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The nine first home buyer strategies that still work, with the numbers.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1720175338668-2e96d090d780?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-20","Anderson Aguiar","https://i.imgur.com/btHZbrU.jpeg",[98,99,100,101,102],"first-home-buyer","affordability","buying-guide","2026-market","government-schemes","First Home Buyers","13 min read",{"type":106,"children":107,"toc":1420},"root",[108,116,121,128,457,462,468,479,489,516,522,531,540,556,562,571,580,585,602,608,617,626,635,641,650,660,770,775,780,796,802,811,828,844,850,859,868,884,890,899,908,1171,1176,1192,1198,1207,1216,1229,1245,1251,1261,1271,1281,1287,1294,1299,1305,1310,1316,1321,1327,1332,1345,1349,1355],{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":111,"children":112},"element","p",{},[113],{"type":114,"value":115},"text","A household on the median income, about $125,000 a year, could afford to buy 12% of the homes sold in Australia in the 2026 financial year. That is the lowest share since the realestate.com.au Housing Affordability Index began in 1995, below the 14% of the GFC year and a long way from the 43% of FY2021. Repayments on a median-priced home now absorb 35.5% of the average household's income, the highest share since 1989, when mortgage rates were 15.5%.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":117,"children":118},{},[119],{"type":114,"value":120},"The twist is that prices are falling. Cotality's national index has dropped for five straight months and sat 3.6% below its March 2026 peak at 31 August. It has not helped, because three RBA rate rises pushed the average new variable rate from 5.8% to 6.3% and took more off borrowing capacity than the correction took off prices; PropTrack says the hikes \"more than offset\" both 4.5% income growth and the softer prices. This article puts the 2026 numbers in one table, then works through nine strategies that still get first home buyers in: who each suits, the number that matters, the catch, and where the deeper guide lives.",{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":123,"children":125},"h2",{"id":124},"the-2026-affordability-dashboard",[126],{"type":114,"value":127},"The 2026 affordability dashboard",{"type":109,"tag":129,"props":130,"children":131},"table",{},[132,161],{"type":109,"tag":133,"props":134,"children":135},"thead",{},[136],{"type":109,"tag":137,"props":138,"children":139},"tr",{},[140,146,151,156],{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":142,"children":143},"th",{},[144],{"type":114,"value":145},"Metric",{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":147,"children":148},{},[149],{"type":114,"value":150},"Value",{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":152,"children":153},{},[154],{"type":114,"value":155},"As 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Both agree the hurdle grew in FY2026. First home buyers are still transacting, mostly with help: PropTrack's data shows the 5% Deposit Scheme's share of their loans roughly doubled, from about 25% to about 50%, after the October 2025 expansion.",{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":463,"children":465},{"id":464},"_1-buy-with-a-5-deposit-under-the-first-home-guarantee",[466],{"type":114,"value":467},"1. Buy with a 5% deposit under the First Home Guarantee",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":469,"children":470},{},[471,477],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":473,"children":474},"strong",{},[475],{"type":114,"value":476},"Who it suits:",{"type":114,"value":478}," buyers who can service a loan but cannot wait the years a 20% deposit takes.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":480,"children":481},{},[482,487],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":483,"children":484},{},[485],{"type":114,"value":486},"The number:",{"type":114,"value":488}," on Sydney's median unit of $878,176 at 31 August 2026, a 5% deposit is $43,909 against $175,635 for 20%, with no Lenders Mortgage Insurance because Housing Australia guarantees up to 15% of the value to your lender. Since 1 October 2025 there has been no income test and no cap on places, and 50,633 guarantees were issued in the first nine months, on Housing Australia data compiled by Guardian Australia. That counts guarantees issued, not settled purchases: PropTrack's equity analysis of the same cohort in August covered roughly 48,000 households that had actually bought, which is the smaller figure you will see quoted elsewhere. Price caps still apply, from $700,000 in Hobart to $1,500,000 in Sydney, with lower rest-of-state caps. Single parents and legal guardians can use the same scheme with a 2% deposit, and the separate regional guarantee was folded into it on the same date.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":490,"children":491},{},[492,497,499,506,508,514],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":493,"children":494},{},[495],{"type":114,"value":496},"The catch:",{"type":114,"value":498}," you borrow 95%, and Sydney values were already 7.1% below their February peak at the end of August. On a $700,000 purchase a 6.1% fall wipes your equity on paper, and after selling costs you are underwater at 2.6%, as the ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":501,"children":503},"a",{"href":502},"/blog/negative-equity-2026-five-percent-deposit-buyers-australia",[504],{"type":114,"value":505},"negative equity guide",{"type":114,"value":507}," works through. Survivable if you hold; dangerous if you might need to sell within three years. Rules and caps are in the ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":509,"children":511},{"href":510},"/blog/first-home-guarantee-2026-5-percent-deposit-scheme-explained",[512],{"type":114,"value":513},"First Home Guarantee 2026 explainer",{"type":114,"value":515},".",{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":517,"children":519},{"id":518},"_2-shrink-the-loan-with-help-to-buy-shared-equity",[520],{"type":114,"value":521},"2. Shrink the loan with Help to Buy shared equity",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":523,"children":524},{},[525,529],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":526,"children":527},{},[528],{"type":114,"value":476},{"type":114,"value":530}," buyers whose income is the constraint rather than the deposit, who will accept the Commonwealth as a co-owner.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":532,"children":533},{},[534,538],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":535,"children":536},{},[537],{"type":114,"value":486},{"type":114,"value":539}," the government contributes up to 40% of the price of a new home or 30% of an existing one in exchange for that share of the equity, and you need a 2% deposit. On a $700,000 established home the government's share is $210,000, your deposit $14,000 and your loan $476,000. At 6.3% over 30 years that is about $2,946 a month, against about $4,116 for a 95% loan on the same property. Applications opened on 5 December 2025 through participating lenders. On 1 July 2026 Housing Australia released 10,000 more places for 2026-27 and lifted the income limits to $103,000 for singles and $165,000 for couples and single parents; by then 4,800 applicants had settled or found a home. Price caps are the same or lower than the guarantee's: $1,300,000 in Sydney against the guarantee's $1,500,000, and $950,000 in Melbourne under both.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":541,"children":542},{},[543,547,549,555],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":544,"children":545},{},[546],{"type":114,"value":496},{"type":114,"value":548}," the government owns its share of every dollar of growth, you buy it back at market value, and the lender panel is still short: Bank Australia and the Commonwealth Bank at launch, joined on 27 July 2026 by Teachers Mutual Bank Limited's four brands. The trade-off is worked in full in ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":550,"children":552},{"href":551},"/blog/help-to-buy-shared-equity-vs-going-solo-2026",[553],{"type":114,"value":554},"Help to Buy versus going solo",{"type":114,"value":515},{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":557,"children":559},{"id":558},"_3-buy-in-the-tier-that-has-held-its-value-and-know-what-that-means-for-units",[560],{"type":114,"value":561},"3. Buy in the tier that has held its value, and know what that means for units",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":563,"children":564},{},[565,569],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":566,"children":567},{},[568],{"type":114,"value":476},{"type":114,"value":570}," buyers who want the least downside in a falling market rather than the biggest discount.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":572,"children":573},{},[574,578],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":575,"children":576},{},[577],{"type":114,"value":486},{"type":114,"value":579}," over the three months to July 2026, upper-quartile values fell 3.2% nationally while the lower price tier gained 0.3%. PropTrack sees the same over a longer window: the most affordable homes have had the strongest growth since March 2020, which is why a household at the 25th income percentile could afford 1% of homes in FY2026 against 9% in FY2020. By August, Cotality reported lower-quartile values were \"now also falling\", but later and more slowly than the top.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":581,"children":582},{},[583],{"type":114,"value":584},"For units this cuts two ways. Units fell less than houses in seven of eight capitals over the year to August, and in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart the guarantee cap sits below the median house, so a scheme buyer there is in practice a unit buyer.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":586,"children":587},{},[588,592,594,600],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":589,"children":590},{},[591],{"type":114,"value":496},{"type":114,"value":593}," the entry tier is where every scheme buyer competes, so there is little vendor discount to negotiate, and a cheap unit in a badly run building is not cheap. Our ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":595,"children":597},{"href":596},"/blog/two-speed-property-market-australia-2026-entry-level-rising",[598],{"type":114,"value":599},"two-speed market analysis",{"type":114,"value":601}," tracks the split.",{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":603,"children":605},{"id":604},"_4-save-the-deposit-inside-super-with-the-first-home-super-saver-scheme",[606],{"type":114,"value":607},"4. Save the deposit inside super with the First Home Super Saver Scheme",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":609,"children":610},{},[611,615],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":612,"children":613},{},[614],{"type":114,"value":476},{"type":114,"value":616}," anyone at least two years from buying whose marginal tax rate is 32% or higher.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":618,"children":619},{},[620,624],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":621,"children":622},{},[623],{"type":114,"value":486},{"type":114,"value":625}," you can make voluntary contributions of up to $15,000 a financial year and $50,000 in total per person, then have them released to buy a first home. The ATO releases 100% of after-tax contributions and 85% of salary-sacrificed ones, plus deemed earnings, and taxes the withdrawal at your marginal rate less a 30% offset. The Conversation's May 2026 worked example at a 32% marginal rate: $10,000 taken as salary leaves $6,800 to save, while the same $10,000 salary-sacrificed becomes $8,500 inside super and about $8,330 when released, so you finish $1,530 ahead per $10,000. Across the full $50,000 cap that is roughly $7,650 before the earnings the ATO credits. A couple can each use the cap.