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Your First Home Buyer Guide Podcast

Your First Home Buyer Guide Podcast

By: Veronica Morgan & Meighan Wells
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Your First Home Buyer Guide. Get there without missing a step.

 Economics
Episodes
  • Grants, Schemes & Stamp Duty: The Costly Mistake First Home Buyers Keep Making

    Grants, Schemes & Stamp Duty: The Costly Mistake First Home Buyers Keep Making
    May 20 2025
    Are you making your whole property decision just to avoid paying stamp duty? We see this all the time, and honestly, it could cost you far more than you think in the long run. In this episode, we’re joined by mortgage broker Andrew Wheatley to talk about the one big mistake we keep seeing first home buyers make: getting stuck on staying under the grant or concession thresholds. Andrew works with buyers every day and has a really practical way of helping people step back and look at the bigger picture, not just what they might save today, but what that decision could mean for their future wealth and lifestyle. We go through what those thresholds actually mean, how much you’re really saving (or missing out on), and why some people end up stuck looking for months just because they didn’t realise they could stretch a little further without taking on more risk. It’s not about spending more just for the sake of it, it’s about making sure you understand all your options and make a decision that sets you up for the long term. If you’re a first home buyer trying to make sense of all the government schemes, this chat will help you clear the noise and focus on what really matters, buying a quality asset that grows with you. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 03:01 - Who is Andrew Wheatley? 04:07 - What’s the biggest trap buyers fall into with stamp duty concessions? 09:13 - Should you explore options above the scheme threshold? 11:25 - Why so many first home buyers are competing at the same price point 14:04 - How much more do you really pay if you go over the threshold? 19:09 - What’s the smarter way to set your property budget? 21:54 - Why being “ready” matters more than being fast 23:26 - Is it bad advice to avoid stretching your budget on your first home? 29:50 - Why do buyers fixate on free money from the government? 31:37 - Can chasing a grant cost you capital growth? 32:52 - Should your first home also be a good investment? 39:12 - What are Andrew’s top tips for first home buyers? 45:04 - What’s one thing Andrew wishes he knew as a first home buyer? About Our Guest: Andrew Wheatley is the founder and lead mortgage broker at Wheatley Finance, based in Yarraville, Victoria. With over 20 years of experience in the finance industry, Andrew is passionate about helping Australians navigate the complexities of home loans and property finance. His dedication to client success has earned him recognition, including the Finance Brokers Association of Australia’s (FBAA) Victoria Finance Broker of the Year Award in both 2021 and 2022. Andrew established Wheatley Finance to empower clients with tailored financial solutions, aiming to shift the balance of power from banks to borrowers. He is known for his client-centric approach and commitment to providing clear, honest advice to help individuals achieve their homeownership goals. Connect with Andrew Wheatley: Website https://www.wheatleyfinance.com/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-wheatley/ Resources: FREE MINI COURSE: How to price property like a professional https://www.homebuyeracademy.com.au/freecourseMeet our recommended mortgage brokers at Home Buyer Academy https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/brokersVisit our website https://www.homebuyeracademy.com.au/Join our Facebook Group to get access to free monthly live Q&A sessionshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/yourfirsthomebuyerguideaustraliaLearn how to buy property without making a mistake with our ultimate 10-step online course for first time home buyers https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBGIf you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: Your First Home Buyer Guide Podcast support@homebuyeracademy.com.auLooking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.auWork with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.auLooking for a Brisbane Buyers Agent? https://www.propertypursuit.com.au/Work with Meighan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meighanwells/ 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/@YourFirstHomeBuyerGuidePodcastSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/your-first-home-buyer-guide-podcast/id1544701825Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GyrfXoqvDxjqNRv40NVQs?si=7c8bc4362fab421fSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    49 mins
  • Substations, LMI, Rentvesting, Auctions & Strata Risks: First Home Buyer Q&A

    Substations, LMI, Rentvesting, Auctions & Strata Risks: First Home Buyer Q&A
    May 13 2025

    How do we deal with some of the quirkiest first-home-buyer dilemmas? In this episode, we’re answering real questions from our Facebook group; like whether it’s a bad idea to buy next to a substation, what to do when we’re weighing up LMI and rentvesting, and how to make sense of strata reports when there’s not a lot to go on. It’s all the stuff that doesn’t always have a black and white answer, but definitely deserves a proper chat.

