in the world. [I would] start off at least with something small, and then hopefully get something bigger later.''

Ms Kirby visited Proximity sales office yesterday to look at the latest release of the Village Building Co's one- and two-bedroom apartments in Bruce.

The Hub apartments are selling for between $288,000 and $374,000.

The ACT has always been one large mortgage belt, bad news at a time when interest rates have been soaring, according to an Access Economics report to be issued today.

Ms Kirby said she hadn't looked at interest rates, although she did want to get in to the property market ''before they go up too much more''.

She said that it would be the high cost of living that would most likely put her off buying a home.

At the moment she is paying off a new car that also costs her $75 a week to fill up.

''With [higher living] costs it's definitely getting to the stage [where I'm asking the question]: 'Can I do it on my own?'

''It's just a matter of trying to find the right price.''

Ms Kirby is ideally looking for a two-bedroom apartment in the low $300,000s.

''One-bedrooms are obviously a lot cheaper than two-bedrooms, but with two-bedrooms at least it gives you that little bit more room for a study or if you do need to have [a renter] jump in and help you to pay for it.''

Also looking at apartments yesterday were investors Makarand Kale and his wife Ujjwal.

Mr Kale said Canberra was a beautiful place to invest.

''You get a lot of tax benefits and refunds, there's a good rental income and the vacancy rate is very low.

''One tenant goes and you can get another one in quickly. And Canberra is coming up as a good city, so it's safe to invest,'' he said.

The couple already has an investment property in Kippax.