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":627,"children":628},{},[629,633],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":630,"children":631},{},[632],{"type":114,"value":496},{"type":114,"value":634}," filling the cap takes four financial years, you must sign a contract to buy or build within 12 months of requesting the release, or such longer period as the ATO allows, and the contributions count toward your concessional cap alongside employer super, and if you change your mind after the money is released you must put it back into super or pay FHSS tax of 20% of the assessable released amount. There is no separate guide on this blog yet; read the ATO's First home super saver scheme pages.",{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":636,"children":638},{"id":637},"_5-use-your-states-stamp-duty-exemption-and-stay-under-the-line",[639],{"type":114,"value":640},"5. Use your state's stamp duty exemption, and stay under the line",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":642,"children":643},{},[644,648],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":645,"children":646},{},[647],{"type":114,"value":476},{"type":114,"value":649}," everyone buying an established home under the threshold, and in Queensland anyone buying new.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":651,"children":652},{},[653,658],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":654,"children":655},{},[656],{"type":114,"value":657},"The number",{"type":114,"value":659},", state by state as at September 2026:",{"type":109,"tag":129,"props":661,"children":662},{},[663,684],{"type":109,"tag":133,"props":664,"children":665},{},[666],{"type":109,"tag":137,"props":667,"children":668},{},[669,674,679],{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":670,"children":671},{},[672],{"type":114,"value":673},"State",{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":675,"children":676},{},[677],{"type":114,"value":678},"First home buyer duty on an established home",{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":680,"children":681},{},[682],{"type":114,"value":683},"New homes",{"type":109,"tag":162,"props":685,"children":686},{},[687,704,720,737,753],{"type":109,"tag":137,"props":688,"children":689},{},[690,694,699],{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":691,"children":692},{},[693],{"type":114,"value":7},{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":695,"children":696},{},[697],{"type":114,"value":698},"Nil to $800,000, concession to $1,000,000",{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":700,"children":701},{},[702],{"type":114,"value":703},"Same",{"type":109,"tag":137,"props":705,"children":706},{},[707,711,716],{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":708,"children":709},{},[710],{"type":114,"value":17},{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":712,"children":713},{},[714],{"type":114,"value":715},"Nil to $600,000, concession to $750,000",{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":717,"children":718},{},[719],{"type":114,"value":703},{"type":109,"tag":137,"props":721,"children":722},{},[723,727,732],{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":724,"children":725},{},[726],{"type":114,"value":26},{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":728,"children":729},{},[730],{"type":114,"value":731},"Nil to $700,000, taper to $800,000",{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":733,"children":734},{},[735],{"type":114,"value":736},"Nil, no cap, from 1 May 2025",{"type":109,"tag":137,"props":738,"children":739},{},[740,744,749],{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":741,"children":742},{},[743],{"type":114,"value":45},{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":745,"children":746},{},[747],{"type":114,"value":748},"Nil to $600,000, concession to $800,000, from 7 May 2026",{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":750,"children":751},{},[752],{"type":114,"value":703},{"type":109,"tag":137,"props":754,"children":755},{},[756,760,765],{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":757,"children":758},{},[759],{"type":114,"value":59},{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":761,"children":762},{},[763],{"type":114,"value":764},"No relief on established homes",{"type":109,"tag":169,"props":766,"children":767},{},[768],{"type":114,"value":769},"Full relief, no value cap, on a new home, an off-the-plan apartment or vacant land you build on",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":771,"children":772},{},[773],{"type":114,"value":774},"Sources: Revenue NSW, \"First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme\"; State Revenue Office Victoria, \"First home buyer duty exemption or concession\"; Queensland Revenue Office, \"First home concession\" and \"First home (new home) concession\"; RevenueWA, \"First Home Owner Rate of Duty\" fact sheet, as at 28 July 2026; RevenueSA, \"Stamp Duty Relief for Eligible First Home Buyers\", accessed 7 September 2026.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":776,"children":777},{},[778],{"type":114,"value":779},"The dollar effect is large. In a state with no established-home concession, full duty on a mid-range purchase runs to tens of thousands of dollars that a new build would avoid, which is why the new-versus-established choice is worth pricing before you shortlist.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":781,"children":782},{},[783,787,789,795],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":784,"children":785},{},[786],{"type":114,"value":496},{"type":114,"value":788}," the thresholds are cliffs or steep tapers on dutiable value, so a $10,000 win at negotiation can be worth far more than $10,000 if it drops the price under the line. Every state has a residence rule, so you cannot rent the place out: NSW and Victoria require 12 months, and South Australia wants six continuous months starting within a year of settlement. The calculations are in the ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":790,"children":792},{"href":791},"/blog/stamp-duty-explained-australia-2026-state-by-state-first-home-buyer",[793],{"type":114,"value":794},"2026 stamp duty guide",{"type":114,"value":515},{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":797,"children":799},{"id":798},"_6-rentvest-if-the-suburb-you-want-is-out-of-reach",[800],{"type":114,"value":801},"6. Rentvest if the suburb you want is out of reach",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":803,"children":804},{},[805,809],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":806,"children":807},{},[808],{"type":114,"value":476},{"type":114,"value":810}," buyers whose job or family keeps them in an expensive city, but whose budget only works somewhere else.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":812,"children":813},{},[814,818,820,826],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":815,"children":816},{},[817],{"type":114,"value":486},{"type":114,"value":819}," national gross rental yields reached 3.79% in August 2026, the highest since September 2019, and rents rose 5.7% over the year, so the income side of an investment property has rarely looked better relative to prices, and the ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":821,"children":823},{"href":822},"/calculators/rental-yield",[824],{"type":114,"value":825},"rental yield calculator",{"type":114,"value":827}," gives you the gross and net figures on a specific asking price and rent.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":829,"children":830},{},[831,835,837,843],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":832,"children":833},{},[834],{"type":114,"value":496},{"type":114,"value":836}," rentvesting forfeits most of the help on this list. The First Home Guarantee and Help to Buy are owner-occupier schemes, the state duty exemptions require you to live in the property, and the 2026-27 Budget's negative gearing and CGT changes start on 1 July 2027 for new holdings. The full trade-off is in ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":838,"children":840},{"href":839},"/blog/rentvesting-in-2026-buy-where-you-can-afford-live-where-you-want",[841],{"type":114,"value":842},"rentvesting in 2026",{"type":114,"value":515},{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":845,"children":847},{"id":846},"_7-co-buy-with-a-written-co-ownership-agreement",[848],{"type":114,"value":849},"7. Co-buy with a written co-ownership agreement",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":851,"children":852},{},[853,857],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":854,"children":855},{},[856],{"type":114,"value":476},{"type":114,"value":858}," siblings, friends, or a parent and adult child who each have an income but not enough alone.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":860,"children":861},{},[862,866],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":863,"children":864},{},[865],{"type":114,"value":486},{"type":114,"value":867}," a second income changes the serviceability arithmetic more than any scheme does, because the lender's test is applied to combined household income, and since July 2023 any joint applicants, not only couples, can use the First Home Guarantee.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":869,"children":870},{},[871,875,877,883],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":872,"children":873},{},[874],{"type":114,"value":496},{"type":114,"value":876}," joint and several liability. Each of you is on the hook for the whole loan, and a co-owner who wants out in year three forces a sale or a refinance at whatever the market is doing then. Tenants in common with unequal shares, a signed agreement covering exits, valuations and default, and separate legal advice are the minimum. The structures and exit clauses are in the ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":878,"children":880},{"href":879},"/blog/co-buying-property-australia-2026-teaming-up-to-beat-affordability",[881],{"type":114,"value":882},"co-buying guide",{"type":114,"value":515},{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":885,"children":887},{"id":886},"_8-buy-regional-or-on-the-fringe-with-the-data-in-front-of-you",[888],{"type":114,"value":889},"8. Buy regional or on the fringe, with the data in front of you",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":891,"children":892},{},[893,897],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":894,"children":895},{},[896],{"type":114,"value":476},{"type":114,"value":898}," buyers who can commute a long way or work remotely, and who want a house rather than a unit.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":900,"children":901},{},[902,906],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":903,"children":904},{},[905],{"type":114,"value":486},{"type":114,"value":907}," PropertyGo's suburb data, built from Valuer General sales to 31 July 2026 and limited here to suburbs with at least 30 house sales in 24 months, shows where a house still sits under the $800,000 NSW duty exemption and the $800,000 rest-of-state guarantee cap, plus Sydney's cheapest liquid house market with a train.",{"type":109,"tag":129,"props":909,"children":910},{},[911,947],{"type":109,"tag":133,"props":912,"children":913},{},[914],{"type":109,"tag":137,"props":915,"children":916},{},[917,922,927,932,937,942],{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":918,"children":919},{},[920],{"type":114,"value":921},"Suburb",{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":923,"children":924},{},[925],{"type":114,"value":926},"Region",{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":928,"children":929},{},[930],{"type":114,"value":931},"Median house",{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":933,"children":934},{},[935],{"type":114,"value":936},"House sales (24 months)",{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":938,"children":939},{},[940],{"type":114,"value":941},"12-month growth",{"type":109,"tag":141,"props":943,"children":944},{},[945],{"type":114,"value":946},"Nearest 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Bradbury is the exception in the table: at $910,000 it sits above both the duty exemption and the rest-of-state guarantee cap, and is included as Sydney's cheapest liquid house market on a train line.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1177,"children":1178},{},[1179,1183,1185,1191],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":1180,"children":1181},{},[1182],{"type":114,"value":496},{"type":114,"value":1184}," those growth columns are the problem as much as the opportunity. The affordable end has outrun everything else for four years, and Cotality's combined regional index fell 0.4% in August and 1.2% over winter, so the regional discount is no longer a one-way bet. Thin markets sell slowly in a downturn, and a two-hour commute never appears on the contract. The shortlist is in ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":1186,"children":1188},{"href":1187},"/blog/where-first-home-buyers-can-still-afford-to-buy-nsw-2026",[1189],{"type":114,"value":1190},"where first home buyers can still afford to buy in NSW",{"type":114,"value":515},{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":1193,"children":1195},{"id":1194},"_9-fix-your-borrowing-capacity-because-that-is-what-binds-now",[1196],{"type":114,"value":1197},"9. Fix your borrowing capacity, because that is what binds now",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1199,"children":1200},{},[1201,1205],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":1202,"children":1203},{},[1204],{"type":114,"value":476},{"type":114,"value":1206}," anyone whose ceiling is set by a bank calculator rather than a bank balance.