Your First Home Buyer Guide Podcast

Fixer-uppers could be diamonds in the rough. This is why first-time homeowners are drawn to purchasing old, dilapidated properties for cheap in the hopes of being able to increase their market value.  However, contrary to popular belief, not all renovations are worth the time, money, and effort you’re going to spend. In today’s episode, we’re answering the age-old question: should you renovate or...

Should you even think about buying your first home when we’re in the middle of uncertainty post market boom? – As usual, there’s no straight answer.  In today’s show, we’re talking about the ‘buy or rent’ debate: Why buy when you can rent? Why rent when you can buy? – But ultimately, you decide where you stand…  We also take a look at lessons we can learn from stock trading, what your decision may...

The question always goes “Should I buy a house or an apartment?” But few first home buyers think about the ‘in between' option that’s well worth considering – townhouses.  In today’s episode, we’re taking a look at the pros and cons of buying a townhouse versus an apartment.  We also talk about your unique ‘3Ps’, making decisions based on your lifestyle and future plans, finding a ‘unicorn home’,...

In today’s show, we’re demystifying the bank valuation process.  Why do banks do valuations? How do they work? What happens if the valuation comes back lower than the purchase price?  Andrew Wheatley, owner of Wheatley Finance, joins us today to answer these questions and to share his insights on the risks of working with banks, valuing off plan property, protecting yourself from settlement risks,...

Today, we’re breaking down a 2021 article with this heartbreaking headline: “Sydney building ‘nightmare’ set to cost first home buyer her life savings”  What went wrong?  We’re running through what happened, what the developer and builder did, and ultimately, how it could have been avoided.  If you enjoy the show, do like, rate, subscribe, and share it with others! We have loads of resources avail...

Shifting and extreme weather events have left many people’s homes either flooded or completely destroyed. What does this spell for first home buyers?  Today, we’re exploring the long-term impacts of climate change on your ability to insure your home now or in the future.  We talk about what has changed in the insurance industry after recent catastrophic events, getting the right insurance for your...

We know the media love a good, attention-grabbing headline – but they are not wrong when they talk about Australia’s rental crisis.  Today we’re talking about the rental crisis of 2022 – the decisions and circumstances that led to the current lack of supply, how migration plays a part in overall demand, what options we have to fix the problem, and more.  Tune in until the end to find out the secre...

People LOVE to talk about their success stories — but their failures? …Not so much.  In this episode, we’re getting a glimpse of what went wrong for one first home buyer. Mel from Melbourne shares her unexpected property journey, mistakes along the way, and how she plans to get back up the ladder.  What happens when you fall into FOMO? Is there such a thing as a ‘bargain’ home at face value? Shoul...

Today we take a look at a headline that caught our attention back in 2022.   A Queensland couple lost their home after the developer invoked the sunset clause – abruptly ending their contract.  What in the world happened and what can YOU learn?  We talk about sunset clauses – what they’re used for, why it’s unfair for first home buyers, how developers use them to their advantage, and more! If you...

Talks on the housing affordability crisis have escalated with the release of the Falinski report followed by the election and various pitches to first home buyers.  In this episode, we’re talking about some of the recent government and private initiatives aimed at “helping” first home buyers.  Are any of these co-ownership schemes and deposit accelerators worth considering? Who’s really benefiting...

Let’s face it… Home ownership has become a challenge in the past few years.  What should first home owners prioritise – the deposit, or paying off the mortgage? Is it enough to have a huge amount of money in the bank? Should you take a second or third job? Today, we talk about the importance of balancing your income and savings as we dissect an article on how much you need...

We love answering your real estate questions. And this week, we’re responding to what some of our members and listeners sent in! We’re covering the ins and outs of rentvesting, avoiding the ‘easy to buy, hard to sell’ trap, understanding the conveyancing process, how zoning works, and more! Listen in and see if you have any similar queries answered! If you enjoy the show, d...

Today, we’re following another one of our Home Buyer Academy students’ successes!  Jackie shares how she moved to Australia from Canada and bought a home with her Australian husband for their young family in a regional area in Victoria.  We cover what she did to save up for the deposit, how she backed out from a purchase deal after inspecting a shoddy house, when she finally...

Saving up for a deposit on your first home can take years. So… When is the best time to start learning about the process of buying? How do you make sure that what you learn is not outdated? At what point is it too late to educate yourself? Who should you ask help from?  If you’ve been wondering when to do the Your First Home Buyer Guide Course, then this episode is for you! We&rs...

Making an offer on a property can be an exciting and scary experience… But it doesn’t have to be crazy!  Today, let’s talk about the crazy mistakes first home buyers make when making offers.  We cover the importance of getting a real estate team, the limits of a buyers agent’s role, and first home buyer stories & experiences that will make you giggle, but you...

Here’s a topic we wish we didn’t have to cover… But it’s so important – how floods affect property prices.  Should you consider buying property in a flood zone? How do developers and real estate brokers sell properties in a floodplain? How do you time your way in this specific market?  Join us as we talk about Australia’s flood statistics, the Brisban...

How do you brave the storm and buy a house in the middle of rising property prices? In today’s episode, Alice and Mike, two of our Home Buyer Academy graduates, share how they cut down costs to save up for a deposit, searched for a house during a highly competitive time in the market, and how they ended up with the rustic home of their dreams! How do you find the perfect property during the...

Is a buyers agent worth the money?  In today’s episode, we follow one first home buyer’s journey – who, from the very outset, decided to use a buyers agent.  Sarah shares the circumstances that led her to want her own home, what she did to save up for a deposit, her search for the right buyers agent, and how she ultimately sealed the deal on a nice villa!  If you e...

It takes a looong time to save up a deposit for your first home. And often, homebuyers wonder when it’s time to go from ‘saving mode’ to ‘searching mode’.  Are my savings enough to cover the deposit? Are my property expectations and expected living conditions in order? Am I comfortable dealing with real estate agents? – these are just some of the questions...

What’s one major thing first home buyers complain about? – Real estate agents.  Not all real estate agents are shonks… But some are! And in this episode, we’re giving you tips for dealing with them.  What are the boundaries of a real estate agent’s job? What is underquoting and why is it an issue in the property market? How do you address an agent’s b...

How do you conquer that first home purchase? In this episode, we’re joined by Kristy – one of our Home Buyer Academy students – as we talk about saving up for a deposit, making (and refusing) compromises when looking for property, dutch auctions, and heaps more! Kristy shares the lessons she learned along the way, mistakes she made and avoided, and how she ultimately sealed the d...

Is it a good idea to put your property search on hold when bank forecasts and headlines are predicting a real estate price crash?  Today we’re talking about the property cycle and taking a look at case studies from previous peaks and troughs to navigate the real estate market.  What is the property clock? How do you work your way through an unpredictable market? Can you really ever...

There’s much to learn in real estate and property investment – and we’re sharing some of those lessons with you in this episode! Whose advice should you lean on when considering property to buy? What factors should you study when choosing property? How do you avoid overthinking and getting analysis paralysis? We cover these questions and more as we talk about the role of emotions...

Do you know where every cent of your money goes monthly? If the answer is no, then you probably need to create a system that helps you manage your hard-earned cash.  How can we best plan for rising interest rates in 2022? What are the factors we should consider when allocating money? When is the best time to review our finances? Terry Condon of The Cashflow Co. joins us in this episode as we...

First home buyers are often tempted into purchasing Off the Plan property – after all, brand new means problem-free, right? Well, it’s a lot more complicated than that. You can’t see, touch, or feel something that isn’t built yet and there are a lot of risks that you have to consider before getting anything brand new.  Today, we’re sharing some real-life examples...