Your First Home Buyer Guide Podcast

Rentvesting offers first-home buyers a unique way to get on the property ladder, but what about the tax implications? In this episode, we sit down with Catherine Simons, a seasoned tax accountant, to explore the nitty-gritty of how rentvesting can work in your favour financially. If you’re wondering about deductions, depreciation, and capital gains tax, you’re in the right place. We un...

What happens when your dream of buying your first home collides with the realities of changing jobs, working overseas, or stretching your budget? In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Bates, one of Australia’s top mortgage brokers and co-founder at Blusk, to tackle these challenges head-on with practical advice and real-world examples to guide you through some of the common challenges...

Buying a property in 2025 presents unique opportunities and challenges, but how can you make sure you're ready? The property market can feel overwhelming, with interest rates, media noise, and endless opinions flying around, but we’re here to cut through the confusion and give you practical advice that actually helps. We’ll start by breaking down why trying to time the market is a wast...

Ever wondered if rentvesting is the way to go, what happens to your deposit if things fall through, or whether it’s worth stretching for an A-grade property? We’re tackling these big questions straight from our Facebook group in this episode. First, let’s talk about deposits. Did you know the rules around conditional offers and cooling-off periods vary state by state? We break it...

Rentvesting—it sounds like a smart way to get into the property market while keeping your lifestyle intact, doesn’t it? But is it the right move for your long-term financial future? This week, we unpack what it takes to make rentvesting work and how to avoid falling into common traps that could cost you more than you bargained for. Joining us is David Johnston, Mortgage Strategist at P...

Think paying everything in cash is the best way to stay financially secure? Think again. In this episode, we explore why having no credit history can actually hurt you when it’s time to apply for a home loan—and what you can do to build a solid credit profile. We’re joined by Kevin James, General Manager at Equifax, who unpacks the ins and outs of credit scores: what they are, ho...

Rentvesting might sound like the answer to getting into the property market, but is it the right choice for you? In this episode, we’re unpacking everything you need to think about before taking this path. From the practical costs and emotional decisions to the crucial differences between buying as an investor and as an owner-occupier, we’re covering it all. And this is not advice to go one way or...

What would you do if you found out a single mistake could cost you $60,000 on your first home? That’s exactly what happened to Jessica, and we’re diving into her story today. This is one tough lesson about what can go wrong when you don’t have the right advice or information. The good news? By learning what went wrong, you’ll know exactly what to do to avoid a similar disaster. In this episode, we...

Are you sure those common property beliefs you've heard are actually sound advice? In this episode, we dig into some widely accepted opinions about property that simply don’t hold up when you look at them more closely. From the idea that "you should buy as soon as you can afford anything" to "buying under market value" or "starting with an investment property," we discuss why these might not be as...

When you buy a property, no amount of online research replaces actually getting out there and inspecting it in person. In this episode, we share our top five property inspection tips, including one powerful insight that could transform your home-buying journey. We start with time management—because when you’re rushing between multiple open houses on a Saturday, it’s easy to miss important details....

Wondering if you can buy a home without a full 20% deposit? You’re not alone. As property prices climb, saving that much can feel impossible, but there are other ways to get your foot in the door sooner. In this episode, we explore the range of options available to first-home buyers who are looking for alternatives to the traditional deposit size. Cara Haynes, a seasoned mortgage broker, joins us...

Over the years, we’ve helped tons of first home buyers get on the property ladder, avoid costly mistakes, and become proud homeowners. And we can hardly believe we’ve already hit 200 episodes!  Today, we’re pulling together the very best tips, lessons, and advice from our most popular episodes—all in one place. If you’ve just joined us or have been with us for a while, this is a fantastic shortcut...

Ever wondered how you can get your hands on those hidden property listings? Today, we're diving into some of the juiciest property questions from our Facebook group, and we’re starting with a big one—how to access those off-market properties that everyone’s talking about. We’ll also cover how to know when you’re really ready to buy your first home. It’s a huge decision, but there are signs to look...

Ever feel like you’re stuck in no man’s land after making an offer? That weird silence from the agent that probably leaves you wondering—what’s next? In this episode, we tackle exactly what happens between submitting your offer and hearing back. It’s one of the most frustrating parts of the home-buying process, and if you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Do we counter again or is this a one-and-don...

Buying a home is easily one of the most stressful things you’ll ever do, especially when you’re flying solo. Today, we’re tackling this question from one of our Facebook group members: how do you get past the terror of making a massive financial mistake as a single person? We totally get it—between skyrocketing property prices and the thought of no safety net, it’s enough to make anyone feel nervo...

This week, we continue with part two of our East Coast property market update, once again joined by Cate Bakos. In this episode, we delve into the nitty-gritty of what your budget can buy in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as the market shifts through 2024. From first home buyers eyeing properties in the $600k-$700k range to those with budgets up to $1.5 million, we break down the opportunities a...

If you’re thinking about buying property in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, you’re in the right place. In this episode, we talk about the key differences between these three major Australian cities—because let’s be honest, what works in one city might be a complete disaster in another. We’re here to help you figure out where your money goes further, what’s happening in 2024, and how to avoid some...

When you’re looking to buy a property, how can you truly tell if it has renovation potential? That’s the question we dive into in this episode. With a focus on the top six things to look for, we cover what adds value and what doesn’t, how to spot hidden costs, and which projects are best left untouched. We start with why location is key, and why it’s something you must get right before you even th...

Buying your first home can feel like a real challenge, and if you’re feeling unsure, you’re not alone. In today's episode, we answer more questions from our Member Only Facebook group to help clear things up and guide you in the right direction. We kick things off by tackling a big question: should you buy in your dream location now and rent it out, or wait until you’ve saved up a bigger deposit?...

For first time home buyers, understanding government grants and incentives is an important part of your home ownership journey.  BUT you should not limit your property search to fit into the criteria to qualify for one. In this episode, we explore the various options available to help you get started. With each state offering different schemes, it can be confusing to know which ones you’re eligibl...

Buying your first home can feel like a maze, and we get it—there are a million questions running through your head. That’s why we created our Facebook group just for first home buyers, where no question is too simple or too complex. And the questions have been pouring in! In this episode, we answer the most common questions from our Facebook group. We start with the nitty-gritty details of what st...

When you’re buying a home, the last thing you expect is for the ground beneath it to literally sink away. In this episode, we dive deep into a real-life disaster involving properties affected by sinking land, where homes began to crack and crumble due to unstable ground. How could this happen, and what should buyers learn from this nightmare scenario? We explore the consequences of purchasing off...

Continuing from last week’s episode on Property 101, we dive deeper with Property Investment 101. In this episode, we break down the essential terms and concepts that often get overlooked, words you’ve probably heard thrown around but maybe aren’t quite sure what they really mean. If you’ve ever found yourself confused by property jargon, this is the perfect guide to clear things up. We talk about...

Ever heard of the curse of knowledge ? It's when experts forget that not everyone knows what they do. As seasoned buyer’s agents with over 45 years of combined experience, we sometimes assume that our listeners know as much as we do. And we forget that terms like LMI, equity, capital growth, and rentvesting can be really confusing for those new to property. Today’s episode was sparked by a convers...

Imagine buying your first home, doing everything right to avoid mistakes, and then finding out it's so termite-infested with LIVE termites it needs to be demolished . This is indeed a nightmare , but could this have been avoided? In this episode, we dive into the tragic story of a young couple who faced this exact situation, and we discuss the steps you can take to prevent such a disaster. So, in...