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1208,"children":1209},{},[1210,1214],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":1211,"children":1212},{},[1213],{"type":114,"value":486},{"type":114,"value":1215}," a $700,000 loan at the 6.3% average new variable rate costs about $4,333 a month over 30 years. With APRA's three percentage point buffer your lender tests you at about 9.3%, where the same loan costs $5,784 a month, and since 1 February 2026 each bank may write only 20% of its new lending at six times income or more. That is why capacity fell by more than prices did.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1217,"children":1218},{},[1219,1221,1227],{"type":114,"value":1220},"Three things move the number and you control all of them. Credit card limits are assessed as debt whether or not you use them, so cancel what you do not need. HELP debt has been excluded from the debt-to-income ratio since 30 September 2025, but it still reduces serviceability unless your lender applies APRA's June 2025 exception for balances about to be cleared, so a small remaining balance may be worth paying out. And lender policy on overtime, bonuses and casual income varies enough that the same file can produce very different approvals, which is where a ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":1222,"children":1224},{"href":1223},"/mortgage-brokers",[1225],{"type":114,"value":1226},"mortgage broker",{"type":114,"value":1228}," earns their fee.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1230,"children":1231},{},[1232,1236,1238,1244],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":1233,"children":1234},{},[1235],{"type":114,"value":496},{"type":114,"value":1237}," a pre-approval is reassessed at formal approval, so one issued before a rate decision is worth less than it looks. The mechanics are in the ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":1239,"children":1241},{"href":1240},"/blog/borrowing-capacity-2026-rate-hikes-what-you-can-borrow",[1242],{"type":114,"value":1243},"borrowing capacity guide",{"type":114,"value":515},{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":1246,"children":1248},{"id":1247},"what-no-longer-works-in-2026",[1249],{"type":114,"value":1250},"What no longer works in 2026",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1252,"children":1253},{},[1254,1259],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":1255,"children":1256},{},[1257],{"type":114,"value":1258},"Waiting for rate cuts alone.",{"type":114,"value":1260}," CBA's economists do not expect the first cut until 2027, and when it comes it returns capacity to every buyer at once. PropTrack expects affordability to improve only \"marginally\" in the near term while supply stays constrained.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1262,"children":1263},{},[1264,1269],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":1265,"children":1266},{},[1267],{"type":114,"value":1268},"A guarantor loan as a serviceability fix.",{"type":114,"value":1270}," A parental guarantee covers the deposit gap and removes LMI. It adds no income, so it does nothing for the serviceability test or the debt-to-income ratio, and the deposit is no longer the binding constraint. It also puts your parents' home behind your loan in a falling market.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1272,"children":1273},{},[1274,1279],{"type":109,"tag":472,"props":1275,"children":1276},{},[1277],{"type":114,"value":1278},"Buying off the plan without checking the builder.",{"type":114,"value":1280}," Queensland's uncapped first home duty exemption on new homes, and comparable state relief elsewhere, push first home buyers toward new builds. The concessions are real, and so is builder failure. Check the builder's licence, insurance and recent completions, and read the sunset clause, before paying a deposit on anything unbuilt.",{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":1282,"children":1284},{"id":1283},"frequently-asked-questions",[1285],{"type":114,"value":1286},"Frequently asked questions",{"type":109,"tag":1288,"props":1289,"children":1291},"h3",{"id":1290},"is-2026-a-good-year-to-buy-a-first-home",[1292],{"type":114,"value":1293},"Is 2026 a good year to buy a first home?",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1295,"children":1296},{},[1297],{"type":114,"value":1298},"It is a good year to negotiate and a hard year to borrow. Listings were 24% above a year earlier at the end of August 2026 and values had fallen for five months, but the assessment rate is about 9.3% and the median-income household can afford 12% of homes. If your capacity is confirmed, the conditions favour you. If you are stretching to a 95% loan in Sydney or Melbourne, buy only what you can hold through the cycle.",{"type":109,"tag":1288,"props":1300,"children":1302},{"id":1301},"how-much-deposit-do-i-really-need",[1303],{"type":114,"value":1304},"How much deposit do I really need?",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1306,"children":1307},{},[1308],{"type":114,"value":1309},"On the national median dwelling of $912,885 at 31 August 2026, a 20% deposit is $182,577, a 5% guarantee deposit is $45,644 and a 2% Help to Buy deposit is $18,258, plus purchase costs in each case. About half of first home buyers now use the 5% scheme. The trade is a bigger loan and higher repayments.",{"type":109,"tag":1288,"props":1311,"children":1313},{"id":1312},"what-income-do-i-need-for-a-700000-loan-at-2026-rates",[1314],{"type":114,"value":1315},"What income do I need for a $700,000 loan at 2026 rates?",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1317,"children":1318},{},[1319],{"type":114,"value":1320},"The repayment at 6.3% is about $4,333 a month, or $52,000 a year. On the conservative test PropTrack uses, 30% of gross income at the assessment rate, a $700,000 loan needs household income of roughly $230,000; at the actual rate the same test gives about $173,000. Lender calculators work from net income and living-cost benchmarks and usually land between those figures, so get a written assessment.",{"type":109,"tag":122,"props":1322,"children":1324},{"id":1323},"what-to-do-now",[1325],{"type":114,"value":1326},"What to do now",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1328,"children":1329},{},[1330],{"type":114,"value":1331},"Start with the constraint that actually binds. If a broker's assessment says capacity is the problem, work strategies 9, 7 and 2 first; if the deposit is the problem, strategies 1, 4 and 5 do most of the lifting. Then choose the market, and check the price cap for that exact suburb before you look at a listing.",{"type":109,"tag":110,"props":1333,"children":1334},{},[1335,1337,1343],{"type":114,"value":1336},"Run three numbers on any property before you offer: the repayment at 6.3%, the repayment at 9.3%, and how far the price can fall before your equity is gone. Then get the two people who move the outcome: a broker who knows which lenders treat your income well, and a buyer's agent who knows what the entry tier in your suburb has actually sold for since the market turned. ",{"type":109,"tag":500,"props":1338,"children":1340},{"href":1339},"/buyer-agent-match",[1341],{"type":114,"value":1342},"GoMatch",{"type":114,"value":1344}," will pair you with a vetted buyer's agent for free. Every figure here was checked in the first week of September 2026, and most move quarterly, so confirm the current version before you sign.",{"type":109,"tag":1346,"props":1347,"children":1348},"hr",{},[],{"type":109,"tag":1288,"props":1350,"children":1352},{"id":1351},"sources",[1353],{"type":114,"value":1354},"Sources",{"type":109,"tag":1356,"props":1357,"children":1358},"ol",{},[1359,1365,1370,1375,1380,1385,1390,1395,1400,1405,1410,1415],{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1361,"children":1362},"li",{},[1363],{"type":114,"value":1364},"realestate.com.au and PropTrack, \"Housing Affordability Report 2026\", Angus Moore and Luc Redman, 5 September 2026.",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1366,"children":1367},{},[1368],{"type":114,"value":1369},"Cotality, \"Housing Affordability Report Australia\", November 2025 (September 2025 quarter data).",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1371,"children":1372},{},[1373],{"type":114,"value":1374},"Cotality, \"Home Value Index\", results as at 31 August 2026, released 1 September 2026.",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1376,"children":1377},{},[1378],{"type":114,"value":1379},"Cotality, \"Australia's housing market downturn widens\", 3 August 2026.",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1381,"children":1382},{},[1383],{"type":114,"value":1384},"Australian Bureau of Statistics, \"Lending Indicators, June Quarter 2026\", 14 August 2026.",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1386,"children":1387},{},[1388],{"type":114,"value":1389},"Australian Bureau of Statistics, \"Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2026\", 13 August 2026.",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1391,"children":1392},{},[1393],{"type":114,"value":1394},"firsthomebuyers.gov.au, \"Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme\", accessed 7 September 2026; Housing Australia, \"Home ownership a reality for over 300,000 Australians\", 30 March 2026.",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1396,"children":1397},{},[1398],{"type":114,"value":1399},"MacroBusiness, \"50,000 first home buyers face painful adjustment\", 7 August 2026, citing Housing Australia data compiled by Guardian Australia.",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1401,"children":1402},{},[1403],{"type":114,"value":1404},"firsthomebuyers.gov.au, \"Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme\", \"Help to Buy property price caps\", \"Help to Buy income and threshold updates 2026-27\" and \"Help to Buy participating lenders\", accessed 7 September 2026; Housing Australia, media releases, \"More Australians set to benefit as Help to Buy expands from 1 July 2026\", 1 July 2026, and \"Teachers Mutual Bank Limited joins Help to Buy\", 27 July 2026.",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1406,"children":1407},{},[1408],{"type":114,"value":1409},"Australian Taxation Office, \"First home super saver scheme\", including \"About the FHSS scheme\", \"About FHSS release amounts\" and \"FHSS tax assessment\", accessed 7 September 2026; The Conversation, \"This little-known scheme can help first home buyers save thousands more for a deposit, with less tax\", 21 May 2026.",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1411,"children":1412},{},[1413],{"type":114,"value":1414},"Revenue NSW, \"First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme\" and \"Calculate transfer duty\"; State Revenue Office Victoria, \"First home buyer duty exemption or concession\"; Queensland Revenue Office, \"First home concession\" and \"First home (new home) concession\"; RevenueWA (Department of Treasury and Finance), \"Duties Fact Sheet: First Home Owner Rate of Duty\", as at 28 July 2026. All accessed 7 September 2026.",{"type":109,"tag":1360,"props":1416,"children":1417},{},[1418],{"type":114,"value":1419},"Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, \"APRA to limit high debt-to-income home loans to constrain riskier lending\", 27 November 2025.",{"title":90,"searchDepth":1421,"depth":1421,"links":1422},2,[1423,1424,1425,1426,1427,1428,1429,1430,1431,1432,1433,1434,1439],{"id":124,"depth":1421,"text":127},{"id":464,"depth":1421,"text":467},{"id":518,"depth":1421,"text":521},{"id":558,"depth":1421,"text":561},{"id":604,"depth":1421,"text":607},{"id":637,"depth":1421,"text":640},{"id":798,"depth":1421,"text":801},{"id":846,"depth":1421,"text":849},{"id":886,"depth":1421,"text":889},{"id":1194,"depth":1421,"text":1197},{"id":1247,"depth":1421,"text":1250},{"id":1283,"depth":1421,"text":1286,"children":1435},[1436,1437,1438],{"id":1290,"depth":80,"text":1293},{"id":1301,"depth":80,"text":1304},{"id":1312,"depth":80,"text":1315},{"id":1323,"depth":1421,"text":1326,"children":1440},[1441],{"id":1351,"depth":80,"text":1354},"markdown","content:blog:86.housing-affordability-2026-strategies-for-first-home-buyers.md","content","blog/86.housing-affordability-2026-strategies-for-first-home-buyers.md","blog/86.housing-affordability-2026-strategies-for-first-home-buyers","md",{"loc":87},{"navigation":1450,"agents":1452},{"previousPost":1451,"nextPost":1451},null,[],[1454,1467,1477,1486,1495,1503,1513,1515,1524,1534,1541,1551,1560,1570,1578,1586,1593,1599,1607,1614,1621,1631,1637,1646,1654,1662,1669,1676,1682,1689,1696,1705,1712,1720,1729,1736,1745,1754,1762,1770,1778,1785,1793,1802,1810,1820,1830,1839,1846,1854,1861,1867,1874,1882,1889,1896,1903,1910,1919,1932,1940,1947,1955,1962,1969,1978,1993,2000,2010,2022,2030,2037,2044,2051,2059,2067,2074,2081,2089,2096,2103,2111,2118,2125,2132,2139,2146,2153,2160,2167,2174,2181,2188,2195],{"_path":1455,"title":1456,"description":1457,"image":1458,"date":1459,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1460,"category":1465,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/off-market-property-australia-how-to-find-it","Off-Market Property: How to Find It and Whether It's Cheaper","How to find off market properties in Australia: agent buyer lists, buyer's agents, direct approaches, and what the data says on whether off-market is cheaper.