Know someone thinking of buying their first home?

House prices seem to be easing a little, so if you know someone, a child, relative or friend, thinking about entering the market for the first time, here are a few ways we could help.

Get them preapproved so they can shop with confidence
Our mortgage brokers can get them preapproved before they start house hunting or making offers. Preapproval means they know their budget and borrowing power upfront, so they can search with confidence and move fast when the right property comes along. It also carries weight with agents and sellers, who take preapproved buyers more seriously.

Help them know their limits
Encourage them to focus on what they can comfortably afford, not just what they can borrow. The less they borrow, the sooner they’re debt free, and keeping some breathing room in the budget means extra cash for renovations, extra repayments, or simply a family holiday down the track.

Ongoing costs they might not have thought of
Owning a home brings costs they might not have faced while renting or living with family. We can help ensure they understand the extras involved including:

• Council rates and water bills, often thousands a year
• Building insurance, with premiums that vary a lot by suburb and even street
• Annual package fees, often deducted automatically
• Maintenance like plumbers or electricians, no longer covered by a landlord
• Strata or body corporate fees, if they’re buying an apartment or townhouse

Grants and schemes worth knowing about
We can identify schemes like the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) or the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme that may apply. Understanding what’s available for their circumstances and sorting the paperwork early keeps the whole process moving smoothly for them.

Buying a first home is exciting, even with rates higher than they’ve been. It can feel like a lot to navigate, but we’re here to make the process as enjoyable and straightforward as it should be for them.

Our experienced mortgage brokers can help with all of this and more, guiding them from their first conversation right through to picking up the keys. So if you know someone ready to step into the property market, send them our way, we’d love to help.