Plain-English articles to help you navigate schemes, grants, and the numbers behind buying your first home in Australia.
News and trends
NAB, CBA and ANZ have reversed their RBA forecasts and now expect another cash rate hike by September or November 2026 after inflation ran hotter than expected. Here's what a possible rate rise could mean for your borrowing power and repayments.
Suburb Guides
Perth's median house price is above $760k, but genuine first home buyer entry points still exist under $550k across Nollamara, Butler, Armadale, Gosnells and Baldivis, plus new build corridors in Alkimos, Eglinton and Yanchep. How the WA $10k FHOG, the first home buyer stamp duty exemption, the federal 5% Deposit Scheme and the Yanchep Rail Extension all stack up in 2026.
News and trends
Perth was the only capital to stay positive in July's home value figures, but listings are now running about 28% higher than a year ago, giving first home buyers more choice and negotiating room than at any point during the recent boom.
News and trends
The monthly trimmed mean rose to 0.5% in July, keeping underlying inflation at 3.6% just weeks after the RBA held the cash rate steady. Here's what a possible September hike could mean for first home buyers.
News and trends
A major residential land developer has forecast a sharp fall in new land sales and says first home buyer inquiry has dropped by around half since the budget's negative gearing and CGT changes. Here's what a slower new-build pipeline could mean for your search.
Opinion
An honest, broker-respectful explainer for first home buyers on why advice around Help to Buy varies from client to client. Covers when a broker might reasonably steer you toward a larger deposit, when Help to Buy is likely to win, the trailing commission dynamic to be aware of, and the specific questions to ask so you can arrive at your next broker meeting better informed.
News and trends
The government's 1.2 million homes target won't be met until the end of 2030, and NSW isn't expected to hit its share until March 2032, according to the latest housing supply report. Here's what the ongoing shortfall means for buyers.
News and trends
New ABS data shows wage growth holding at 3.2% while real wages stay below their 2022 level, and unemployment nudging up to 4.5% in July. Here's what the mixed signals mean for buyers watching the interest rate path.
News and trends
Domain's latest House Price Report shows 15 suburbs, mostly in Victoria and NSW, sliding back under key $1 million, $2 million and $3 million median price benchmarks. Here's what that could mean for buyers watching those areas.
News and trends
New realestate.com.au research shows almost half of buyers who used the federal 5% Deposit Scheme since October 2025 hold thin equity, though genuine negative equity remains rare. Here's what the numbers mean for first home buyers.
News and trends
CBA, Westpac, ANZ and NAB are reporting double-digit falls in investor mortgage applications since May's negative gearing changes, with analysts pointing to a coming mortgage war for owner-occupier borrowers.
Suburb Guides
Melbourne's median house price sits near $950k, but real first home buyer entry points remain under $700k across the outer growth corridors, and unit pockets stay under the $600k stamp duty cliff. How Craigieburn, Tarneit, Cranbourne, Melton, Werribee, Footscray, Clayton and Springvale stack up in 2026, plus how the Victorian FHOG, the $600k stamp duty exemption and the federal 5% Deposit Scheme layer on each.