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1733630769254-a37f2d456602?q=80&auto=format","2026-10-15",[100,1461,1462,1463,1464],"property-guides","negotiation","due-diligence","buyer-agents","Property Guides","12 min read",{"_path":1468,"title":1469,"description":1470,"image":1471,"date":1472,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1473,"category":1476,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/how-to-calculate-rental-yield-australia","How to Calculate Rental Yield in Australia: Gross vs Net","How to calculate rental yield, gross and net, with worked examples for a house and a unit, every cost that counts, and October 2026 yields by capital city.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1724304406928-c43b01912fa1?q=80&auto=format","2026-10-12",[1474,1475,100,1463,101],"property-investment","rental-income","Property Investment",{"_path":1478,"title":1479,"description":1480,"image":1481,"date":1482,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1483,"category":1465,"reading_time":1485},"/blog/how-to-check-a-buyers-agent-licence","How to check a buyer's agent's licence in every Australian state and territory","Check a buyer's agent's licence in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, the ACT and the NT. The official register for each, what to search and what to look for.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1450101499163-c8848c66ca85?q=80&auto=format","2026-10-11",[1464,1463,1461,1484,100],"regulation","15 min read",{"_path":1487,"title":1488,"description":1489,"image":1490,"date":1491,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1492,"category":1476,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/investment-property-tax-deductions-australia","Investment Property Tax Deductions: What to Claim in 2026","Investment property tax deductions for your 2025-26 return: what you can claim now, what you claim over time, what the ATO rejects, and a worked dollar example.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1554224154-26032ffc0d07?q=80&auto=format","2026-10-08",[1493,1474,1475,1494,101],"tax","negative-gearing",{"_path":1496,"title":1497,"description":1498,"image":1499,"date":1500,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1501,"category":1465,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/australia-real-estate-associations-guide-2026","Australia's Real Estate Associations 2026: Who Regulates Whom","No Australian state issues a buyer's-agent licence in 2026. How the 8 licensing regulators differ from bodies like REBAA and REIA, and a 5-minute agent check.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1566734911336-fc7762d1a655?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-22",[1464,1502,1484,1463,101],"property-professionals",{"_path":1504,"title":1505,"description":1506,"image":1507,"date":1508,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1509,"category":1465,"reading_time":1485},"/blog/sustainable-housing-australia-2026-7-star-ratings-and-home-values","Sustainable Housing 2026: 7-Star Ratings and What Buyers Pay","An established Australian house can now get a NatHERS rating of its own. What 7 stars means in bills, the state rules, the premium evidence and retrofit costs.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1772326049701-bcdda505ef51?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-21",[1510,1511,1512,100,101,1463],"sustainability","energy-efficiency","nathers",{"_path":87,"title":91,"description":92,"image":93,"date":94,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1514,"category":103,"reading_time":104},[98,99,100,101,102],{"_path":551,"title":1516,"description":1517,"image":1518,"date":1519,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1520,"category":103,"reading_time":104},"Help to Buy vs Going Solo in 2026: Shared Equity Explained","Help to Buy took more than 7,200 applications in its first seven months. How its up-to-30% government share costs out against a 5% deposit loan on a $750,000 unit.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1756541790216-2b23c9113e43?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-19",[98,1521,1522,1523,101,99],"help-to-buy","shared-equity","policy",{"_path":1525,"title":1526,"description":1527,"image":1528,"date":1529,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1530,"category":1465,"reading_time":104},"/blog/nsw-strata-law-reforms-2026-what-apartment-buyers-need-to-know","NSW Strata Law Reforms 2026: What Apartment Buyers Need to Know","Three reform tranches are in force, committee training starts 1 October 2026 and the 3% building bond slipped to 2028. How to read a NSW strata report now.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1718506836441-622a825d78a7?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-18",[1531,1532,1533,1463,1523,101],"strata","nsw","apartments",{"_path":839,"title":1535,"description":1536,"image":1537,"date":1538,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1539,"category":1476,"reading_time":1466},"Rentvesting in 2026: Buy Where You Can Afford, Live Where You Want","Rentvesting in 2026 meets a 1 July 2027 tax reform, an owner-occupier-only 5% deposit scheme and 6.4% investor rates. A worked $650,000 example does the sums.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1585698756692-51ad97f03a4a?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-17",[1540,1474,98,101,99],"rentvesting",{"_path":1542,"title":1543,"description":1544,"image":1545,"date":1546,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1547,"category":1550,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/should-you-buy-now-or-wait-2026-market-trends-explained","Should You Buy Now or Wait? The 2026 Market Explained","National values are 3.6% below peak, but a couple's borrowing power fell $71,600. A decision framework for buying in 2026, with the cost of waiting worked out.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1772325482422-55bc8dd65662?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-16",[1548,100,101,1549,98],"market-analysis","interest-rates","Market Analysis",{"_path":1552,"title":1553,"description":1554,"image":1555,"date":1556,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1557,"category":1550,"reading_time":1559},"/blog/top-10-suburbs-to-buy-property-australia-2026","Top 10 Suburbs to Buy Property in Australia in 2026, by the Data","Ten suburbs that pass a repeatable screen of sales depth, yield, five-year growth, rail access and bushfire exposure while national values fell 0.9% in August.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1772326281137-b617cbf77c5f?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-15",[1558,1548,100,101,1474],"suburbs","14 min read",{"_path":1561,"title":1562,"description":1563,"image":1564,"date":1565,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1566,"category":1569,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/top-10-buyers-agents-qld-2026","Top 10 Most Reviewed Buyer's Agents in Queensland (2026)","Queensland's ten most-reviewed buyer's agents, ranked by Google review count on their PropertyGo profiles as at 7 September 2026, from 565 reviews down to 184.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1548661625-a30d197ce439?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-14",[1464,1567,1568,1502,101],"qld","reviews","Buyer Agent Reviews",{"_path":1571,"title":1572,"description":1573,"image":1574,"date":1575,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1576,"category":1569,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/top-10-buyers-agents-vic-2026","Top 10 Most Reviewed Buyer's Agents in Victoria (2026)","Victoria's ten most reviewed buyer's agents on PropertyGo as at 7 September 2026, from 506 Google reviews down, plus how to check a licence and compare fees.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1624324969215-7ddb79ad73c9?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-13",[1464,1577,1568,1502,101],"vic",{"_path":1579,"title":1580,"description":1581,"image":1582,"date":1583,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1584,"category":1569,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/top-10-buyers-agents-nsw-2026","Top 10 Most Reviewed Buyer's Agents in NSW (2026)","The ten NSW buyer's agencies with the most Google reviews on PropertyGo as at 7 September 2026, 2,840 between them, plus fee, licence and conflict checks.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1772325935870-55c544250ad6?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-12",[1464,1532,1568,1502,101],"11 min read",{"_path":1187,"title":1587,"description":1588,"image":1589,"date":1590,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1591,"category":103,"reading_time":1592},"Where First Home Buyers Can Still Afford to Buy in NSW in 2026","Sydney's median house is $1,494,878, yet 24 Sydney suburbs, 68 coastal and 54 regional NSW suburbs still sit under first home buyer price lines. Mapped for 2026","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1720175356041-6b1c963e0075?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-11",[98,1532,1558,99,101],"19 min read",{"_path":1594,"title":1595,"description":1596,"image":1597,"date":1590,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1598,"category":1550,"reading_time":1559},"/blog/newcastle-property-hotspots-2026-suburbs-to-watch","Newcastle Property in 2026: Five Suburbs the Data Says to Watch","28 of 90 Newcastle and Hunter suburbs now have a $1 million median house price, and values fell 2.8% over winter. Five suburbs under $850,000 pass the screen.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729581203722-e728a5ccf5d5?q=80&auto=format",[50,1532,1558,1548,1474,101],{"_path":1600,"title":1601,"description":1602,"image":1603,"date":1604,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1605,"category":1465,"reading_time":1606},"/blog/flood-risk-property-due-diligence-australia-2026","How to Check Flood Risk Before Buying a House in Australia","Insurers rate your address for flood risk before you ever see the house. How to check flood risk before you buy, plus what sellers must disclose in each state.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1700527904677-e344ee9fbe05?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-10",[1463,100,1461,1523,101],"16 min read",{"_path":1608,"title":1609,"description":1610,"image":1611,"date":1612,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1613,"category":1550,"reading_time":104},"/blog/houses-versus-units-australia-2026-price-gap-closing","Houses Versus Units 2026: The Price Gap Peaked in May","The capital city house premium hit 53.5% in May 2026 and fell to 50.2% by August. What that $34,256 shift changes about your next buying decision.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1661322566204-61dc5b2955ad?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-09",[1548,100,99,1463,101],{"_path":1615,"title":1616,"description":1617,"image":1618,"date":1619,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1620,"category":1465,"reading_time":1559},"/blog/payment-redirection-scams-property-settlement-australia-2026","Payment Redirection Scams at Settlement: 2026 Buyer Guide","Payment redirection scams cost Australians $166.8 million in 2025. The verification steps that protect your deposit at settlement, and who pays when nobody runs them.