Your First Home Buyer Guide Podcast

If you're buying solo later in life, you might be wondering whether you'll have enough time to upgrade, whether a 30-year home loan makes sense, or how much you should compromise on the property you really want. In this episode, Veronica and Meighan tackle three common questions about buying solo later in life. They explore why the traditional starter-home-to-upgrade approach may not always work,...

Property prices are falling in some markets, so why are so many first home buyers still sitting on the sidelines? Waiting for a better price might seem like the obvious move, but falling prices don’t necessarily mean better affordability when interest rates are rising and borrowing capacity is shrinking. In this episode of Home Buyer Academy, Veronica and Meighan unpack what’s really keeping buyer...

You’ve found the right suburb, the right school catchment and a house with a good floor plan. There’s just one problem: it’s dated, needs some work, and you really don’t want to renovate. So, is it still worth buying? In this episode, Meighan and Veronica unpack this exact scenario using their Three P's framework: Position, Property and Price. They explain what you can change, what you can’t, and...

Buying your first home can involve a lot of research, questions and second-guessing. But how do you know when that research is actually helping you move forward, and when it’s keeping you stuck? In this 300th episode, Veronica and Meighan look back at memorable moments from Campfire, where real buyers bring their properties, decisions and challenges to work through. They share the lessons behind s...

What happens when you realise you may be able to buy your first home years earlier than you thought? For Katya, the journey started with an assumption that she needed a 20% deposit. After looking more closely at her finances and learning about the 5% deposit scheme, she and her partner realised buying could be possible sooner than expected. In this episode, Katya shares her journey from having no...

You find a property listed at $700,000 to $750,000, stretch your budget to make it work, do your due diligence and turn up to auction ready to bid. Then it sells for $850,000. So what happened? And can you actually trust the price guide? In this episode, Veronica and Meighan unpack the complicated world of property underquoting, why lower price guides attract more buyers, and the psychological eff...

What happens if your builder goes broke halfway through building your first home? It’s a scenario no buyer expects, but one that can leave you with an unfinished house, money already paid, and a loan that still needs to be repaid. In this episode, we break down what can happen when a builder collapses, why even large and well-established builders aren't immune, and how rising construction costs, l...

Your first impression of a property can be powerful — but should it really influence your decision to buy? For first home buyers, a beautifully styled home can create excitement before you've had a chance to properly assess whether the property actually works. In this episode, Veronica and Meighan explain why experienced buyers agents don't rely on first impressions alone. They take you through th...

Most first home buyers have heard about offset accounts and redraw facilities, but very few understand how they actually work—or how choosing the wrong one could cost them thousands over the life of their home loan. In this episode, Veronica and Meighan are joined by first home buyer specialist mortgage broker Jack Elliott to break down the difference between offset accounts and redraw facilities...

Property prices are falling in some areas, and if you're a first home buyer with a 5% deposit, it can be tempting to sit back and wait for prices to fall further. But how will you know when the market has actually reached the bottom? And what happens if the right property becomes available before then? In this episode, Veronica and Meighan unpack the reality of buying your first home in a falling...

Are you thinking about buying a brand-new property? It can seem like a straightforward process, but there's a lot more to buying new than choosing a floorplan, selecting your finishes, and waiting for the keys. Before you sign a contract, it's important to understand the different pathways to buying new—and the contracts, finance considerations, and risks that come with each one. In this episode,...

Buying your first home is exciting, but understanding your mortgage is just as important as getting approved for one. In this episode, Jack Elliott breaks down the fundamentals of home loans, explaining how mortgage repayments work, how interest is calculated, and the differences between fixed, variable and split loans. You'll also learn why small changes to the way you manage your mortgage can ma...

Many first home buyers have been told rentvesting is one of the smartest ways to get into the property market. But with the Federal Government proposing major changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, does that strategy still stack up? In this episode, Veronica and Meighan unpack what the proposed tax reforms could mean for first home buyers, whether rentvesting is still worth considering...

