First Home Buyer Guide

1. Saving Your Deposit

Most lenders require a deposit to begin the home buying process. Planning ahead and setting savings goals can help you prepare effectively. Understanding how much you may need, and over what timeframe, can also help you narrow down realistic locations and property types.

2. Finance Pre-Approval

Pre-approval gives you a clearer idea of your budget and helps streamline your property search. It also signals to sellers that you're ready to move forward. Knowing your borrowing capacity in advance reduces uncertainty and allows you to focus on properties within your range.

3. Finding the Right Property

Think about your lifestyle, commute, and future plans. Researching suburbs and comparing listings can help narrow down your options. Consider factors such as school zones, public transport, access to amenities and how the property might suit your needs over the longer term.

4. How Buyers Agents Can Help First Home Buyers

Buyers agents work on behalf of the buyer to simplify the search, provide market insights, and assist with property evaluations. They can be especially helpful for first-time buyers who want guidance and support throughout the journey, from refining criteria to attending inspections and negotiating on your behalf.

Our neutral overview What Is a Buyers Agent? explains the role in more detail and how it fits alongside your solicitor, broker and accountant.

5. Using a Buyers Agent for Your First Home

Phrases such as "buyers agent for first home buyers" and "first home buyer property agent" are simply different ways of describing a licensed professional who represents you – the purchaser – during your first home search. In practice, this might mean helping you prioritise suburbs, shortlist properties, and plan for inspections and offers.

Many people also look for "property buying help first home" or an "independent buyers agent for first home" when they want general support with the process but still intend to rely on their own legal, tax and financial advisers for specific advice. An independent buyers agent typically focuses on the buyer side of the transaction, rather than selling properties on behalf of developers or vendors.

You may even see longer queries like "buying first home agent NSW/QLD/VIC", which reflect that first home buyers in different states often look for similar kinds of support, even though the legal frameworks, grants and contract processes differ between NSW, QLD and VIC.

Whether a buyers agent is right for you as a first home buyer is a personal decision. It can help to:

• List the parts of the process you feel most and least confident about.
• Ask potential buyers agents for first home buyers how their service would (and would not) address those areas.
• Discuss their written proposal, fees and scope with your solicitor or financial adviser before signing anything.