Australia's debate about housing affordability has been twisting and turning in recent weeks, but a "DIY property tycoon" story has left some many people shaking their heads and muttering "privilege".
It was published on the front page of Sydney's Manly Daily and looks at the life of 24-year-old Stephanie Brennan, who owns a bulging property portfolio and a home loans business.
"Meet one of Australia's youngest property tycoons who's proving at just 24 that it is possible for young professionals to get on the housing ladder," reads the opening paragraph of the story, which goes on to describe her six-property portfolio apparently worth $2.3 million.
News Corp stablemate the Daily Telegraph uploaded the story to Facebook, telling its readers Brennan hadn't been to university or received cash from her parents.
According to the story, her example was particularly important considering treasurer Joe Hockey's recent statements that to buy a home you need to "get a good job that pays good money."
But it has enraged readers struggling to buy for the first time, who pointed to several instances where her parents or her circumstances were key to purchasing homes. That is, people aren't angry at her... they are angry at the way the story is presented.
Brennan was educated at Sydney's exclusive Pymble Ladies College and worked in jobs ranging from cleaning to Pizza Hut. She also worked as an adviser to Bronwyn Bishop.
People pointed out her parents acted as a guarantor to buy her first home.
"Though she had around $100,000 in savings she persuaded her mother to go guarantor for $60,000 with the Belrose family home -- meaning she didn't pay any deposit at all," the story reads.
And then there's the inheritance she was left.
"She bought a plot of land on a nature reserve in Glencore, Scotland, with $50,000 left to her by her grandparents. She never visisted but her land in Scotland comes with a title, which makes her a Lady."
A Scottish Twitter user has since told BuzzFeed News, it's unlikely she has acquired the title "lady" with the purchase of the land.
BuzzFeed News spoke to Brennan, who said she hadn't seen the reception of the article, but defended the assertion that she made her real estate fortune without her parents help.
"Yes, my mum went guarantor, but I had the deposit all ready. I would have been ok. I could have easily done it without my mum. And now that I have got to my current position, she can come off at anytime," she said.
"The $50,000 from my grandparents was for a nature reserve in Scotland. It's not making money and is part of my portfolio. I haven't really been handed anything."
BuzzFeed News asked whether she thought anyone could do what she's done: "Yes, absolutely. If people want it badly enough, they will make it happen. I went to a Donald Trump event a couple of years ago. He said only 1% of people make their dream a reality and it's about opportunities. There's still opportunities out there for everyone."
Brennan's home loan business also posted the story, saying her personal narrative was "debunking the myth you can't buy property in Sydney."
The assumptions in the story maddened people who didn't have Brennan's circumstances.
Stephanie’s Tips for Investing in Property 1) have parents in sydney 2) have rich relatives 3) be a real estate agent 4) be overleveraged
So if kids want to buy a house they need to live with their parents and pay no rent and then they are a lazy gen y who refuses to grow up?
Worse part about this story is girl born with silver spoon doesnt realise she was born with the silver spoon http://t.co/ewLdkxOsHl
There were more questions raised about the accuracy of the article's claims.
So @dailytelegraph says hasn't been to uni http://t.co/H65AI8RgiP LinkedIn says she studied Com/Law at Macquaire. https://t.co/bOaO4pJ1Zq
The comments had everyone correcting elements of the story, especially the fact she was helped by her parents.
And others pointed out it was a risky financial strategy to borrow so much money to buy so many homes.
Everyone had some pretty strong opinions about the "DIY property mogul" story.
How to be a 24yo property mogul 1 Inherit 50k 2 Use parent’s home as deposit 3 Dive in with a 5% deposit 4 Sit back n enjoy your privilege
BuzzFeed News asked whether Brennan considered herself "privileged": "I think I'm very fortunate that I got into the market at the right time," she said. "And met the right people who could have driven my real estate dream forward. Working in real estate early really helped me on that."
"I want to help everyone do what I've done. We should be taught this stuff at high school."