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

Buying your first home rarely goes exactly to plan. You might have your deposit saved, your dream suburb picked out, and a clear picture of the property you want—only to discover the market has other ideas.

In this episode, Home Buyer Academy graduate Tim shares the real story behind his first home purchase. From saving his deposit and researching the market to being priced out of his preferred property type, Tim explains how staying flexible and trusting a structured buying process helped him achieve his goal.

Together with Veronica and Meighan, they unpack the lessons learned along the way, including dealing with underquoting, adapting to changing market conditions, navigating auctions, and making confident decisions without letting emotions take over.

If you're preparing to buy your first home, this episode offers practical insights into what the journey really looks like—and why having the right knowledge and mindset can make all the difference.

01:03 – Meet Tim and His First Home Buying Journey

03:46 – The Saving Habits That Fast-Tracked Tim's Deposit

07:03 – Why Investing in Education Paid Off

10:42 – The Market Reality Every First Home Buyer Faces

16:44 – What Every Property Inspection Taught Tim

20:39 – How Flexibility Helped Tim Find the Right Home

27:41 – The Budget Twist That Changed Everything

33:04 – Life After Buying: What's Next for Tim?

37:01 – Tim's Biggest Advice for First Home Buyers

39:50 – Why Community Makes the Journey Easier

42:33 – Final Thoughts and Episode Wrap-Up

• 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

Buying your first home with just a 5% deposit sounds like the shortcut many buyers have been waiting for.

But while the scheme can help you enter the market sooner, borrowing 95% of a property's value also comes with risks that every first home buyer needs to understand.

In this episode, Veronica and Meighan are joined by Jack Elliott from Alcove Mortgages to unpack how the 5% Deposit Scheme really works, who can access it following the latest rule changes, and why buying under a government scheme doesn't automatically mean you're making a good property decision.

You'll learn why price caps matter, how Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) fits into the picture, what upfront costs many buyers overlook, and why having cash buffers and a long-term plan can be just as important as saving your deposit.

If you're considering buying with a 5% deposit, this episode will help you understand the opportunities, the risks, and how to decide whether this pathway is the right fit for your situation.

01:48 – Why the 5% Deposit Scheme Is So Popular

05:16 – Why Banks Charge Lenders Mortgage Insurance

08:06 – Who Can Use the 5% Deposit Scheme?

12:45 – Which Lenders Offer the 5% Deposit Scheme?

16:28 – How to Protect Yourself With a 95% Home Loan

21:24 – Is the 5% Deposit Scheme Right for You?

24:26 – Join Our First Home Buyer Community

• 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

First home buyer grants, stamp duty concessions, shared equity schemes, 5% deposit pathways–there’s more support available than ever before.

But are these incentives actually helping you make better property decisions?

In this episode, mortgage broker Jack Elliott returns to break down the grants, concessions, and buyer schemes available across Australia. We cover how stamp duty relief works in each state, who qualifies for the First Home Owner Grant, and what buyers need to know about shared equity programs and low-deposit pathways.

More importantly, we unpack one of the biggest mistakes first home buyers make: allowing incentives to drive their property decisions. While grants and concessions can reduce upfront costs, they can also tempt buyers into compromising on location, property quality, or long-term growth potential.

If you're trying to understand what support is available and how to use it wisely, this episode will help you cut through the noise, avoid common traps, and make decisions that support your long-term goals—not just your short-term savings.

01:44 – Meet Jack: Understanding Buyer Incentives

04:41 – The Stamp Duty Trap First Buyers Miss

09:42 – First Home Owner Grant Explained

18:26 – Low Deposit Pathways Explained

23:28 – Shared Equity: The Trade-Offs to Know

28:46 – Choosing the Right Scheme for Your Goals

30:24 – How to Use Incentives the Right Way

32:49 – Join the Community & Keep Learning

• 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

Buying a property is about to involve more paperwork than many buyers expect.

From July 2026, Australia's anti-money laundering reforms will introduce new checks for property transactions. That means first home buyers may be asked to provide identification, bank statements, gift letters, inheritance records, and evidence showing where their deposit funds came from.

In this episode, Veronica and Meighan break down what the new property buying rules mean in practice, why these changes are being introduced, and how buyers can prepare before signing a contract. They explain the documentation that may be required, the situations that can trigger additional questions, and the simple steps that can help you avoid unnecessary delays during settlement.

If you're planning to buy your first home in the next few years, this episode will help you understand what's changing and how to stay one step ahead.

01:52 – Why Property Buyers Are Facing New Checks

03:36 – The New Property Rules Starting in 2026

06:29 – What Triggers Extra Questions and Scrutiny?

10:19 – When Will Buyers Be Asked for Documents?

13:26 – The Biggest Misunderstandings Buyers Have

16:46 – How These Changes Could Benefit Buyers

18:28 – Your Property Compliance Checklist

21:02 – How to Prepare Before You Buy

• 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

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