First Home Buyer

6 editor-reviewed guides in this category.

• Steps to buying a house

  The sequence from first thinking about it to having keys in hand. Roughly 6-12 months for most Australian buyers — this is what each stage looks like.

  7 min read

• How much do I need for a deposit?

  The headline number is 20% — but most first home buyers settle with 5-10% plus LMI or a Home Guarantee Scheme spot. Here's what each path looks like.

  5 min read

• Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) explained

  LMI protects the lender, not you — but you pay for it. Here's how the premium is calculated, when it's charged, and how to legitimately avoid it.

  5 min read

• Home Guarantee Scheme

  The federal scheme that lets eligible buyers skip LMI with a small deposit. Three streams, 50,000 places per year, and price caps that vary by region.

  5 min read

• First Home Buyer Grants

  Federal Home Guarantee Scheme + state-by-state First Home Owner Grants and stamp duty concessions. What's available where.

  6 min read

• Home Loan Hindsight Survey

  What 1,000+ Australian homeowners would do differently if they were getting their loan again. The free report covers rate negotiation, lender choice, and broker experience.

  3 min read