In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with finance broker Rob Shanley from Propple to explore how first-time buyers can enter the market by co-investing with friends or family.

With property prices continuing to rise, many young Australians are turning to this strategy as a more attainable path to home ownership.

Rob says that pooling resources allows buyers to share deposits, loan repayments, and renovation costs, making it easier to buy sooner, with lenders adapting to the trend by offering products designed to match it.

Beyond financial benefits, co-investment also offers accountability and shared support, helping co-investors stay on track during major life events.

However, trust and clear agreements are essential, with Rob stressing the need for well-drafted co-ownership contracts that outline responsibilities, expenses, and exit strategies.

Unlike spousal ownership, most co-investment arrangements employ a “tenants in common” structure, which grants each party control over their portion while safeguarding individual interests.

As affordability challenges grow, Rob says that co-investing is becoming an increasingly popular pathway for first home buyers to build wealth together.

In this special episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with real estate managing editor Liam Garman to share her personal journey as a first-time buyer, reflecting on the insights she gained from the podcast guests.

From launching the First Property Buyer Show to becoming a first-time home owner, Emilie, the host, turned her property reporting into a personal experience.

Her journey began six months ago when she set out to understand the first home buying process, providing practical tips and lessons for buyers navigating Australia’s competitive market.

Interviewing experts from buyer’s agents to property investors, Emilie gained insights that guided her through Sydney’s competitive market.

She and her fiancé, Chris, searched for a two-bedroom home, initially hoping for two bathrooms, and explored suburbs like Rosebery and Zetland. However, like many first-time home buyers, they had to compromise.

Financial preparedness proved crucial, with mortgage pre-approval and a clear budget allowing them to act quickly when they found their ideal property in Drummoyne.

Strata reports, inspections, and negotiation skills learnt across the previous podcast episodes also helped the couple win the property.

Settling in, they were thankful to have kept a financial buffer as they began tackling renovations and managing unexpected costs, including a hot water tank replacement.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with Hung Chuy from Strategic Brokers to explain how the fast-tracked First Home Guarantee scheme works and its impact on first-time buyers.

The Australian government has fast-tracked the First Home Guarantee scheme, bringing its launch forward to 1 October 2025, allowing first-time buyers to purchase a home with a 5 per cent deposit and no lender’s mortgage insurance.

Additionally, the scheme has removed income caps, allowing high earners to borrow up to 95 per cent on properties of up to $1.5 million, depending on the state.

Hung said that the announcement surprised many in the real estate and financial sectors, sparking a surge in inquiries from prospective buyers.

He noted that the scheme will be available through over 30 lenders, with each having different debt assessment rules, making broker guidance crucial.

Hung said while the low deposit is attractive, buyers need to factor in additional costs and carefully assess their financial capacity, including mortgage repayments and potential interest rate changes.

The duo then moves on to the impact of the scheme, predicting it will increase competition for properties under the cap, driving prices higher and creating a fast-moving market.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with property investor Jacob Smith to unpack the highs and hurdles of purchasing a first home in Sydney.

Jacob and his fiancée recently bought an oversized one-bedroom plus study apartment in Wolli Creek, NSW, choosing stability over rentvesting. Leveraging the First Home Buyer Scheme – with a 5 per cent deposit, stamp duty exemption, and a $10,000 family gift – the couple secured a property that felt like a two-bed, without the price tag.

The conversation dives into their bold financial strategy: repaying a 30-year loan in just 10 years by making weekly repayments and maximising offset account features.

But the journey wasn’t smooth sailing. Jacob reveals how unused credit cards and buy-now-pay-later accounts nearly derailed their borrowing power, and how a lack of auction knowledge almost left them unprepared.

A standout theme is Jacob’s use of technology. He credits AI tools like ChatGPT with scanning lengthy strata reports to uncover risks that could have been missed. His advice to other first-time buyers is clear: clear debts early, understand loan features, and use every tool available – from helpful neighbours to cutting-edge AI – to make smart property decisions.

In this special Q&A episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with property editor Liam Garman to tackle listeners’ top questions about navigating Australia’s challenging property market as a first-time buyer.

The episode covers everything from market dynamics to financial preparedness, with a strong focus on the importance of thorough property inspections, especially when buying apartments or new builds, which often come with hidden structural issues.

Liam urges buyers to favour established properties over off-the-plan ones, citing inflated prices, oversupply risks, and aggressive sales incentives in new developments.

Financial strategy is a key theme, with Liam recommending a 20 per cent deposit to avoid lender’s mortgage insurance and advising against prioritising student debt repayment over asset acquisition.

The show also explores saving tactics, suggesting short-term, practical methods like budgeting and taking on extra work, rather than investing in shares or super.

For those considering joint purchases, the hosts caution against buying with friends due to exit risks, instead recommending rentvesting for solo buyers.

They emphasise the need to treat the first property as a stepping stone, not a forever home, and stress the value of maintaining a financial buffer.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer is joined by financial adviser John Stallman from Super Advice AI to discuss key financial strategies for first-time buyers.

John shares key strategies for navigating the Australian property market, emphasising the importance of timing and simplifying complex financial topics for first-time buyers.

The discussion highlights how manageable financial planning can empower buyers, with John drawing from his investment journey to demonstrate the value of early, strategic decisions.

Government initiatives such as the deposit guarantee program and the First Home Super Saver Scheme are presented as effective tools for reducing upfront financial hurdles.

John also introduces the concept of “rentvesting” – renting where you live while owning an investment property – as a savvy approach to leverage tax benefits through negative gearing.

He emphasises the importance of long-term financial planning, built on four key pillars: property investment, superannuation, contingency reserves, and maintaining a lifestyle balance.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with investor and founder of the Right Property Group, Reshmi Kumar, to discuss the importance of strategy and goal-setting for first-time buyers navigating Australia’s property market.

The duo first reflects on the urgency that young buyers often feel to enter the market, driven by the fear of missing out.

Reshmi emphasises the importance of careful planning and setting SMART goals, using her own journey – beginning with just $4,500 and purchasing a $137,000 home in 1998 – as proof of how a modest start can evolve into long-term wealth.

She explains how each property she bought with her husband, Victor, aligned with broader life goals they had, such as schools and lifestyle, and recommends capital-growth-focused investments, especially for women balancing family and career.

Reshmi also advises giving at least a year between purchases to gain hands-on experience with ownership responsibilities and financial management.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with Lyndsey Fall, a first-time investor who adopted rentvesting – renting in her preferred location while investing elsewhere – as a savvy way to enter the Australian property market.

Originally from the UK, Lindsey relocated to Sydney and subsequently chose to invest in Perth, where she identified strong market potential.

She emphasises the value of research, clear goals, disciplined saving, and support networks, crediting digital tools and a trusted agent for managing her remote purchase.

Despite never seeing the property in person, she navigated the process confidently by understanding each step and maintaining financial discipline through detailed budgeting.

Lindsey’s story highlights the value of having a financial buffer, relying on professional property management, and being prepared to learn throughout the process.

Since she purchased her investment property, its value has grown significantly, and she now plans to leverage her equity to buy a second one.