In this special Q&A episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with property editor Liam Garman to tackle listeners’ top questions about navigating Australia’s challenging property market as a first-time buyer.

The episode covers everything from market dynamics to financial preparedness, with a strong focus on the importance of thorough property inspections, especially when buying apartments or new builds, which often come with hidden structural issues.

Liam urges buyers to favour established properties over off-the-plan ones, citing inflated prices, oversupply risks, and aggressive sales incentives in new developments.

Financial strategy is a key theme, with Liam recommending a 20 per cent deposit to avoid lender’s mortgage insurance and advising against prioritising student debt repayment over asset acquisition.

The show also explores saving tactics, suggesting short-term, practical methods like budgeting and taking on extra work, rather than investing in shares or super.

For those considering joint purchases, the hosts caution against buying with friends due to exit risks, instead recommending rentvesting for solo buyers.

They emphasise the need to treat the first property as a stepping stone, not a forever home, and stress the value of maintaining a financial buffer.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer is joined by financial adviser John Stallman from Super Advice AI to discuss key financial strategies for first-time buyers.

John shares key strategies for navigating the Australian property market, emphasising the importance of timing and simplifying complex financial topics for first-time buyers.

The discussion highlights how manageable financial planning can empower buyers, with John drawing from his investment journey to demonstrate the value of early, strategic decisions.

Government initiatives such as the deposit guarantee program and the First Home Super Saver Scheme are presented as effective tools for reducing upfront financial hurdles.

John also introduces the concept of “rentvesting” – renting where you live while owning an investment property – as a savvy approach to leverage tax benefits through negative gearing.

He emphasises the importance of long-term financial planning, built on four key pillars: property investment, superannuation, contingency reserves, and maintaining a lifestyle balance.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with investor and founder of the Right Property Group, Reshmi Kumar, to discuss the importance of strategy and goal-setting for first-time buyers navigating Australia’s property market.

The duo first reflects on the urgency that young buyers often feel to enter the market, driven by the fear of missing out.

Reshmi emphasises the importance of careful planning and setting SMART goals, using her own journey – beginning with just $4,500 and purchasing a $137,000 home in 1998 – as proof of how a modest start can evolve into long-term wealth.

She explains how each property she bought with her husband, Victor, aligned with broader life goals they had, such as schools and lifestyle, and recommends capital-growth-focused investments, especially for women balancing family and career.

Reshmi also advises giving at least a year between purchases to gain hands-on experience with ownership responsibilities and financial management.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with Lyndsey Fall, a first-time investor who adopted rentvesting – renting in her preferred location while investing elsewhere – as a savvy way to enter the Australian property market.

Originally from the UK, Lindsey relocated to Sydney and subsequently chose to invest in Perth, where she identified strong market potential.

She emphasises the value of research, clear goals, disciplined saving, and support networks, crediting digital tools and a trusted agent for managing her remote purchase.

Despite never seeing the property in person, she navigated the process confidently by understanding each step and maintaining financial discipline through detailed budgeting.

Lindsey’s story highlights the value of having a financial buffer, relying on professional property management, and being prepared to learn throughout the process.

Since she purchased her investment property, its value has grown significantly, and she now plans to leverage her equity to buy a second one.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with accountant Munzurul Khan from KHI Partners to unpack the tax implications of property ownership in Australia.

Munzurul outlines the key differences between owner-occupiers and rentvestors, noting that while the former receive no ongoing tax deductions, they benefit from capital gains and land tax exemptions.

Rentvestors, however, can claim a wide range of deductions, including loan interest, maintenance, and borrowing costs.

Munzurul emphasises meticulous recordkeeping, using spreadsheets and property managers for accurate tax claims, while also highlighting deductions for work expenses, insurance, and super contributions.

He also breaks down how capital gains tax applies when selling an investment property, highlighting the 50 per cent discount available after 12 months of ownership.

The duo also provides the benefits of collaborating with a strategic accountant over a purely transactional one, particularly for long-term planning.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with Dr Diaswati (Asti) Mardiasmo, chief economist at PRD, about the complexities facing first-time buyers in Australia’s evolving property market.

Asti likens the market to an octopus with many influencing factors: population growth, interest rates, supply, government support, and foreign investment laws – all of which buyers must consider.

She encourages breaking the market into smaller, manageable segments, such as stock type and location, to identify realistic opportunities.

Notably, cities such as Brisbane, Adelaide, and Hobart are now outpacing Sydney and Melbourne in growth, with units experiencing stronger price increases due to limited housing supply.

Despite support schemes like the 5 per cent deposit program, Asti notes that rising prices and limited scheme availability make it more challenging to enter the market.

She urges buyers to focus on financial readiness over seasonal timing, warning against waiting for perfect conditions.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with KHI head buyer’s agent and Australia’s former top mortgage broker, Ross Le Quesne, to discuss finances and long-term wealth-building strategies.

The episode begins with Ross sharing insights from his journey, having purchased his first home in the early 2000s for $315,000, which would be worth over $1 million today, illustrating the growing challenges that first-time buyers face.

He stresses the importance of focusing on future goals rather than emotional attachments to properties, cautioning against becoming accidental investors.

Ross also debunks the myth that a 20 per cent deposit is necessary, highlighting options like family guarantor loans and lender’s mortgage insurance to help buyers enter the market sooner.

He emphasises consulting a mortgage broker early for financial guidance beyond loans and warns against off-the-plan properties, urging buyers to choose assets that support long-term wealth creation.

Ultimately, Ross encourages buyers to act promptly, as property remains a powerful wealth-building tool despite current market challenges.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with Kev Tran, director and principal buyer’s agent at Kev Tran Group, to discuss the key dilemma for first-time buyers: buying a home to live in versus starting with an investment.

Kev shares how he went from a misinformed first purchase to becoming a successful rentvestor with four properties, now favouring established homes over off-the-plan buys due to delays and poor capital growth.

He explains that while a primary residence offers stability, it can limit borrowing power, whereas rentvesting allows buyers to invest in more affordable markets and benefit from tax advantages.

The duo also highlights a growing trend called “stayvesting” where buyers live with family while investing.

Kev said rentvestors and stayvestors should focus on building a strong support team, especially having a skilled broker and property manager, and prioritise strategic locations with solid economic fundamentals.

While government incentives can help, Kev urges buyers to think beyond short-term perks and focus on long-term financial outcomes.