Most first home buyers wait until they feel “ready” before speaking to a mortgage broker. But what if that decision is actually delaying your plans by months—or even years?

In this episode, we’re joined by Jack Elliott from Alcove Mortgages to unpack one of the most common mistakes first home buyers make: coming to the finance conversation too late. We explore what a broker actually does, why the best time to get advice is often much earlier than you think, and how a simple conversation can reveal opportunities you didn’t know existed.

We also discuss the latest lending and policy changes affecting first home buyers, including borrowing capacity, rentvesting strategies, guarantor options, and how recent budget announcements are already influencing buyer behaviour.

If you're saving for a deposit, wondering how much you can borrow, or trying to work out when to take the next step, this episode will help you build a clearer plan and move forward with more confidence.

00:15 – Meet Jack: First Home Buyer Finance Expert

01:38 – The Cost of Waiting Too Long for Finance Advice

04:25 – The Budget Changes Every Buyer Should Know

09:05 – The Rentvesting Strategy That Stopped Working

12:18 – Why Earlier Finance Advice Creates More Options

14:25 – The Questions a Good Broker Should Ask

16:45 – Don't Buy a Home You'll Outgrow Too Soon

21:14 – What Mortgage Brokers Really Do Behind the Scenes

23:18 – Why Good Brokers Don't Disappear at Settlement

26:25 – Lessons From Jack's First Property Purchase

29:01 – Three Actions to Take Before You Buy

32:19 – Final Takeaways for First Home Buyers

• Book a Get To Know You Chat with Jack

• THE First Home Buyer Course is our Step-By-Step, No BS Guide to Every Stage of The Home Buying Process – It’s the next best thing to having your own buyer’s agent. With our expert guidance, you’ll know what to do at every step along the way. Become a home owner faster and easier. Click here: https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBG

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFirstHomeBuyerCourse
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/your-first-home-buyer-guide-podcast/id1544701825
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GyrfXoqvDxjqNRv40NVQs?si=7c8bc4362fab421f

Shared equity schemes are becoming one of the most talked-about pathways into homeownership.

Lower deposits, smaller loans, and the chance to buy sooner can sound incredibly appealing—but what are you giving up in return?

In this episode, Veronica and Meighan unpack how shared equity schemes actually work, who they're designed for, and the trade-offs many buyers don't fully understand until years later. They explore how government ownership stakes affect your future equity, why property selection matters more than the scheme itself, and the hidden risks that can emerge when it's time to refinance, upgrade, or sell.

You'll also learn why buying sooner isn't always better, how price caps can influence your property choices, and the key questions every first home buyer should ask before signing up.

If you're considering a shared equity scheme, this episode will help you understand whether it's a smart stepping stone—or a decision that could limit your future options.

01:42 — How Shared Equity Actually Works

03:34 — The Trade-Off Most Buyers Overlook

06:38 — The Price Cap Trap Explained

08:29 — The Hidden Cost of Exiting the Scheme

11:06 — The Fine Print That Can Cost You

14:04 — When Shared Equity Can Actually Work

17:26 — 7 Questions to Ask Before Signing Up

19:30 — Should You Use Shared Equity?

• THE First Home Buyer Course is our Step-By-Step, No BS Guide to Every Stage of The Home Buying Process – It’s the next best thing to having your own buyer’s agent. With our expert guidance, you’ll know what to do at every step along the way. Become a home owner faster and easier. Click here: https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBG

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFirstHomeBuyerCourse
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/your-first-home-buyer-guide-podcast/id1544701825

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GyrfXoqvDxjqNRv40NVQs?si=7c8bc4362fab421f

You’ve found the one. The suburb works, the layout feels right, and auction day arrives. But what happens if you win… and your loan doesn’t go through?

In this episode, we break down the real risks of buying at auction—especially when relying on pre-approval. From valuation shortfalls to lender restrictions and changes in your financial situation, there are several ways a deal can fall apart after you’ve already committed.

We walk through what “unconditional” really means, why auction contracts carry more risk than most buyers expect, and how quickly things can escalate if your finances don't stack up. You’ll also hear practical examples of how buyers can end up needing to find large sums of money in a short timeframe—or risk losing their deposit.

This episode will help you understand the risks clearly and prepare properly before auction day, so you can make confident decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

01:29 – Why Pre-Approval Doesn’t Guarantee Your Loan

03:38 – What Unconditional Really Means at Auction

05:28 – Preparation vs Risk: Why It Matters Before You Bid

07:05 – The Checks You Must Do Before Auction Day

09:03 – The Valuation Gap That Can Cost You Thousands

13:42 – Staying Disciplined When Emotions Take Over

16:26 – Key Takeaways Before You Step Into an Auction

20:24 – Final Thoughts and How to Keep Learning

• Auction Ready by Veronica Morgan (book)
• How to Price a Property (Mini Course)

• THE First Home Buyer Course is our Step-By-Step, No BS Guide to Every Stage of The Home Buying Process – It’s the next best thing to having your own buyer’s agent. With our expert guidance, you’ll know what to do at every step along the way. Become a home owner faster and easier. Click here: https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBG

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFirstHomeBuyerCourse
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/your-first-home-buyer-guide-podcast/id1544701825
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GyrfXoqvDxjqNRv40NVQs?si=7c8bc4362fab421f