This year brought some of our most eye-opening and challenging conversations yet. In this Christmas-Eve episode, we’re pulling together the biggest insights from 2025. These aren’t highlights — they’re gold nuggets that could save you money, regret, and years of lost progress.

We revisit the truth about rentvesting, the episode that reshaped how we explain compounding growth, and the surprising risks uncovered through Title Insurance. You’ll also hear our breakdown of the Pain & Gain Report, showing why some properties boom while others stall. These lessons genuinely shifted how first home buyers should approach their decisions.

We unpack what hot markets taught us about buyer behaviour, offer strategy, and staying grounded under pressure. We also revisit powerful coaching moments from our Campfire sessions. These real conversations helped buyers get unstuck and apply the process with clarity.

Whether you’re planning to buy in early 2026 or trying to make sense of the market, this episode distils what truly matters. You’ll learn how to think long-term, reduce risk, and choose assets with confidence. If it saves you even one misstep, every conversation this year has been worth it.

00:00 — Introduction and Podcast Highlights

00:38 — Welcome to Your First Home Buyer Guide

01:23 — Reflecting on Key Lessons

02:14 — Rentvesting Insights

03:20 — Understanding Title Insurance

05:36 — The Power of Compounding Growth

08:54 — CoreLogic Pain and Gain Report

13:24 — Navigating Offers in Hot Markets

16:00 — Understanding the Home Buying Process

16:48 — Exclusive Campfire Coaching Sessions

18:40 — Mindset and Media Influence

20:34 — Navigating Home Buyer Blues

23:49 — Making the Right Compromises

26:08 — Learning from Disaster Stories

27:18 — Engaging with the Community

28:38 — Year-End Reflections and Holiday Wishes

• Episode 205 — Rentvesting: What You Need to Know Before Taking the Leap
• Episode 207 — How Rentvesting Can Secure—or Sabotage—Your Financial Future
• Episode 211 — What Tax Benefits Can First-Home Buyers Gain from Rentvesting?
• Episode 212 — What Happens When Due Diligence Isn’t Enough?
• Episode 218 — The Magic of Compounding—Why It’s a Game-Changer for Property Owners
• Episode 225 — Inside Australia’s Riskiest Property Types According to New Data
• Episode 226 — How First Home Buyers Can Keep Up in a Hot Property Market
• Episode 230 — Inside a Real Coaching Call That Transforms First Home Buyers
• Episode 239 — Fix the Habits, Change the Game: What It Really Takes to Buy Your First Home

Your dream suburb’s out of reach? Don’t panic. You’re not locked out of the property market—just in need of a smarter strategy.

In this episode, Meighan and Veronica unpack three powerful ways to buy your first property sooner, even if you can’t afford to live exactly where you want right now. From rentvesting and using a guarantor to co-ownership, they break down how each option works, the risks to watch for, and how to choose what fits your long-term goals.

You’ll learn the golden rules of rentvesting (and why “investment grade” property matters), when it makes sense to lean on the Bank of Mum and Dad, and how to set up solid agreements if you’re buying with family or friends. They also call out the hidden traps—like government incentives that look generous but can actually cost you long-term growth.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, priced out, or convinced your dream suburb will never happen, this episode is your circuit breaker. You’ll walk away knowing how to get started, make strategic compromises, and build a plan that gets you in the market without giving up on your goals.

Listen now and learn how to buy smart—even when you can’t buy where you want.

00:00 – Overcoming the Dream Suburb Dilemma

01:31 – How the PACE System Helps You Plan

03:09 – What Rentvesting Really Means

09:46 – How a Guarantor Can Help You Buy

10:52 – LMI or Guarantor Which Is Better

12:03 – What to Know About Grants and Schemes

14:29 – Pooling Resources Through Co Ownership

15:19 – Getting Legal and Financial Advice

17:42 – Final Thoughts and Next Steps

• Episode 256 – Mortgage Strategy for First Home Buyers
• Episode 205 – Rentvesting: What You Need to Know Before Taking the Leap
• Episode 207 – How Rentvesting Can Secure—or Sabotage—Your Financial Future
• Episode 211– What Tax Benefits Can First-Home Buyers Gain from Rentvesting?
• Episode 152 – How Guarantor Loans & Government Deposit Schemes Work for First Home Buyers
• Episode 49 – What Can Go Wrong When Borrowing from the Bank of Mum & Dad? (with Barry Frakes)

• THE First Home Buyer Course is our Step-By-Step, No BS Guide to Every Stage of The Home Buying Process – It’s the next best thing to having your own buyer’s agent. With our expert guidance, you’ll know what to do at every step along the way. Become a home owner faster and easier. Click here: https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBG

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFirstHomeBuyerCourse
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:

Young Australians are priced out — but the real story is far more empowering. They’re not stepping back from the market; they’re stepping in with strategy, curiosity, and better tools than ever. From rentvesting to financial education on TikTok, buyers today are finding new ways to enter the market on their own terms.

Today’s first home buyers are strategic, curious, and using platforms like TikTok to learn about rentvesting, borrowing, and smart property decisions.

In this episode, Meighan and Veronica chat with Ray White economists Nerida Conisbee and Atom Go Tian about their research into what first home buyers are actually doing. From trending TikTok finance topics to the rise of rentvesting and the impact of the 5% deposit scheme, the data shows buyers are taking action — not giving up.

We break down why younger buyers trust social media over traditional media, how financial literacy is growing fast, and why many are choosing strategy over “dream homes.”

00:00 — Introduction: First Home Buyers Are Getting Smarter

00:23 — Meet the Hosts and Their Mission

01:04 —Debunking the Media Narrative

01:39 — Strategies of Modern First Home Buyers

02:27 — The Role of Social Media in Property Education

03:32 — Rentvesting: A Popular Strategy

04:23 — Challenges and Misconceptions

07:19 — Engagement Patterns on TikTok

09:46 — Financial Literacy and Social Media

22:12 — The Importance of Location-Specific Research

31:03 — Advice for First Home Buyers

32:57 — Conclusion and Final Thoughts

• THE First Home Buyer Course is our Step-By-Step, No BS Guide to Every Stage of The Home Buying Process – It’s the next best thing to having your own buyer’s agent. With our expert guidance, you’ll know what to do at every step along the way. Become a home owner faster and easier. Click here: https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBG

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFirstHomeBuyerCourse
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/your-first-home-buyer-guide-podcast/id1544701825

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GyrfXoqvDxjqNRv40NVQs?si=7c8bc4362fab421f