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First home buyers guides
Plain-English guides on first home buyers, written and reviewed by the team at Finance Lab.
Guides in this topic
47 guidesWhat is LVR for a first home buyer?
What is LVR? Loan to value ratio explained for first home buyers: how to work it out, the 80% threshold for LMI, and what your number may mean for you.
Read the guide First home buyersWhat is lenders mortgage insurance and how does it work?
What is lenders mortgage insurance? LMI is a one-off premium protecting your lender when your deposit is under 20 per cent. Here is how LMI works in AU.
Read the guide First home buyersWhat Is a Mortgage? A First Home Buyer's Plain Guide
What is a mortgage? Learn how a mortgage works, principal and interest, fixed and variable rates, offset, redraw and LMI for first home buyers in Australia.
Read the guide First home buyersWhat are genuine savings, and why lenders ask for them
What are genuine savings? Learn how lenders define genuine savings, what counts, what does not, and how to build a record that supports your home loan.
Read the guide First home buyersSuperannuation first home buyer: how to use super for a first home deposit
A superannuation first home buyer can use the First Home Super Saver scheme to build part of a first home deposit inside super. See the limits and steps.
Read the guide First home buyersUsing a gifted deposit home loan in Australia
A gifted deposit home loan lets family gift money for your house deposit. Learn how lenders treat gifts, gift letters and LMI, and what to check first.
Read the guide First home buyersStamp duty SA: what first home buyers need to know
Stamp duty SA explained for first home buyers: what it is, when you pay it, how it is worked out, and where to find the current SA rates and concessions.
Read the guide First home buyersThe home loan settlement process explained for first home buyers
The home loan settlement process explained for first home buyers: what happens at settlement, the steps before settlement day, the costs to have ready.
Read the guide First home buyersSelf employed first home buyer: how to get a home loan
A self employed first home buyer guide: how lenders assess business income, the documents you may need, deposit and LMI basics, and steps to get ready.
Read the guide First home buyersRentvesting as a first home buyer: how it works
Rentvesting first home buyer guide: how buying an investment property to rent while you keep renting works, who may qualify, the costs and the loan options.
Read the guide First home buyersHow to make an offer on a house: a first home buyer guide
How to make an offer on a house as a first home buyer: get pre-approval, weigh private sale vs auction, and set your deposit and conditions with confidence.
Read the guide First home buyersLMI for first home buyers: what it is and when it applies
LMI first home buyer guide: what lenders mortgage insurance is, when it applies above 80% LVR, how you pay it, and the ways you may reduce or avoid it.
Read the guide First home buyersHow much does LMI cost for a first home buyer?
How much does LMI cost? Learn what drives the cost of lenders mortgage insurance, when it applies, how to estimate it for you, and how you may avoid it.
Read the guide First home buyersIs LMI refundable? What first home buyers should know
Is LMI refundable? Learn when you may get some lenders mortgage insurance back, how a refund works when you refinance, and what depends on your lender.
Read the guide First home buyersInterest rates first home buyer guide
Interest rates first home buyer guide: how the RBA cash rate flows to your home loan, what rate rises mean for repayments, and comparing fixed vs variable.
Read the guide First home buyersHow to avoid LMI when buying your first home
How to avoid LMI in Australia: a 20% deposit usually avoids lenders mortgage insurance, plus the ways to avoid LMI without 20% using a scheme or guarantor.
Read the guide First home buyersHow to apply for the First Home Super Saver scheme
Learn how to apply for the First Home Super Saver scheme: request an ATO determination, make a release request, and the timing and tax rules that apply.
Read the guide First home buyersHow is LMI calculated for your home loan?
How is LMI calculated? Learn how lenders mortgage insurance is worked out from your loan amount and LVR, what LMI cost depends on, and how you may avoid it.
Read the guide First home buyersHome loan pre-approval for first home buyers
Home loan pre-approval for first home buyers explained: what lenders check, the process step by step, and how long it lasts. Plain English from Finance Lab.
Read the guide First home buyersGenuine savings home loan: how the requirement works
A genuine savings home loan needs part of your deposit saved over time. Learn how the requirement works, what counts, and the options if you have none.
Read the guide First home buyersFirst Home Loan Repayments: How Much They Cost and Why
Learn how first home loan repayments are calculated, what makes them rise or fall, principal and interest versus interest only, and ways to lower the cost.
Read the guide First home buyersFirst Home Guarantee explained: how the scheme works in Australia
First Home Guarantee explained: how the scheme works, the 5 percent deposit, who may qualify, and how to apply. What it means depends on your situation.
Read the guide First home buyersFirst Home Guarantee eligibility: who may qualify in Australia
First Home Guarantee eligibility explained: who may qualify, how the property price cap works, and how to apply for the scheme in Australia.
Read the guide First home buyersThe first home buyer process in Australia, step by step
Follow the first home buyer process in Australia step by step: budget, deposit, pre-approval, offer and settlement. What each stage may involve, explained.