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1614064548237-096f735f344f?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-08",[1463,100,1461,98,101],{"_path":1622,"title":1623,"description":1624,"image":1625,"date":1626,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1627,"category":1630,"reading_time":104},"/blog/apra-debt-to-income-cap-2026-what-it-means-for-buyers","APRA's 6x Debt-to-Income Cap: It Limits Your Bank, Not You","10.8% of new investor loans are already at 6x income or more. What counts in your debt-to-income ratio under APRA's 2026 cap, and the fastest ways to cut it.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599617490130-e178539d4f4f?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-07",[1523,1628,1474,1629,101],"home-loans","finance","Policy Analysis",{"_path":502,"title":1632,"description":1633,"image":1634,"date":1635,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1636,"category":103,"reading_time":1606},"Negative Equity in Australia 2026: The 5% Deposit Risk","How far can prices fall before a 5% deposit buyer is underwater? On paper 6.1%, in practice 2.6%. The negative equity arithmetic for Australia's scheme buyers.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1758523418820-a492bf647c63?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-06",[98,1628,1548,101,99],{"_path":1638,"title":1639,"description":1640,"image":1641,"date":1642,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1643,"category":1476,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/land-tax-australia-2026-state-by-state-holding-costs","The Holding Cost Nobody Budgets For: Land Tax by State in 2026","Land tax thresholds run from $50,000 in Victoria to $1,075,000 in NSW, and the Northern Territory has none. A state-by-state guide for Australian property buyers.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1631557777232-a2632ae3c67d?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-05",[1474,1523,1644,101,1463],"investment-strategies","10 min read",{"_path":1647,"title":1648,"description":1649,"image":1650,"date":1651,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1652,"category":1465,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/builder-insolvency-2026-house-and-land-due-diligence","If Your Builder Goes Under: Due Diligence Before You Sign a Build Contract in 2026","A record 3,490 construction firms failed in one year and costs are rising again. What home warranty insurance covers, what it does not, and how to vet a builder.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1785585508606-36e0b82f4887?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-04",[1461,1463,1653,100,101],"new-builds",{"_path":1655,"title":1656,"description":1657,"image":1658,"date":1659,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1660,"category":1465,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/buying-withdrawn-passed-in-stale-listings-australia-2026","The Homes Nobody Bought: How to Buy Withdrawn, Passed-In and Stale Listings","One in five auctions was withdrawn in June 2026 and clearance sits in the forties. The unsold stock is where buyer leverage lives, if you know how to find it.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579678929710-862f8e01c0b2?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-03",[1461,100,1462,1661,101],"auction-clearance",{"_path":1663,"title":1664,"description":1665,"image":1666,"date":1667,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1668,"category":1465,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/trading-up-falling-market-2026-bridging-loans-low-valuations","Trading Up in a Falling Market: Bridging Loans, Low Valuations and the Order You Do It In","Upper quartile values fell 3.2% in three months while entry-level homes rose. For upgraders that is a discount, if you survive the bridging finance and the valuation.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1600725935160-f67ee4f6084a?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-02",[1461,100,1628,101,1463],{"_path":1670,"title":1671,"description":1672,"image":1673,"date":1674,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1675,"category":1630,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/underquoting-laws-2026-nsw-victoria-what-buyers-need-to-know","The Underquoting Crackdown: What the 2026 Laws Change for Property Buyers","NSW lifts underquoting penalties to $110,000 and Victoria forces reserve prices into the open a week before auction. What the 2026 reforms mean for buyers.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1725379448168-e33c5e09d47e?q=80&auto=format","2026-09-01",[1523,1661,100,1463,1461],{"_path":1240,"title":1677,"description":1678,"image":1679,"date":1680,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1681,"category":1550,"reading_time":1585},"Borrowing Capacity in 2026: Why Cheaper Houses Are Not Making Buying Easier","Three RBA hikes took the cash rate to 4.35% and stripped tens of thousands from buyer budgets. What Australians can actually borrow in 2026, and how to protect it.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1554224155-6726b3ff858f?q=80&auto=format","2026-08-31",[1548,1628,98,101,100],{"_path":1683,"title":1684,"description":1685,"image":1686,"date":1687,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1688,"category":1630,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/aml-id-checks-property-buyers-australia-2026","New ID Checks on Every Property Purchase: What Australia's 2026 AML Rules Mean for Buyers","From 1 July 2026, agents, conveyancers and buyer's agents must verify your identity and source of funds on every property purchase. Here is what buyers need.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1454496406107-dc34337da8d6?q=80&auto=format","2026-08-30",[1523,1463,100,1461,101],{"_path":1690,"title":1691,"description":1692,"image":1693,"date":1694,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1695,"category":1465,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/five-market-signals-every-property-buyer-should-read","Five Market Signals Every Property Buyer Should Learn to Read","Property market signals explained for Australian buyers: how to read auction clearance rates, listings, days on market, vendor discounts and yields.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1551288049-bebda4e38f71?q=80&auto=format","2026-08-12",[1461,1548,100,1463,1661],{"_path":1697,"title":1698,"description":1699,"image":1700,"date":1701,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1702,"category":1630,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/short-stay-rules-australia-2026-airbnb-levy-property-investors","Short-Stay Rules in 2026: What the Airbnb Crackdown Means for Property Investors","Short-stay rules in 2026, state by state: Victoria's 7.5% levy, NSW's 180-day cap, WA's register, Hobart's crackdown, and the investor maths compared.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1763382737724-74f4a01ca817?q=80&auto=format","2026-08-11",[1703,1704,1474,1523,1475],"short-term-rental","short-stay-levy",{"_path":1706,"title":1707,"description":1708,"image":1709,"date":1710,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1711,"category":1550,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/melbourne-best-value-capital-city-2026","Is Melbourne Australia's Best-Value Capital City in 2026?","Is Melbourne Australia's best-value capital city in 2026? We weigh the Sydney price gap, investor exit, land tax, concessions and forecasts for buyers.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1758382850717-8dcb01bd1fc0?q=80&auto=format","2026-08-10",[14,101,99,1474,1548],{"_path":1713,"title":1714,"description":1715,"image":1716,"date":1717,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1718,"category":1476,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/investor-exodus-2026-what-landlords-selling-means-buyers-renters","Landlords Are Selling: What the 2026 Investor Exodus Means for Buyers and Renters","Investor exodus 2026: why landlords are selling, what ex-rental stock means for buyers, and what 1.3% vacancy and 5.9% rent growth mean for renters.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1643804926339-e94f0a655185?q=80&auto=format","2026-08-09",[1474,1719,1494,101,98],"rental-market",{"_path":1721,"title":1722,"description":1723,"image":1724,"date":1725,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1726,"category":1550,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/regional-property-boom-splitting-2026-where-values-still-rising","The Regional Property Boom Is Splitting: Where Values Are Still Rising in 2026","The regional property boom is splitting in 2026: Cotality data shows regional NSW, VIC and QLD cooling while regional SA and WA values are still rising.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1783427118514-38389319a8ee?q=80&auto=format","2026-08-08",[1727,101,1548,1728,1474],"regional-property","lifestyle-buyers",{"_path":596,"title":1730,"description":1731,"image":1732,"date":1733,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1734,"category":103,"reading_time":1585},"Australia's Two-Speed Property Market: Why Entry-Level Homes Keep Rising in 2026","Australia's two-speed property market explained: why entry-level homes keep rising in 2026 while the top end falls, and how first home buyers can respond.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1772326530280-55f4ded4e23c?q=80&auto=format","2026-08-07",[101,98,1735,99,1548],"first-home-guarantee",{"_path":1737,"title":1738,"description":1739,"image":1740,"date":1741,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1742,"category":1550,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/buying-in-a-falling-market-australia-2026-buyers-guide","Buying in a Falling Market: How to Use Australia's 2026 Downturn to Your Advantage","Buying in a falling market in 2026: what Cotality's July data shows, how to price off recent sales, negotiate conditions back in and win passed-in homes.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1760129745103-91c4022ed5fb?q=80&auto=format","2026-08-06",[101,1743,100,1462,1744],"market-downturn","buyers-agent",{"_path":1746,"title":1747,"description":1748,"image":1749,"date":1750,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1751,"category":1476,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/granny-flats-second-dwellings-australia-2026-add-value-income","Granny Flat Rules in 2026: How to Add Value or Rental Income","Granny flat rules explained for 2026: what a secondary dwelling is, NSW size and lot limits, CDC vs DA approval, renting it out, and why rules vary by state.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1763303251296-feb1a07a7dd0?q=80&auto=format","2026-07-06",[1752,1753,1474,1475,101],"granny-flat","secondary-dwelling",{"_path":791,"title":1755,"description":1756,"image":1757,"date":1758,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1759,"category":103,"reading_time":1466},"Stamp Duty in Australia 2026: A State-by-State Guide for Buyers","Stamp duty Australia 2026: a clear state-by-state guide. How transfer duty works, NSW, VIC and QLD first home buyer concessions, and how to estimate yours.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1734328819658-0c3ceef27c46?q=80&auto=format","2026-07-05",[1760,98,1761,1461,101],"stamp-duty","property-costs",{"_path":1763,"title":1764,"description":1765,"image":1766,"date":1767,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1768,"category":1465,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/how-to-buy-at-auction-australia-buyers-playbook","How to Buy at Auction in Australia: A Buyer's Playbook","How to buy at auction in Australia: the no cooling-off rule, your 10% deposit, pre-auction homework, what passed in means, and when to use a buyer's agent.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1610165437422-16d6f9b9d063?q=80&auto=format","2026-07-04",[1769,100,1461,1744,98],"property-auction",{"_path":1771,"title":1772,"description":1773,"image":1774,"date":1775,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1776,"category":1465,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/buying-off-the-plan-australia-2026-risks-rewards-tax-advantage","Buying Off the Plan in Australia, 2026: Risks, Rewards and the New-Build Tax Advantage","Buying off the plan in Australia in 2026: the real risks, rewards, Victoria's stamp duty concession and the 2027 new-build negative gearing edge explained.