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Borrowing power See which factors affect how much a lender will offer. Income, HELP debt, credit cards, dependents. Interactive tool, takes 30 seconds. Eligibility See every grant, concession, and scheme you may qualify for. Stamp duty savings, FHOG, the First Home Guarantee, FHSS, and Help to Buy. Five questions, 60 seconds. Cost calculator See your real monthly cost as a percentage of take-home pay. Includes stamp duty, LMI, HELP/HECS, and maintenance. Deposit tracker Work out how your savings compare to lender requirements. Most lenders want 5% to 20% of the purchase price. Stamp duty The biggest upfront cost after the deposit. It varies by state, price, and whether you're a first home buyer. Broker A mortgage broker compares dozens of lenders for you, at no direct cost. They're paid a commission by the lender. A good one will often find better rates than you'd get walking into a bank. Pre-approval A conditional approval from a lender for a set amount. It tells agents you're serious and gives you a clear budget. Most last 3 to 6 months. Get this before you start inspecting. Conveyancer Handles the legal side of your purchase. They check the title, easements, zoning, and contract. Typically $1,000 to $2,500 depending on your state. Engage one early so they're ready when you find a place. Schools Check the exact catchment boundary using the state school finder. Being 200m on the wrong side can mean a different school entirely. Commute Drive the commute on a Tuesday at 8am, not a Saturday. The difference can be 30 minutes each way. Check public transport frequency too. Walkability What's within walking distance? Shops, parks, public transport, cafes. This affects your daily life more than most people expect. Bushfire BAL stands for Bushfire Attack Level. It affects your insurance costs, building requirements, and whether you can get a loan in some areas. Flood Every state publishes flood mapping data for free. Checking takes five minutes and can save you from surprise insurance costs down the track. Flight paths CASA publishes ANEF noise contour maps. An area can look quiet at 10am on a Saturday but be under a flight path at other times. Zoning & DAs The zoning determines what can be built nearby. Check your council's DA tracker too. That vacant block next door could become a 6-storey building. Internet FTTP is great. FTTN varies. Fixed wireless is limited. If you work from home, check nbnco.com.au before you buy. Open home Pick a template for house, apartment, or first home buyer. Print it and bring it to the inspection. Covers structure, plumbing, electrical, neighbours, and what to check after dark. Building & pest A combined building and pest inspection costs $500 to $900 and takes a few hours. It checks the structure, termites, moisture, and drainage. The best money you'll spend in this whole process. Compare If you're weighing up two or three properties, lay them side by side. Match score, commute, schools, risks, and costs. Sometimes the numbers make the decision clearer than your gut. Contract review Your conveyancer reviews the Section 32 or vendor statement before you bid or offer. They check special conditions, easements, and anything unusual. Do this before auction day. Auction prep Attend a few auctions as an observer first. Set a hard maximum and stick to it. No cooling-off at auction in most states, so finance and inspections need to be sorted beforehand. Private offer Include subject-to-finance and subject-to-inspection clauses to protect yourself. Put a 48-hour time limit on written offers. Get everything in writing. Insurance You need building insurance from the date of exchange, not settlement. If the property is damaged between exchange and settlement, you're liable. Arrange this the day you sign. Settlement Usually 30 to 60 days between exchange and settlement. Your conveyancer handles the paperwork. Arrange utilities and redirect your mail before the day. Keys day The keys are yours. Take a moment to stand in your home before the furniture arrives. You planned for this, and you made it happen. These are the key steps in buying a first home. You don’t need to do them in order, and some won’t apply to you. A guide, not a rulebook. See our terms of use .
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