Read the guide First home buyersThe nurse first home buyer guide for healthcare workers
A practical guide for the nurse first home buyer: how shift pay, overtime, casual hours and deposit options can affect your first home loan in Australia.
Read the guide First home buyersFirst home buyer permanent resident: what you can access in Australia
A first home buyer permanent resident may access grants, low-deposit schemes and super savings in Australia, depending on your circumstances and lender.
Read the guide First home buyersUsing a First Home Buyer Broker: What a Mortgage Broker Does for You
Learn what a first home buyer broker does, how they are paid, broker versus bank, and the questions to ask before you buy your first home in Australia.
Read the guide First home buyersFirst home buyer mistakes: the traps to avoid before you buy
First home buyer mistakes can cost you. Learn the deposit, borrowing, inspection and loan traps to avoid, and what to do instead before you buy your first home.
Read the guide First home buyersBuying an investment property as a first home buyer
First home buyer investment property: how buying one affects your grants, your deposit, your loan and the costs, in plain English from the Finance Lab team.
Read the guide First home buyersThe first home buyer guide: how to buy your first home in Australia
A first home buyer guide to buying your first home in Australia: deposits, LVR, lenders mortgage insurance, pre-approval and choosing a home loan explained.
Read the guide First home buyersFirst home buyer terms, explained in plain English
First home buyer terms explained in plain English: deposit, LVR, LMI, offset, comparison rate, pre-approval and stamp duty, from the team at Finance Lab.
Read the guide First home buyersThe First Home Buyer Checklist: Your Step by Step Guide
Our first home buyer checklist walks through every step, from saving your deposit and pre-approval to inspections and settlement, so nothing gets missed.
Read the guide First home buyersGetting a home loan on casual employment
How a home loan on casual employment works in Australia, what lenders assess, deposit and LMI basics, and steps to get loan ready. From the Finance Lab team.
Read the guide First home buyersFamily Home Guarantee for single parents explained
How the Family Home Guarantee helps single parents buy a home with a smaller deposit, who may qualify, the costs, and the steps. Plain English from Finance Lab.
Read the guide First home buyersDocuments needed for a home loan application
Documents needed for a home loan application explained: ID, income, savings, deposit and debt records that first home buyers may need to provide a lender.
Read the guide First home buyersCredit score for home loan: what first home buyers need to know
Credit score for a home loan, explained for first home buyers: how scores work, what a lender checks, and how to check yours for free before you apply.
Read the guide First home buyersCooling off period SA property: how it works when you buy a home
Cooling off period SA property explained: how the window works, giving written notice, getting most of your deposit back, and what to check before it ends.
Read the guide First home buyersConveyancing costs for first home buyers, explained
Conveyancing costs first home buyer explained: what a conveyancer does, what shapes the fee, and where it sits among your other upfront costs at settlement.
Read the guide First home buyersConstruction Loan for a First Home Buyer: How Building Your First Home Is Financed
A construction loan for a first home buyer pays out in stages as your home is built. Learn how progress payments, deposits and interest rates may work.
Read the guide First home buyersComparison Rate Explained: What It Means for Your Home Loan
Comparison rate explained: see how it combines the interest rate with most fees into one figure, how it differs from the interest rate, and how to compare.
Read the guide First home buyersBuying a house with friends: how co-buying a first home works
Buying a house with friends? Learn how co-buying a first home works in Australia: shared deposits, lenders mortgage insurance, ownership and joint liability.
Read the guide First home buyersBuying a home with a 5 percent deposit home loan
How a 5 percent deposit home loan works in Australia, who may qualify, what it costs, and the steps to buy your home. Plain English from the Finance Lab team.
Read the guide First home buyersBuying your first home with a partner: how joint home loans work
Buying first home with partner? Learn how joint home loans, deposits and lenders mortgage insurance work for couples, plus what to agree on before you sign.
Read the guide First home buyersFirst Home Buyer Regional SA: Your Guide to Buying
A first home buyer regional SA guide covering the deposit you may need, lenders mortgage insurance, grants and the steps to buy, from the team at Finance Lab.
Read the guide First home buyersBuying your first home in Adelaide: a first home buyer Adelaide guide
A plain English first home buyer Adelaide guide covering deposit, borrowing power, grants you may qualify for, and the steps to buying your first home.
Read the guide First home buyersBuying an apartment as a first home buyer
A clear guide to buying an apartment as a first home buyer, covering deposits, LMI, body corporate costs and buying off the plan, from the team at Finance Lab.
Read the guide First home buyersFirst home buyer borrowing power: how much you can borrow
First home buyer borrowing power explained: how lenders work out how much you can borrow, what affects your capacity and how your deposit changes the picture.
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This information is general only and does not constitute personal financial or credit advice. Finance Lab, Australian Credit Licence 389328.