The First Home Buyer Checklist

1. Get your finances loan-ready

• Pull your last 3 months of bank statements and check for anything a lender might query
• List every existing debt: credit cards, BNPL, car loans, personal loans — including limits, not just balances
• Start a visible, regular savings pattern if you don't have one already (see our genuine savings guide)
• Check your credit file for anything unexpected, well before you apply

2. Understand what you might be eligible for

• Check current First Home Owner Grant eligibility in your state
• Check current stamp duty concessions or exemptions (try our Stamp Duty Calculator)
• Ask about guarantee schemes if your deposit is under 20%
• If family is helping with a deposit, read up on how gifted deposits are treated

3. Get a realistic borrowing picture

• Run our Borrowing Power Calculator for a rough indicative range
• Work out your total upfront cash needed with our Upfront Costs Calculator
• Book a broker conversation before you fall in love with a specific property

4. Build your team

• A mortgage broker (that's us — book a free consultation)
• A conveyancer or solicitor
• A building and pest inspector, if buying an established home
• If you'd like dedicated support finding and securing the property itself, a buyer's agent like Buyers Central can help

5. Get pre-approved

• Gather payslips, tax returns (if self-employed), ID, and bank statements
• Apply for pre-approval before you start seriously inspecting properties
• Understand that pre-approval isn't a guarantee — the property still needs to be assessed too

6. Through to settlement

• Arrange building and pest inspections, and any other due diligence, before you're locked into a contract
• Keep your employment and financial situation steady — tell your broker immediately if anything changes (see our guide on changing jobs before settlement)
• Budget for settlement day costs beyond the deposit — stamp duty, legal fees, inspections
• Confirm your first repayment date once your loan settles