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1485083269755-a7b559a4fe5e?q=80&auto=format","2026-07-03",[1777,1461,1653,1474,101],"off-the-plan",{"_path":510,"title":1779,"description":1780,"image":1781,"date":1782,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1783,"category":103,"reading_time":1645},"First Home Guarantee 2026: How to Buy With a 5% Deposit and No LMI","First Home Guarantee 2026 explained: buy with a 5% deposit and no LMI, plus the new no-income-cap and unlimited-places rules, price caps and eligibility.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1580709430621-697349bd4bb9?q=80&auto=format","2026-07-02",[98,1735,1784,102,101,1461],"5-percent-deposit",{"_path":879,"title":1786,"description":1787,"image":1788,"date":1789,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1790,"category":103,"reading_time":1585},"Co-Buying Property in Australia: How to Team Up to Beat Affordability (Without Risking the Friendship)","Co-buying property in Australia is rising fast. Compare ownership structures, the joint liability trap, co-ownership agreements and exit planning first.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1758523671071-4e3c43d055e6?q=80&auto=format","2026-07-01",[1791,99,98,1461,1792],"co-buying","ownership-structures",{"_path":1794,"title":1795,"description":1796,"image":1797,"date":1798,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1799,"category":1465,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/home-insurance-affordability-crisis-australia-2026-what-buyers-need-to-know","The Home Insurance Affordability Crisis: What Australian Property Buyers Need to Know in 2026","Home insurance affordability in Australia is in crisis in 2026. Premiums up 51%, flood and bushfire risk biting. Check risk and get a quote before you buy.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1657069343999-39722b95f1d8?q=80&auto=format","2026-06-30",[1800,1801,1461,98,1463],"home-insurance","climate-risk",{"_path":1803,"title":1804,"description":1805,"image":1806,"date":1807,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1808,"category":1476,"reading_time":1585},"/blog/build-to-rent-boom-australia-2026-renters-and-buyers","Build-to-Rent Australia Hits $40 Billion: What the 2026 Boom Means for Renters and Buyers","Build-to-rent Australia just passed $40 billion and 51,000 apartments. See what the 2026 BTR boom means for renters chasing security and buyers watching supply.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534655610770-dd69616f05ff?q=80&auto=format","2026-06-29",[1809,1719,1474,1533,101],"build-to-rent",{"_path":1811,"title":1812,"description":1813,"image":1814,"date":1815,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1816,"category":1550,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/foreign-buyer-ban-extended-2029-what-it-means-for-australian-buyers","Australia's Foreign Buyer Ban Extended to 2029: What It Means for Local Buyers","Australia's foreign buyer ban is now extended to 2029, blocking established-home purchases. See who's captured, who's exempt and what it means for buyers.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1666000346172-8e7e87547d2a?q=80&auto=format","2026-06-28",[1817,1818,1819,98,101],"foreign-investment","policy-analysis","property-market",{"_path":1821,"title":1822,"description":1823,"image":1824,"date":1825,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1826,"category":1630,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/negative-gearing-cgt-changes-2026-budget-what-it-means-for-property-buyers","Negative Gearing Changes 2026: What the Budget CGT Reforms Mean for Australian Property Buyers","Negative gearing changes 2026 explained: who's grandfathered, the new CGT discount and 30% minimum tax, and what the 2027 reforms mean for property buyers.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1672886974518-2549f2f98e5a?q=80&auto=format","2026-06-27",[1494,1827,1474,1828,1829,1548],"capital-gains-tax","tax-reform","2026-budget",{"_path":1831,"title":1832,"description":1833,"image":1834,"date":1835,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1836,"category":1465,"reading_time":1838},"/blog/what-does-a-buyers-agent-do-in-australia","What Does a Buyer's Agent Do? A Complete Guide for Australian Property Buyers","Learn exactly what a buyer's agent does in Australia, how they help you purchase property, what services they provide, and why thousands of Australians use them to buy homes and investment properties.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1560518883-ce09059eeffa?q=80&auto=format","2026-04-16",[1464,1837,98,1502],"property-buying","8 min read",{"_path":1840,"title":1841,"description":1842,"image":1679,"date":1835,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1843,"category":1465,"reading_time":1845},"/blog/how-much-does-a-buyers-agent-cost-in-australia","How Much Does a Buyer's Agent Cost in Australia? 2026 Fee Guide","Complete breakdown of buyer's agent fees in Australia for 2026. Understand fixed fees, percentage-based pricing, what's included, and whether the cost is worth it for your property purchase.",[1464,1837,1844,1502],"fees","7 min read",{"_path":1847,"title":1848,"description":1849,"image":1850,"date":1835,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1851,"category":1465,"reading_time":1853},"/blog/do-i-need-a-buyers-agent-to-buy-property-in-australia","Do I Need a Buyer's Agent? When It's Worth It (and When It's Not)","Honest assessment of whether you need a buyer's agent in Australia. We break down the scenarios where a buyer's advocate adds real value and when you can confidently go it alone.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1582407947304-fd86f028f716?q=80&auto=format",[1464,1837,98,1852],"advice","6 min read",{"_path":1855,"title":1856,"description":1857,"image":1858,"date":1859,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1860,"category":1465,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/find-buyer-agent-sydney-guide","How to Find a Buyer Agent in Sydney: Your Complete 2026 Guide","Find the right buyer agent in Sydney with our comprehensive guide. Compare verified buyers advocates, understand fees, and get matched with local experts across Sydney's competitive property market.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1506973035872-a4ec16b8e8d9?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip","2026-03-20",[1464,1532,1502,98],{"_path":1862,"title":1863,"description":1864,"image":1865,"date":1859,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1866,"category":1465,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/find-buyer-agent-melbourne-guide","How to Find a Buyer Agent in Melbourne: Your Complete 2026 Guide","Find the right buyer agent in Melbourne with our comprehensive guide. Compare verified buyers advocates, understand fees, and get expert help navigating Melbourne's auction-heavy property market.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1514395462725-fb4566210144?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip",[1464,1577,1502,98],{"_path":1868,"title":1869,"description":1870,"image":1871,"date":1859,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1872,"category":1465,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/find-buyer-agent-brisbane-guide","How to Find a Buyer Agent in Brisbane: Your Complete 2026 Guide","Find the right buyer agent in Brisbane. Compare verified buyers advocates, understand fees, and get expert help navigating Brisbane's fast-growing property market in 2026.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1711080222192-cab50dc56ff6?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip",[1464,1567,1502,1873],"investment",{"_path":1875,"title":1876,"description":1877,"image":1878,"date":1859,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1879,"category":1465,"reading_time":1881},"/blog/find-buyer-agent-perth-guide","How to Find a Buyer Agent in Perth: Your Complete 2026 Guide","Find the right buyer agent in Perth. Compare verified buyers advocates and get expert help navigating Western Australia's resurging property market with confidence.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1629522244811-97becb53a9c4?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip",[1464,1880,1502,1873],"wa","9 min read",{"_path":1883,"title":1884,"description":1885,"image":1886,"date":1859,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1887,"category":1465,"reading_time":1881},"/blog/find-buyer-agent-adelaide-guide","How to Find a Buyer Agent in Adelaide: Your Complete 2026 Guide","Find the right buyer agent in Adelaide. Compare verified buyers advocates and get expert help buying property in South Australia's affordable and growing market.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1659624192447-1a7ece00ff52?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip",[1464,1888,1502,98],"sa",{"_path":1890,"title":1891,"description":1892,"image":1893,"date":1859,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1894,"category":1465,"reading_time":1881},"/blog/find-buyer-agent-canberra-guide","How to Find a Buyer Agent in Canberra: Your Complete 2026 Guide","Find the right buyer agent in Canberra. Compare verified buyers advocates and get expert help buying property in the ACT's unique leasehold market.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1672264597620-d792bb6de88d?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip",[1464,1895,1502,98],"act",{"_path":1897,"title":1898,"description":1899,"image":1900,"date":1859,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1901,"category":1465,"reading_time":1838},"/blog/find-buyer-agent-hobart-guide","How to Find a Buyer Agent in Hobart: Your Complete 2026 Guide","Find the right buyer agent in Hobart. Compare verified buyers advocates and get expert help buying property in Tasmania's growing capital city.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1582539934730-cdf1770948d2?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip",[1464,1902,1502,1873],"tas",{"_path":1904,"title":1905,"description":1906,"image":1907,"date":1859,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1908,"category":1465,"reading_time":1838},"/blog/find-buyer-agent-darwin-guide","How to Find a Buyer Agent in Darwin: Your Complete 2026 Guide","Find the right buyer agent in Darwin. Compare verified buyers advocates and get expert help buying property in the Northern Territory's unique tropical market.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1637245057059-bc7c9df9e333?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip",[1464,1909,1502,1873],"nt",{"_path":1911,"title":1912,"description":1913,"image":1914,"date":1915,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1916,"category":1550,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/how-ai-and-proptech-are-changing-the-way-australians-buy-property","How AI and PropTech Are Changing the Way Australians Buy Property in 2026","Discover how AI valuations, virtual inspections, and PropTech tools are transforming Australian property buying. Learn which tools deliver real results and why human expertise still matters.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1671417722838-3fbaa7f66203?q=80&auto=format","2026-03-04",[1917,1474,1464,1918,1548,98],"technology","gomatch",{"_path":1920,"title":1921,"description":1922,"image":1923,"date":1924,"author_name":1925,"author_avatar":1926,"tags":1927,"category":1931,"reading_time":1838},"/blog/wealth-creation-through-property-investment-and-passive-income","Wealth Creation Through Property Investment and Passive Income","Discover how diversified income streams alongside property investment strategies can secure sustainable financial success. Brisbane professionals share insights on debt recycling, negative gearing, SMSFs, and retirement planning for Australian investors.