The First Home Guidebook

Can you trust real estate agents? It’s the question on many first home buyers' lips and certainly one worth discussing. Real estate agents are often put in the same mistrusted category as politicians and used car salesmen, and although many of them are genuinely good people who want to help you find your dream home, it’s important to do your due diligence when entering the real estate game. 

The catch lies in the commission-bas...

You may have heard me compare finding the right property with online dating before. From deciding what qualities you’re looking for to knowing whether someone’s a good match, searching for a property can involve making equally overwhelming decisions. 

So how do you know if a property is ‘the one’? Today I’ll be guiding you through some strategies you can adopt in order to begin your property buying journey with clarity and to m...

In today’s episode, I share my own personal property story, which includes my journey to becoming a buyer’s agent and how I first entered the market while earning $45,000 a year. 

I share how in my mid-twenties, I began saving to buy a property while running my own business. Although I eventually decided to leave the business and go into real estate, I managed to save $70,000 towards a deposit while on a significantly lower inc...

There’s no question that the idea of bidding at an auction is pretty daunting - especially for first home buyers! As a professional bidder, I often see a lot of confusion amongst buyers around how much to bid, when to stop and how to keep track of the numbers. 

Today, I’m taking you through 5 mistakes to avoid at auction to ensure your experience isn’t so stressful, and to help you approach the process with much more confidence...

The idea of renovating can be daunting for a lot of people, especially when we have shows around like The Block, which make the whole process look incredibly stressful. But this isn’t always reality, and in today’s episode, I’m sharing different ways you can approach renovating to make it much less daunting. 

I often work with first home buyers who are decidedly against renovations, particularly when they have preconceived idea...

Navigating the journey to buying your first home can be overwhelming. The plethora of questions, from understanding property timelines to the details of a contract, can make the process seem daunting. This podcast episode takes a deep dive into three such questions, offering clarity and expert insights to first-time homebuyers. Whether you're embarking on this exciting venture or just looking for some real estate knowledge, this ep...

In today's episode, we hear from a 25-year-old single female who bought her first property in Lalor, Victoria, for $540,000 using the First Home Guarantee Scheme.

While she had always dreamed of owning her own home and came to the point of feeling ready, she didn’t think she had the finances to get there. However, being a long-time saver and having attained an increased salary of $89,000, a mortgage broker advised her that she actua...

Should you buy a property now or wait? This is a question which I get pretty much every day, and the short answer is: it depends. More specifically, it depends on what is right for you within your own personal situation.

In today's episode, I unpack the two key things that should be considered when deciding whether to buy now or wait. When it comes to thinking about buying property, a lot of people first weigh up their financial pos...

Everyone loves a good bargain. Whether it's scoring a discount on a new fridge or finding a great deal on a vacation, saving money is always satisfying. But when it comes to buying a property, a bargain becomes especially appealing when you know you’re about to spend a significant amount of money.

In today’s episode, I’m talking about what would potentially define a bargain property and what to be aware of. While you may get lu...

Today we’re hearing from a 27 year old who bought her first home in 2021 with her partner for $606,000.00 in East Corrimal, New South Wales. They stumbled across the Government 5% first home guarantee scheme which allowed them to purchase their home with only a 5% deposit.

We hear about the two-year journey she and her partner embarked on to save for a deposit. While they eventually saved a decent amount of money to put towards a pu...

When it comes to buying a property in Australia, there are two main methods of sale: auctions and private sales. While some buyers may be hesitant to participate in auctions due to fears around emotional stress, others may be daunted by the complex process of a private sale. Ultimately, it’s important to understand the key differences between these methods so that you can better understand and weigh up your options.

Today I run ...

I’m excited today to bring you Tash from Tash Invests to share her property story. She is 25 years old and bought her first property a few years ago in Perth for $295,000, whilst on an income of $75,000 a year. She lived in it for a little while before moving interstate, and is now a rentvestor who receives positive cashflow from that property.

Tash bought her first property on her own for $295,000. She was inspired and motivated by...

You may have heard of a buyer’s agent, but given their popularity in Australia is fairly recent, you may be wondering what they actually do. Today I’ll be running through what a buyer’s agent offers and why you should consider using one as a first home buyer.

While those looking to sell their property will usually engage a real estate agent to work on their behalf, many buyers face tackling the property purchase on their own. They’r...

Today we hear from a 30-year-old single female who bought a two-bedroom apartment in Elwood, Melbourne for $640,000.00. Though she was excited to be checking a property purchase off her life to-do list, she felt she rushed the decision and offers some of the wisdom she gained in hindsight.

As a self-employed photographer on a fluctuating income, she understood the potential risks involved with buying a home on her own. However, own...

With so many questions and uncertainties around buying your first home, it's important to seek advice and ask as many questions as possible to ensure you're making informed decisions.

Today I’m answering some great questions I’ve received from listeners, to hopefully help you move through the first home buying process with much more confidence and knowledge.

The first question I address is around negotiating a purchase price, pa...

Today we hear from a 28 year old who bought a one-bedroom apartment with his partner in Woolloomooloo for $975,000.00.

In this episode, he talks about how building wealth was his primary motivation for buying a property, and why he chose to go down that road instead of investing in shares. He also talks about desiring the safety of owning a property, rather than dealing with the lack of security around renting.

He explains how ...

There are many aspects to take into consideration when buying your first home, and knowing which questions to ask can be challenging. So what makes a good property?

As a buyer’s agent, I get asked this question all the time. In today’s episode, I take you through five key elements to keep in mind when determining whether a property is the right choice for you.

Ultimately, the right decision will align with who you are as a perso...

Tune in to hear today's property story about a couple in their early thirties who bought a house in Mount Gambia for $279,000 and then scrimped and saved and bought a second property only seven months later for $435,000!

In this episode, they share how they saved their deposit, what they were looking for in their first and second properties, how they managed to save a deposit for two houses in such a short period of time, their buyi...

When I’m helping first home buyers look at buying a property, I often use analogies to help guide them through the decision making process. Today I run through 10 ways buying a property can be very similar to the online dating game, and encourage you to keep these ideas on file should you find yourself in similar scenarios on your home buying journey.

Buying a property can sometimes be a numbers game, and just like online dating, y...