In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with Nick Voegt from Smash Property Investing to explore how first-time buyers can navigate the market through understanding key data.

Nick starts by sharing his experience in buying his first off-the-plan property in Schofields, north-west Sydney, at the market peak in 2017, which he held onto despite early dips.

He reflects on experiencing “analysis paralysis,” a common hurdle for first-time buyers overwhelmed by information, emphasising the need for decisiveness.

According to Nick, first-time buyers can gain an edge in a competitive market by focusing on sales volumes, days on market, and overall market momentum rather than just historical growth.

He also explains the buying the “worst house on the best street” strategy to add value through renovations and “rentvesting”, which allows buyers to invest while renting their primary residence.

He also highlights promising investment regions across Australia, including Melbourne, Victoria, and Brisbane, Queensland, for different budgets.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with finance broker Rob Shanley from Propple to explore how first-time buyers can enter the market by co-investing with friends or family.

With property prices continuing to rise, many young Australians are turning to this strategy as a more attainable path to home ownership.

Rob says that pooling resources allows buyers to share deposits, loan repayments, and renovation costs, making it easier to buy sooner, with lenders adapting to the trend by offering products designed to match it.

Beyond financial benefits, co-investment also offers accountability and shared support, helping co-investors stay on track during major life events.

However, trust and clear agreements are essential, with Rob stressing the need for well-drafted co-ownership contracts that outline responsibilities, expenses, and exit strategies.

Unlike spousal ownership, most co-investment arrangements employ a “tenants in common” structure, which grants each party control over their portion while safeguarding individual interests.

As affordability challenges grow, Rob says that co-investing is becoming an increasingly popular pathway for first home buyers to build wealth together.

In this special episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with real estate managing editor Liam Garman to share her personal journey as a first-time buyer, reflecting on the insights she gained from the podcast guests.

From launching the First Property Buyer Show to becoming a first-time home owner, Emilie, the host, turned her property reporting into a personal experience.

Her journey began six months ago when she set out to understand the first home buying process, providing practical tips and lessons for buyers navigating Australia’s competitive market.

Interviewing experts from buyer’s agents to property investors, Emilie gained insights that guided her through Sydney’s competitive market.

She and her fiancé, Chris, searched for a two-bedroom home, initially hoping for two bathrooms, and explored suburbs like Rosebery and Zetland. However, like many first-time home buyers, they had to compromise.

Financial preparedness proved crucial, with mortgage pre-approval and a clear budget allowing them to act quickly when they found their ideal property in Drummoyne.

Strata reports, inspections, and negotiation skills learnt across the previous podcast episodes also helped the couple win the property.

Settling in, they were thankful to have kept a financial buffer as they began tackling renovations and managing unexpected costs, including a hot water tank replacement.