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1622996965411-3ba635423d49?q=80&auto=format","2026-03-02","Lauren Jones Buyers Agency","https://i.imgur.com/DN7klm6.png",[1474,1928,1629,1567,1929,1930],"investment-strategy","property-strategy","planning","Investment Strategies",{"_path":1933,"title":1934,"description":1935,"image":1658,"date":1936,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1937,"category":1550,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/australia-12-trillion-property-milestone-house-unit-price-gap-2025","The $12 Trillion Milestone: Understanding Australia's Record Property Wealth Divide Between Houses and Units","Australia's residential real estate has hit a historic $12 trillion valuation, but the gap between house and unit prices has widened to a record $363,000. Discover what's driving this divide, where units offer better value, and how to make strategic property decisions in 2025.","2025-12-05",[1548,1474,98,99,1938,1939,1533],"2025-market","units",{"_path":1941,"title":1942,"description":1943,"image":1944,"date":1945,"author_name":1925,"author_avatar":1926,"tags":1946,"category":1550,"reading_time":1845},"/blog/australias-housing-crisis-brisbane-vacancy-rates-warning-sign","Australia's Housing Crisis: Brisbane's Vacancy Rates Are the Warning Sign","Brisbane's ultra-low vacancy rates reveal the depth of Australia's housing crisis. Learn how vacancy rates impact renters and buyers, and strategies to navigate the competitive market with expert insights.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1608094920984-5b54ce1bb792?q=80&w=2670&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D","2025-10-04",[1548,1719,98,1474,1567,99,1938,1464],{"_path":1948,"title":1949,"description":1950,"image":1951,"date":1952,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1953,"category":1550,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/mortgage-delinquency-hotspots-understanding-australias-payment-stress-map","Mortgage Delinquency Hotspots: Understanding Australia's Payment Stress Map","Navigate Australia's mortgage stress landscape with our comprehensive suburb analysis. Discover which areas face the highest delinquency rates, understand the economic factors driving payment stress, and learn strategies to assess mortgage risk before buying.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1670154843956-c583b8bb984b?q=80&auto=format","2025-09-16",[1548,1474,98,1954],"mortgage",{"_path":1956,"title":1957,"description":1958,"image":1959,"date":1960,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1961,"category":1476,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/7-star-energy-revolution-nathers-changes-transform-australian-home-values","7-Star Energy Revolution: How NatHERS Changes in 2025 Will Transform Australian Home Values","Discover how Australia's new 7-star energy rating requirements and the expansion of NatHERS to existing homes in 2025 are reshaping property values, creating green loan opportunities, and saving homeowners thousands in energy costs.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1603093879014-7a64a851033b?q=80&auto=format","2025-09-09",[1474,1510,1548,98],{"_path":1963,"title":1964,"description":1965,"image":1966,"date":1967,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1968,"category":103,"reading_time":104},"/blog/help-to-buy-vs-going-solo-navigating-australias-shared-equity-landscape-2025","Help to Buy vs Going Solo: Navigating Australia's New Shared Equity Landscape in 2025","With the federal Help to Buy scheme launching late 2025, discover how shared equity could help you buy with just 2% deposit, the pros and cons of government co-ownership, and whether it's better than traditional home buying paths.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1695686566301-ec088e031128?q=80&auto=format","2025-09-08",[98,102,1629,1474],{"_path":1970,"title":1971,"description":1972,"image":1973,"date":1974,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1975,"category":103,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/the-168000-deposit-reality-mortgage-brokers-helping-first-home-buyers-5-percent-down","The $168,000 Deposit Reality: How Mortgage Brokers Are Helping First-Home Buyers Break In With 5% Down","With median house prices requiring $168,000 deposits, discover how mortgage brokers are leveraging government schemes, low deposit loans, and strategic financing to help first-home buyers enter the property market with as little as 5% down in 2025.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1626178793926-22b28830aa30?q=80&auto=format","2025-09-04",[98,1976,1977,1629],"mortgage-broker","mortgages",{"_path":1979,"title":1980,"description":1981,"image":1982,"date":1983,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1984,"category":1992,"reading_time":104},"/blog/tiktok-vs-rea-group-social-media-disrupting-4000-property-ads","TikTok vs REA Group: How Social Media is Disrupting $4,000 Property Ads","Agents like Luke Saville are bypassing expensive traditional advertising ($4,000 REA, $1,500-$3,000 Domain) by using free TikTok and Instagram. His Hawthorn apartment achieved 325,000 views and sold above asking price in just 5 days.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1723705027411-9bfc3c99c2e9?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3w3Njg5ODR8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw4fHxUaWtUb2slMjBwaG9uZSUyMHJlYWwlMjBlc3RhdGUlMjBwcm9wZXJ0eSUyMG1hcmtldGluZyUyMHNvY2lhbCUyMG1lZGlhfGVufDB8MHx8fDE3NTY2Njg5NDh8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=1080","2025-09-01",[1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991],"social-media","property-marketing","tiktok","real-estate-innovation","marketing-strategy","cost-effective","digital-disruption","Marketing Innovation",{"_path":1994,"title":1995,"description":1996,"image":1997,"date":1998,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":1999,"category":1476,"reading_time":1559},"/blog/newcastle-million-dollar-suburb-surge-5-investment-hotspots-2025","Newcastle's Million-Dollar Suburb Surge: 5 Investment Hotspots for 2025","Newcastle's property market delivers impressive 5.37% growth with record 1.4% population increase. Discover Mayfield's 9.3% growth, Waratah's 12.2% surge, and why experts predict 5-7% gains in premium Merewether.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1607420116175-7fcc2100f14a?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3w3Njg5ODR8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxOZXdjYXN0bGUlMjBBdXN0cmFsaWElMjBjaXR5JTIwc2t5bGluZSUyMHByb3BlcnR5JTIwaW52ZXN0bWVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NTUzOTgzMTF8MA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=1080","2025-08-31",[50,1474,1548,1532,1928,1727,1938],{"_path":2001,"title":2002,"description":2003,"image":2004,"date":2005,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2006,"category":1630,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/australia-housing-tax-reform-policy-debate-growing-calls-for-change","Australia's Housing Tax Reform Debate: Growing Calls for Policy Change in 2025","Leading economists argue Australia has become a 'home owners' welfare state' as calls grow for housing tax reform. Explore the debate over negative gearing, capital gains discounts, and their $190 billion cost over the next decade.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1672264597620-d792bb6de88d?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3w3Njg5ODR8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhdXN0cmFsaWElMjBwYXJsaWFtZW50JTIwaG91c2UlMjBnb3Zlcm5tZW50JTIwcG9saWN5JTIwdGF4JTIwcmVmb3JtfGVufDB8fHx8MTc1NTM1MjUyMHww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=1080","2025-08-19",[1828,1523,1494,2007,2008,1548,2009],"capital-gains","housing-affordability","government-policy",{"_path":2011,"title":2012,"description":2013,"image":2014,"date":2015,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2016,"category":1465,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/australia-11-major-real-estate-associations-comprehensive-guide-2025","Australia's 11 Major Real Estate Associations: Your Complete Guide to Professional Standards in 2025","Discover Australia's 11 leading real estate associations from REINSW to REBAA. Learn about membership benefits, professional standards, and how these associations protect your property interests.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613155961736-d0782a58f170?q=80&auto=format","2025-08-18",[2017,1464,2018,2019,2020,1502,2021],"professional-standards","real-estate-associations","licensing","accreditation","industry-standards",{"_path":2023,"title":2024,"description":2025,"image":2026,"date":2027,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2028,"category":103,"reading_time":1838},"/blog/first-home-buyer-exodus-q1-2025-why-government-schemes-arent-working","The First Home Buyer Exodus: Why Government Schemes Aren't Stopping the Q1 2025 Decline","First home buyer lending drops to 29.0% in Q1 2025, the lowest since 2022 despite government support. Discover why investors are winning the battle for entry-level properties and what this means for aspiring homeowners.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1736319666684-a0f1f6b679cc?q=80&auto=format","2025-08-16",[98,1548,99,102,1938,1474,2029],"lending",{"_path":2031,"title":2032,"description":2033,"image":2034,"date":2035,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2036,"category":1476,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/climate-resilient-property-investment-energy-efficiency-as-the-new-value-driver","Climate-Resilient Property Investment: Energy Efficiency as the New Value Driver","Discover how energy-efficient properties are commanding 14.5% premiums in 2025. Learn about climate risks, NatHERS ratings, and government incentives shaping Australia's sustainable property market.","https://images.unsplash.com/flagged/photo-1566838803980-56bfa5300e8c?q=80&w=2070&auto=format","2025-07-22",[1474,1510,1938,1928,1548,1629],{"_path":2038,"title":2039,"description":2040,"image":2041,"date":2042,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2043,"category":1476,"reading_time":1485},"/blog/the-regional-renaissance-work-from-home-property-goldmines-beyond-capital-cities","The Regional Renaissance: How Work-From-Home Is Creating Property Goldmines Beyond Capital Cities","Discover how remote work is driving unprecedented property growth in regional Australia. Explore investment opportunities, market trends, and strategic insights for capitalising on Australia's regional property renaissance in 2025.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1606989254570-02aa0d7ea083?q=80&w=2070&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3w3Njg5ODR8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxzdWJ1cmJhbiUyMGhvdXNlcyUyMHJlZ2lvbmFsJTIwdG93bnxlbnwwfDB8fHwxNzUyNzE4NTcxfDA","2025-07-17",[1727,1474,1548,1928,1938,1719],{"_path":2045,"title":2046,"description":2047,"image":2048,"date":2049,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2050,"category":1465,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/nsw-strata-law-reforms-2025-what-apartment-buyers-need-to-know","NSW Strata Law Reforms 2025: What Apartment Buyers Need to Know Before Purchasing","Comprehensive guide to the significant NSW strata law changes effective 1 July 2025, explaining how these reforms impact apartment buyers, investors, and owners in terms of transparency, governance, and financial obligations.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1545324418-cc1a3fa10c00?q=80&w=2070&auto=format","2025-07-12",[1532,1502,98,1873,99,1930],{"_path":2052,"title":2053,"description":2054,"image":2055,"date":2056,"author_name":1925,"author_avatar":1926,"tags":2057,"category":103,"reading_time":1853},"/blog/understanding-your-home-loan-options-before-you-borrow","Understanding Your Home Loan Options Before You Borrow","Expert insights into home loan structures, from basic vs package loans to variable vs fixed rates. Learn what you need to know before borrowing with tips from industry professionals.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1559067096-d109b66fd5af?q=80&w=2531&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D","2025-07-10",[1628,1977,98,1629,1474,2058,1549],"borrowing",{"_path":2060,"title":2061,"description":2062,"image":2063,"date":2064,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2065,"category":1550,"reading_time":1838},"/blog/baby-boomers-hidden-opportunities-first-time-buyers","How Baby Boomers Are Creating Hidden Opportunities for First-Time Buyers","Discover how Baby Boomers' downsizing trends are creating unprecedented opportunities for first-time buyers in Australia's property market, and how buyer's agents can help you capitalise on these emerging trends.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1728022161206-ac10882e94f3?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=1080","2025-06-29",[98,1548,1464,1929,2066],"downsizing",{"_path":2068,"title":2069,"description":2070,"image":2071,"date":2072,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2073,"category":1476,"reading_time":1485},"/blog/rentvesting-in-2025-buy-where-you-can-afford-live-where-you-want","Rentvesting in 2025: Buy Where You Can Afford, Live Where You Want","Discover how rentvesting lets you enter the property market while maintaining your lifestyle. Learn strategies, tax benefits, and 2025 market opportunities for smart property investment.