Buying your first home is exciting, but understanding your mortgage is just as important as getting approved for one.

In this episode, Jack Elliott breaks down the fundamentals of home loans, explaining how mortgage repayments work, how interest is calculated, and the differences between fixed, variable and split loans. You'll also learn why small changes to the way you manage your mortgage can make a significant difference over time.

Whether you're preparing to buy your first home or you've recently settled, this episode will help you better understand one of the biggest financial commitments you'll ever make so you can make more informed decisions with confidence.

01:46 – Understanding How Mortgages Really Work

04:09 – Why Your Mortgage Balance Hardly Changes at First

07:16 – The Truth About Fortnightly Mortgage Repayments

10:15 – Choosing the Right Mortgage Term

14:00 – Who Controls Mortgage Interest Rates?

18:52 – Fixed, Variable or Split: Which Is Right for You?

25:03 – How to Make Your Mortgage Work for You

• Book a Get To Know You Chat with Jack
• Website | First Home Unlocked

• 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

Many first home buyers have been told rentvesting is one of the smartest ways to get into the property market. But with the Federal Government proposing major changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, does that strategy still stack up?

In this episode, Veronica and Meighan unpack what the proposed tax reforms could mean for first home buyers, whether rentvesting is still worth considering, and why buying the right property matters more than ever. They explain why tax benefits should never be the main reason to invest, the risks of chasing new builds purely for incentives, and how to identify investment-grade properties that can support long-term wealth.

Whether you're planning to buy your first home, considering rentvesting, or trying to understand how the changing tax landscape could affect your decisions, this episode will help you separate headlines from practical strategy.

01:33 – The Tax Changes Reshaping Property Investment

02:31 – Rentvesting Explained: Does It Still Work?

06:28 – What Losing the CGT Discount Means for Investors

08:42 – Is Rentvesting Still a Smart Strategy?

10:51 – The Hidden Risks of Buying New Builds

16:42 – How to Adapt Your Property Strategy

20:24 – Build the Right Team Before You Invest

25:14 – Who Wins and Loses Under the New Rules?

27:21 – Your Next Steps After the Tax Changes

• 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 done the maths. You know your income, you've been saving, and you have a rough idea of what you can borrow.

Then the bank gives you a completely different number.

In this episode, mortgage broker Jack Elliott returns to explain how lenders really assess borrowing capacity. From income, genuine savings and credit cards to HECS, Afterpay, bank statements and even the property you're buying, you'll learn why two lenders can reach very different outcomes for the same borrower.

Whether you're planning to buy your first home soon or simply want to understand how banks make lending decisions, this episode will help you prepare with confidence and make smarter choices before you apply for a home loan.

03:25 – How Banks Assess Your Income

09:38 – What Banks Look For in Your Savings

12:19 – How Debts Affect Your Borrowing Capacity

17:16 – How Banks Assess Your Spending Habits

21:08 – What Banks See in Your Credit History

25:26 – Why the Property Matters to Your Home Loan

30:12 – Just Because You Can Borrow More Doesn't Mean You Should

33:30 – When to Speak to a Mortgage Broker

• Book a Get To Know You Chat with Jack
• Website | First Home Unlocked

• 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