You've done the maths. You know your income, you've been saving, and you have a rough idea of what you can borrow. Then the bank gives you a completely different number. In this episode, mortgage broker Jack Elliott returns to explain how lenders really assess borrowing capacity. From income, genuine savings and credit cards to HECS, Afterpay, bank statements and even the property you're buying, y...

Buying your first home rarely goes exactly to plan. You might have your deposit saved, your dream suburb picked out, and a clear picture of the property you want—only to discover the market has other ideas. In this episode, Home Buyer Academy graduate Tim shares the real story behind his first home purchase. From saving his deposit and researching the market to being priced out of his preferred pr...

Buying your first home with just a 5% deposit sounds like the shortcut many buyers have been waiting for. But while the scheme can help you enter the market sooner, borrowing 95% of a property's value also comes with risks that every first home buyer needs to understand. In this episode, Veronica and Meighan are joined by Jack Elliott from Alcove Mortgages to unpack how the 5% Deposit Scheme reall...

First home buyer grants, stamp duty concessions, shared equity schemes, 5% deposit pathways–there’s more support available than ever before. But are these incentives actually helping you make better property decisions? In this episode, mortgage broker Jack Elliott returns to break down the grants, concessions, and buyer schemes available across Australia. We cover how stamp duty relief works in ea...

Buying a property is about to involve more paperwork than many buyers expect. From July 2026, Australia's anti-money laundering reforms will introduce new checks for property transactions. That means first home buyers may be asked to provide identification, bank statements, gift letters, inheritance records, and evidence showing where their deposit funds came from. In this episode, Veronica and Me...

Most first home buyers wait until they feel “ready” before speaking to a mortgage broker. But what if that decision is actually delaying your plans by months—or even years? In this episode, we’re joined by Jack Elliott from Alcove Mortgages to unpack one of the most common mistakes first home buyers make: coming to the finance conversation too late. We explore what a broker actually does, why the...

Shared equity schemes are becoming one of the most talked-about pathways into homeownership. Lower deposits, smaller loans, and the chance to buy sooner can sound incredibly appealing—but what are you giving up in return? In this episode, Veronica and Meighan unpack how shared equity schemes actually work, who they're designed for, and the trade-offs many buyers don't fully understand until years...

You’ve found the one. The suburb works, the layout feels right, and auction day arrives. But what happens if you win… and your loan doesn’t go through? In this episode, we break down the real risks of buying at auction—especially when relying on pre-approval. From valuation shortfalls to lender restrictions and changes in your financial situation, there are several ways a deal can fall apart after...

You’ve probably seen the headlines—negative gearing changes, big shifts for investors, and talk of housing becoming more affordable. But what does the 2026 budget actually mean for first home buyers? In this episode, we break down the key property-related changes, including negative gearing, capital gains tax, and investor behaviour. While these policies are being framed as a win for buyers, the r...

Buying your first home isn’t just about saving a deposit — it’s about learning how to make confident decisions in a market filled with noise, pressure, and conflicting advice. In this episode, we sit down with Home Buyer Academy graduate Kate Howes to hear the real story behind her first home journey, from major life setbacks and uncertainty to finally buying a home she genuinely loves. Kate share...

Rising grocery bills. Higher interest rates. Constant headlines about economic uncertainty. Friends telling you to wait. Parents warning you not to buy yet. For many first home buyers, it feels like the economy is sending one clear message right now: don’t make a big move. But what if waiting comes with risks too? In this episode, Veronica and Meighan unpack the fear surrounding recessions, uncert...

Buying your first home is a high-pressure decision filled with emotion, uncertainty, and conflicting advice. And most of the time, you’re not actually arguing about the property—you’re dealing with fear, different risk tolerances, and a lack of clear direction. In this episode, we break down why couples struggle to agree during the buying process, from clashing money beliefs to outside opinions fr...