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1724482606633-fa74fe4f5de1?q=80&w=2070&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D","2025-06-23",[1540,1474,98,1928,1719,1464],{"_path":2075,"title":2076,"description":2077,"image":2078,"date":2079,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"reading_time":1838,"tags":2080,"category":103},"/blog/from-sydney-to-regional-affordable-first-home-buyer-areas-2025","From Sydney to Regional: Where First Home Buyers Can Still Afford to Buy in 2025","With Sydney deposits taking 8 years to save and Melbourne 5.5 years, discover the affordable regional towns and commuter areas where first home buyers can still enter the market in 2025.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1687586370709-9aec4143d89a?q=80&w=2070&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D","2025-06-21",[98,1727,99,1938,1532],{"_path":2082,"title":2083,"description":2084,"image":2085,"date":2086,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2087,"category":103,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/why-now-is-the-sweet-spot-for-first-home-buyers-before-interest-rates-drop","Why NOW is the Sweet Spot for First Home Buyers (Before Interest Rates Drop)","Discover why first home buyers should act now before interest rates drop. Learn about current market opportunities, reduced competition, and strategic advantages in Australia's property market.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1456574808786-d2ba7a6aa654?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=1080","2025-06-15",[98,1549,2088,1929,1532,1577,1567,1464],"market-timing",{"_path":2090,"title":2091,"description":2092,"image":2093,"date":2094,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2095,"category":1550,"reading_time":1485},"/blog/should-you-buy-now-or-wait-2025-market-trends-explained","Should You Buy Now or Wait? 2025 Market Trends Explained","Navigate Australia's property market with confidence. Expert analysis of 2025 trends for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth buyers. Make informed decisions with real data and professional insights.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1609126808708-17b84d5a61c1?q=80&auto=format","2025-06-04",[1548,1532,1577,1567,98,1873,1464],{"_path":2097,"title":2098,"description":2099,"image":2100,"tags":2101,"category":1465,"reading_time":1853,"date":2102,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96},"/blog/introducing-gomatch-propertygo-revolutionary-buyer-agent-matching-system","Introducing GoMatch: PropertyGo's Revolutionary Buyer Agent Matching System","How GoMatch works: tell us what and where you're buying, see up to three buyer's agencies that service your state, and choose who to talk to. Free for buyers, and no agency can pay to be on your shortlist.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1547190027-9156686aa2f0?q=80&auto=format",[1464,1502,1917,1918],"2025-05-24",{"_path":2104,"title":2105,"description":2106,"image":1973,"tags":2107,"category":2109,"reading_time":1645,"date":2110,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96},"/blog/how-to-use-loan-repayment-calculator-to-plan-your-mortgage","How to Use a Loan Repayment Calculator to Plan Your Mortgage","Learn how to use a loan repayment calculator to understand your mortgage costs, compare scenarios, and plan your finances effectively. Estimate your monthly home loan repayments with PropertyGo's calculator.",[1954,1629,2108,1930,1628],"calculators","Calculators","2025-05-23",{"_path":2112,"title":2113,"description":2114,"image":2115,"date":2116,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2117,"category":1465,"reading_time":104},"/blog/finding-the-right-buyer-agent-how-propertygo-simplifies-your-search","Finding the Right Buyer Agent: How PropertyGo Simplifies Your Search","Discover how PropertyGo's innovative matching service eliminates the frustration of finding the perfect buyer agent. Learn about common challenges in the search process and how our data-driven approach connects you with agents who match your specific property requirements.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1660165458059-57cfb6cc87e5?q=80&auto=format","2025-05-07",[1464,1502],{"_path":2119,"title":2120,"description":2121,"image":2122,"date":2123,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2124,"category":1550,"reading_time":1881},"/blog/foreign-investment-trends-return-of-chinese-buyers","Foreign Investment Trends: The Return of Chinese Buyers","Explore the resurgence of Chinese buyers in Australia's property market in 2025. Learn what's driving renewed interest, how local markets are responding, and what this means for investors and homebuyers.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1554623515-3b2f224b92f2?q=80&auto=format","2025-05-05",[1873,1548,1532,1577,1567],{"_path":2126,"title":2127,"description":2128,"image":2129,"date":2130,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2131,"category":1550,"reading_time":1838},"/blog/the-great-housing-shortfall-australia-1-2-million-homes-target","The Great Housing Shortfall: Can Australia Meet Its 1.2 Million Homes Target?","With Australia facing a projected shortfall of 300,000 homes by 2029, this article explores the causes, government strategies, and the implications for investors, developers, and homebuyers.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1491357492920-d2979986a84e?q=80&auto=format","2025-05-02",[1548,99,1873,98],{"_path":2133,"title":2134,"description":2135,"image":2136,"date":2137,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2138,"category":1465,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/navigating-australias-housing-affordability-crisis-in-2025-strategies-for-first-home-buyers","Navigating Australia's Housing Affordability Crisis in 2025: Strategies for First-Home Buyers","Explore the challenges of housing affordability in Australia for 2025 and discover practical strategies, government schemes, and expert tips to help first-home buyers enter the property market.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1516503424803-708327384b90?q=80&auto=format","2025-04-26",[99,98,1464,1548],{"_path":2140,"title":2141,"description":2142,"image":2143,"date":2144,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2145,"category":1931,"reading_time":1485},"/blog/the-rise-of-sustainable-housing-in-australia-investment-opportunities-and-market-trends-for-2025","The Rise of Sustainable Housing in Australia: Investment Opportunities and Market Trends for 2025","Explore how sustainable housing is reshaping Australia's property market in 2025, with insights into green building trends, investment opportunities, government incentives, and how eco-friendly features are driving property values across major cities and regional areas.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1542601906990-b4d3fb778b09?q=80&auto=format","2025-04-21",[1510,1873,1548,1532,1577,1567],{"_path":2147,"title":2148,"description":2149,"image":2150,"date":2151,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2152,"category":1465,"reading_time":1559},"/blog/do-i-really-need-a-buyers-agent-answering-the-big-questions-before-you-commit","Do I Really Need a Buyer Agent? Answering the Big Questions Before You Commit","Explore whether you truly need a buyer agent for your property purchase. Get expert answers to common questions about buyer agents, their value, and when they're worth the investment in today's competitive real estate market.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1609643242070-c69786a76c30?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip","2025-04-13",[1464,1502,98],{"_path":2154,"title":2155,"description":2156,"image":2157,"date":2158,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2159,"category":1465,"reading_time":1645},"/blog/property-buying-in-australia-exploring-different-types-and-their-pros-and-cons","Property Buying in Australia: Exploring Different Types and Their Pros and Cons","A comprehensive guide to the different property types available in the Australian market, including commercial, owner-occupier, investment, and rural properties. Discover the advantages and disadvantages of each to make an informed decision for your next property purchase.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1625432808071-25f649c4a0b0?q=80&auto=format&fit=crop","2025-04-12",[1873,98,1502],{"_path":2161,"title":2162,"description":2163,"image":2164,"date":2165,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2166,"category":1550,"reading_time":1485},"/blog/top-10-suburbs-to-buy-property-in-australia-in-2025-expert-predictions-and-tips","Top 10 Suburbs to Buy Property in Australia in 2025: Expert Predictions and Tips","Discover the top 10 suburbs across Australia predicted to experience significant growth in 2025, with expert insights on median prices, growth rates, and rental yields to help you make informed property investment decisions.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1515861461225-1488dfdaf0a8?q=80&auto=format","2025-04-09",[1873,1548,1532,1577,1567,98],{"_path":2168,"title":2169,"description":2170,"image":2171,"date":2172,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2173,"category":1465,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/top-5-things-to-look-before-deciding-the-best-buyer-agent","Top 5 Things to Look for Before Deciding on the Best Buyer Agent","Discover the essential factors to consider when choosing a buyer agent. Learn about experience, local knowledge, communication style, fee structures, and track record to ensure you select the best buyer agent for your property purchase.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1560518883-ce09059eeffa?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip","2025-04-01",[1464,1502],{"_path":2175,"title":2176,"description":2177,"image":2178,"date":2179,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2180,"category":1465,"reading_time":1466},"/blog/should-you-hire-a-buyer-agent-in-2025-expert-insights-and-benefits","Should You Hire a Buyer Agent in 2025? Expert Insights and Benefits","Discover whether hiring a buyer agent in 2025 is worth the investment. Learn about the key benefits, potential cost savings, and expert insights to help you make an informed decision in today's competitive property market.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1732717566587-f5a155bd8dea?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip","2025-03-06",[1464,1502,98,1873],{"_path":2182,"title":2183,"description":2184,"image":2185,"date":2186,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2187,"category":1569,"reading_time":1838},"/blog/top-10-best-property-buyer-agents-in-nsw-august-2024","Top 10 Best Property Buyer Agents in NSW (August, 2024)","A comprehensive guide to the most trusted and highly reviewed property buyer agents in New South Wales, offering expert advice and services to help you navigate the property market with ease.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1523482580672-f109ba8cb9be?q=80&auto=format","2024-08-10",[1464,1532,1568,1502],{"_path":2189,"title":2190,"description":2191,"image":2192,"date":2193,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2194,"category":1569,"reading_time":1838},"/blog/top-10-best-property-buyer-agents-in-qld-august-2024","Top 10 Best Property Buyer Agents in QLD (August, 2024)","A curated list of the top property buyer agents in Queensland, recognized for their expertise, professionalism, and client satisfaction. These agents are the best in the industry, offering comprehensive services to help you navigate the property market with ease.","https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1607309843659-f4ad95cf3277?q=80&auto=format&fit=clip","2024-08-09",[1464,1567,1568,1502],{"_path":2196,"title":2197,"description":2198,"image":1865,"date":2199,"author_name":95,"author_avatar":96,"tags":2200,"category":1569,"reading_time":1838},"/blog/top-10-best-property-buyer-agents-in-vic-august-2024","Top 10 Best Property Buyer Agents in VIC (August, 2024)","An in-depth look at the top property buyer agents in Victoria, known for their expertise, client satisfaction, and exceptional service. These agents provide valuable insights and support, helping you navigate the Victorian property market with confidence.","2024-08-08",[1464,1577,1568,1502],1792140325314]