Market Updates
Vendor discounts at 3.1%: a softening market for buyers
Cotality flagged a market nearing a downturn, with vendor discounting at 3.1% and Sydney and Melbourne values easing. See what shifting conditions mean.
Guides
First Home Buyer Guides
Plain-English articles to help you navigate schemes, grants, and the numbers behind buying your first home in Australia.
Showing page 11 of 12, 144 guides
Schemes & Grants
5% Deposit Scheme Is Lifting Entry-Level Prices
Cotality research shows homes below each state's 5% Deposit Scheme cap rose 6.7% in six months, near double the 3.6% above it. What it means for savers.
Schemes & Grants
Federal Budget 2026: every housing change for buyers
Help to Buy expansion, negative gearing changes, CGT reform and 100,000 new homes were confirmed in Federal Budget 2026. See what each change may mean.
Market Updates
Banks Split on 2026 House Price Forecasts
ANZ forecasts Sydney prices to fall 0.7% in 2026 while Westpac sees a 3% rise. See how buyers can think about timing and run the numbers themselves.
Schemes & Grants
WA Budget 2026-27: stamp duty thresholds lifted
WA's May 2026 budget lifted first home buyer stamp duty thresholds by $100,000 and extended the off-the-plan concession to 2028. See what changed.
Schemes & Grants
Federal Budget May 12: a buyer's guide before Tuesday
The May 12 federal budget may bring CGT and negative gearing reform plus an $800m Help to Buy boost and wider caps. See what to weigh up before Tuesday.
Market Updates
Housing Affordability Hits Record Low 2026
National housing now takes 29.6% of household income (Sydney 40.4%) after the RBA reached 4.35%. See what first home buyers can realistically do.
Market Updates
RBA Cash Rate Hits 4.35%: 2026 Rate Hike
The RBA lifted the cash rate 0.25% to 4.35% on 5 May - the third hike of 2026. See what it could mean for repayments, borrowing power and your deposit.
Market Updates
Perth vs Sydney: Two-Speed Market in 2026
Cotality's April 2026 figures show Perth up 24% in a year while Sydney slips. See what the two-speed market means for buyers in each capital.
Mortgages & Loans
RBA May 2026 Decision: Prepare Your Mortgage
All four major banks forecast a 0.25% hike to 4.35% at the RBA's 5 May meeting. Review your borrowing power and stress test repayments before Tuesday.
Market Updates
Affordability at 29.6%: what Moody's warning means
Australia's affordability measure hit 29.6% of income in March 2026, with Sydney at 40.4%. Moody's warns it could reach 32.9% if rates keep rising.
Schemes & Grants
Help to Buy Update 2026: 7,700 Places Left
The first Help to Buy households have settled, with 2,300 of 10,000 yearly places approved. See eligibility, price caps and how the equity scheme works.