Lenders use a fairly predictable formula to decide how much they will lend you, and most of the inputs are things you can change without a raise. Seven practical levers first home buyers can pull - closing unused credit cards, clearing BNPL, adjusting HECS timing, extending the loan term, using eligible government schemes and applying jointly - and a worked example showing how the same salary can support tens of thousands more in borrowing capacity.
Property listings across the capital cities have climbed to their highest level in seven years, with homes taking longer to sell and vendors accepting bigger discounts. Here's what more supply and softer demand mean if you're buying.
HSBC's chief economist says national home values could fall 13% from their April 2026 peak by mid-2027, which would be the largest housing correction in decades. Here's what a call this size means for first home buyers.
RBA governor Michele Bullock and deputy governor Andrew Hauser told a parliamentary hearing on 18 September that interest rates are only just back to a sensible level, days before the Reserve Bank's next cash rate decision.
Queensland buyers of off-the-plan apartments and townhouses have until 21 October 2026 to sign a contract and lock in a valuable transfer duty concession. Here's what first home buyers and other buyers need to know before it closes.
Western Australia's $297 million housing tax package raises stamp duty exemption and concession thresholds and lifts the First Home Owner Grant cap to $800,000, giving Perth first home buyers more room to move.
HIA's New Home Sales report shows sales dropped 10% in August 2026, the lowest level in over a year, as HIA warns the new-home market can't absorb further rate rises on top of this year's tax reforms.
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index fell 5.2% in September, with the 'time to buy a dwelling' reading dropping sharply as more households expect mortgage rates to rise.
A new PIPA survey shows a record share of property investors sold up in the year to August 2026, with more than 60% of those homes going to owner-occupiers and first home buyers.
Spring listings are running about 24% above last year while auction clearance rates stay well below 2025 levels, giving first home buyers more choice and room to negotiate in September 2026.
Upper-quartile house values in Sydney and Melbourne have dropped more than 10% from their peaks, while units in dozens of the same premium suburbs still sell for under $1 million. Here's what the widening gap means if you're buying your first home.
National rental vacancy fell to a record 1.47% in September as rents rose at their fastest quarterly pace in about two years, adding pressure on first home buyers still saving a deposit while renting.