In the latest episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with Strategic Brokers' Hung Chuy about the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest cash rate hike and its impact on first home buyers.

Chuy said the 0.25 percentage point rise to 4.10 per cent was expected, and while it affects borrowing capacity, the impact is not as significant as many assume.

He notes lenders are already assessing borrowers under tighter buffers, effectively resetting borrowing power to similar levels seen around a year ago.

Despite affordability pressures, Chuy says the entry-level market remains highly competitive, with first home buyers, investors, and grant recipients all competing for the same price points.

He points to Melbourne suburbs 20–25 kilometres from the CBD as still offering value, with homes around $700,000 providing strong land and housing appeal.

The pair notes that while higher rates can feel restrictive, they may also create opportunities by reducing competition and improving negotiation conditions for prepared buyers.

Chuy urges buyers to focus on asset selection and avoid overextending financially, highlighting fixed and split loans as tools for managing risk and repayment certainty in a shifting rate environment.

Looking ahead, Chuy says success comes down to strategy over timing, with well-prepared buyers better positioned to navigate changing conditions.

In a dynamic crossover episode of The Smart Property Investment Show and the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with PRD chief economist Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo to explore how data drives property investment decisions in Australia.

They begin by highlighting the importance of analysing long-term trends, with Mardiasmo advising investors to examine seven to ten years of suburb performance rather than reacting to short-term fluctuations.

Rental yield, vacancy rates, and upcoming developments in the suburbs are also flagged as key metrics for assessing potential returns and risks.

Despite the recent 0.25 per cent cash rate increase, Mardiasmo says demand remains strong across the country.

The duo dives deep into the different markets, noting that Sydney and Melbourne have slowed, while Brisbane's unit market surged 18 per cent over the past year, boosted in part by the upcoming 2032 Olympics.

Brisbane's growth is spreading beyond the city centre to suburbs like Logan and Ipswich, offering affordable investment options.

Melbourne, while slower-growing, presents value opportunities, with new apartment supply potentially driving renewed investor interest.

Mardiasmo also discusses challenges for first home buyers, noting reduced borrowing power but highlighting available government grants and schemes.

Overall, the episode offers practical, data-driven insights for investors and first home buyers, emphasising preparation, strategy, and market awareness.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with Dawn Fouhy of Future Proof Property Advisory about breaking into Melbourne's shifting property market.

According to Fouhy, the Melbourne market has held firm over the past six months, with strategies like guarantor loans and sibling co-purchases helping first-time buyers gain entry.

Drawing on her own experience, she explains how buying at the bottom of the cycle delivered strong capital growth and underscored the value of timing.

She acknowledges the fear and confusion that often come with a first purchase – particularly around finance and stamp duty – but stresses that discipline and short-term sacrifice can accelerate long-term gains.

Despite recent price growth, she notes houses under $700,000 are still achievable in outer suburbs, alongside well-positioned units and townhouses.

For investors, Fouhy backs rentvesting and prioritising capital growth over yield as the key to building wealth. She urges buyers to do rigorous due diligence, avoid high-density oversupply and target scarce, owner-occupier-grade assets.

While optimistic about Melbourne's recovery, she warns against oversaturated pockets and encourages buyers to focus on job-rich areas and resilient property types.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer is joined by Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos to unpack how rising interest rates and shifting lending policies are reshaping the path to home ownership.

The trio breaks down the Reserve Bank of Australia's recent 0.25 per cent cash rate increase and explains how inflationary pressures are driving tighter monetary policy.

They warn that even modest rate hikes can significantly reduce borrowing capacity, particularly as property prices continue to climb.

The discussion highlights how successive increases compound repayment pressures, widening the gap between what buyers can borrow and what homes cost.

Loisance outlines how family pledge arrangements are helping first home buyers enter the market without a large cash deposit by leveraging parental equity.

Arvanitopoulos stresses that borrowing power varies widely between lenders, making broker guidance critical in navigating credit policies and living expense assessments.

The brokers also reframe lenders mortgage insurance as a strategic tool that can help buyers secure property sooner and potentially benefit from capital growth.

Ultimately, the hosts emphasise proactive budgeting, refinancing strategies, and informed decision-making as essential tools for buyers operating in a volatile rate environment.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer spoke with Kev Tran of Kev Tran Group about how young Australians can realistically build their property portfolios in 2026.

Tran says strong market fundamentals have been keeping property prices growing despite interest rate hikes, but warns that rising prices and stagnant wages will limit borrowing power, making income growth essential.

He highlights shaping strategies around factors such as loan-to-value ratios, guarantor support, and lenders mortgage insurance, and encourages buyers to look beyond local markets for affordability.

First-time investors should understand their finances and work with a broker to identify suitable properties. Tran names Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia as hotspots, noting Melbourne may offer value after slower growth.

Tran also cautions against high-supply apartments with large strata fees and overstretching on programs such as the 5 per cent Deposit Scheme.

Ultimately, the duo urge first-time investors to avoid hesitation and FOMO-driven choices, focus on education and preparation, and seize opportunities amid market uncertainty.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer is joined by Cyber Daily journalist Daniel Croft to unpack the growing threat of real estate scams and share tips on how buyers can avoid losing their money.

The discussion centres on a recent case in which a first-time buyer lost a $50,000 deposit after falling victim to a sophisticated phishing email impersonating a conveyancer.

Despite checking the details, the buyer was only able to recover a small portion of the funds, highlighting the devastating financial consequences of these schemes.

The hosts explain that scammers are increasingly drawn to property transactions due to the large sums involved and are using advanced technology to make fraudulent communications appear legitimate.

Another attempted scam involving a $1.2 million transfer was stopped by a bank, underscoring the critical role financial institutions play in fraud prevention.

Data showing Australians lost more than $334 million to scams in 2025 further illustrates the scale of the issue.

Croft urges buyers to verify all communications, use secure payment methods, enable two-factor authentication, and avoid acting on urgent requests until they are properly verified.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer is joined by mortgage broker Eva Loisance to unpack how interest rates shape borrowing decisions for first-time buyers.

Loisance explains how the Reserve Bank cash rate drives lending costs and why small rate movements can still influence buyer confidence and strategy.

She outlines the key economic forces behind rate decisions, including inflation, employment, and broader financial conditions.

The discussion breaks down the pros and cons of fixed and variable loans, highlighting the trade-off between certainty and flexibility.

Loisance also details how splitting a loan between fixed and variable can balance stability with repayment freedom.

Refinancing is presented as a powerful tool, with borrowers encouraged to review their loans regularly to secure better terms.

The episode stresses the importance of maintaining a financial buffer to manage rate rises and unexpected expenses.

It concludes with practical tips on making extra repayments and using offsets to reduce interest and shorten loan terms.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with Sabine Kaufmann to explore the challenges of navigating Sydney's property market, including making compromises, handling competition, and facing tough decisions.

Kaufmann shares her journey from renting in Bondi to buying her first apartment in Zetland, reflecting on the lifestyle adjustments required when moving from a beachside suburb to a more city-centric location.

She explains how, like many first-time buyers, she had to compromise, prioritising apartment layout over size and forgoing a car park to secure the right property.

Rising rents and stamp duty exemptions were key factors that motivated her decision to buy rather than continue renting.

Kaufmann also details attending multiple inspections, making offers, and learning from early setbacks, highlighting the importance of persistence in a competitive market.

She stresses careful budgeting, understanding ongoing costs such as strata levies and council fees, and managing cash flow to ensure home owners are financially ready.