    We start with substations because that one comes up a lot. Are EMFs something to worry about, or is it more about resale and how it feels when we’re standing on our balcony staring at a big grey box? Veronica even shares what a nuclear physicist told her when she was looking at a property for a client, and we get into how much of it is science vs perception.

    Then we get into the rentvesting vs buy-to-live conversation, especially when Lender’s Mortgage Insurance is involved. Should we wait it out and save that 20% deposit? Or is it better to just get in and deal with the LMI? Meighan talks through our own experience here, what we’d do differently and what actually matters when we’re doing the numbers.

    And if we’ve been wondering whether to throw in a pre-auction offer or how to deal with limited strata info… Yep, we cover that too. From knowing what questions to ask agents, to spotting red flags when we haven’t even seen a report, we go through how we think about these tricky calls and the kinds of risks we might want to weigh up.

    If we’re deep in the first home buyer trenches, this one’s full of real talk, honest stories, and things we’ve learned the hard way.

    Episode Highlights:

    00:00 - Introduction

    01:59 - Should I be worried about buying next to a substation?

    07:52 - Is it worth paying LMI if it means I can buy sooner and rentvest?

    11:39 - Should I make a pre-auction offer or wait until auction day?

    15:55 - What should I look out for in a strata report, and how do I assess risk if I can’t see it yet?

    Resources:

    • FREE MINI COURSE: How to price property like a professional https://www.homebuyeracademy.com.au/freecourse
    • Meet our recommended mortgage brokers at Home Buyer Academy https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/brokers
    • Visit our website https://www.homebuyeracademy.com.au/
    • Join our Facebook Group to get access to free monthly live Q&A sessions
    • https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourfirsthomebuyerguideaustralia
    • Learn how to buy property without making a mistake with our ultimate 10-step online course for first time home buyers https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBG
    • If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: Your First Home Buyer Guide Podcast support@homebuyeracademy.com.au
    • Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
    • Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
    • Looking for a Brisbane Buyers Agent? https://www.propertypursuit.com.au/
    • Work with Meighan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meighanwells/

    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/@YourFirstHomeBuyerGuidePodcast
    • 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

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • The Grant Trap – How One Mistake Cost Us the First Home Guarantee

    The Grant Trap – How One Mistake Cost Us the First Home Guarantee
    May 6 2025

    You’ve got your deposit sorted, your plans lined up, and you’re finally ready to buy your first home, and then boom… one small misstep knocks you out of the running for a scheme that could’ve saved you tens of thousands.

    That’s what happened to these two first home buyers who were doing all the right things. They were organised, informed, and using the First Home Super Saver scheme to boost their deposit, they had their sights set on the First Home Guarantee to avoid lender’s mortgage insurance. But what they didn’t realise was that the timing of withdrawing those funds would impact their income assessment… and cost them their eligibility.

    In this episode, we break down exactly where things went wrong and why two government schemes designed to help buyers don’t always work well together. It’s a real-life example that highlights just how tricky this space can be, and how easy it is to fall into a trap when you don’t have the right people guiding you.

    If you’re planning to use any kind of grant or incentive to buy property, this is one you don’t want to miss. The right move at the wrong time can undo everything, but with the right advice, it doesn’t have to.

    Episode Highlights:

    00:00 - Introduction

    03:14 - Sam and Joe’s story: What went wrong

    04:37 - Three key takeaways for first home buyers

    06:31 - What happened because they withdrew their Super Saver funds a little too early

    08:39 - A quick refresher on how the super saver scheme and the first home guarantee works

    11:02 - Why these two schemes weren’t designed to work together

    14:20 - Solutions if you’d like to use the super saver scheme and first home guarantee

    Resources:

    • FREE MINI COURSE: How to price property like a professional https://www.homebuyeracademy.com.au/freecourse
    • Meet our recommended mortgage brokers at Home Buyer Academy https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/brokers
    • Visit our website https://www.homebuyeracademy.com.au/
    • Join our Facebook Group to get access to free monthly live Q&A sessions
    • https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourfirsthomebuyerguideaustralia
    • Learn how to buy property without making a mistake with our ultimate 10-step online course for first time home buyers https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBG
    • If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: Your First Home Buyer Guide Podcast - support@homebuyeracademy.com.au
    • Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
    • Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
    • Looking for a Brisbane Buyers Agent? https://www.propertypursuit.com.au/
    • Work with Meighan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meighanwells/

    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/@YourFirstHomeBuyerGuidePodcast
    • 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

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins

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