In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with Dawn Fouhy of Future Proof Property Advisory about breaking into Melbourne's shifting property market.

According to Fouhy, the Melbourne market has held firm over the past six months, with strategies like guarantor loans and sibling co-purchases helping first-time buyers gain entry.

Drawing on her own experience, she explains how buying at the bottom of the cycle delivered strong capital growth and underscored the value of timing.

She acknowledges the fear and confusion that often come with a first purchase – particularly around finance and stamp duty – but stresses that discipline and short-term sacrifice can accelerate long-term gains.

Despite recent price growth, she notes houses under $700,000 are still achievable in outer suburbs, alongside well-positioned units and townhouses.

For investors, Fouhy backs rentvesting and prioritising capital growth over yield as the key to building wealth. She urges buyers to do rigorous due diligence, avoid high-density oversupply and target scarce, owner-occupier-grade assets.

While optimistic about Melbourne's recovery, she warns against oversaturated pockets and encourages buyers to focus on job-rich areas and resilient property types.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer is joined by Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos to unpack how rising interest rates and shifting lending policies are reshaping the path to home ownership.

The trio breaks down the Reserve Bank of Australia's recent 0.25 per cent cash rate increase and explains how inflationary pressures are driving tighter monetary policy.

They warn that even modest rate hikes can significantly reduce borrowing capacity, particularly as property prices continue to climb.

The discussion highlights how successive increases compound repayment pressures, widening the gap between what buyers can borrow and what homes cost.

Loisance outlines how family pledge arrangements are helping first home buyers enter the market without a large cash deposit by leveraging parental equity.

Arvanitopoulos stresses that borrowing power varies widely between lenders, making broker guidance critical in navigating credit policies and living expense assessments.

The brokers also reframe lenders mortgage insurance as a strategic tool that can help buyers secure property sooner and potentially benefit from capital growth.

Ultimately, the hosts emphasise proactive budgeting, refinancing strategies, and informed decision-making as essential tools for buyers operating in a volatile rate environment.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer spoke with Kev Tran of Kev Tran Group about how young Australians can realistically build their property portfolios in 2026.

Tran says strong market fundamentals have been keeping property prices growing despite interest rate hikes, but warns that rising prices and stagnant wages will limit borrowing power, making income growth essential.

He highlights shaping strategies around factors such as loan-to-value ratios, guarantor support, and lenders mortgage insurance, and encourages buyers to look beyond local markets for affordability.

First-time investors should understand their finances and work with a broker to identify suitable properties. Tran names Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia as hotspots, noting Melbourne may offer value after slower growth.

Tran also cautions against high-supply apartments with large strata fees and overstretching on programs such as the 5 per cent Deposit Scheme.

Ultimately, the duo urge first-time investors to avoid hesitation and FOMO-driven choices, focus on education and preparation, and seize opportunities amid market uncertainty.