You can watch the video on our YouTube. 

What if the best time to buy your first home… is when everyone else is hesitating?

With rising interest rates, higher living costs and shifting market sentiment, many would assume it’s the worst time to enter the property market.

But here’s the twist:

👉 It might actually be one of the most important times to get your strategy right.

Welcome to Part 1 of our 3-part mini-series on how to buy a home, where we break down the foundations every first-time buyer needs before they even start looking at properties.

Ben is joined by Couch Crew members Luke Oxenham (mortgage broker extraordinaire helping Aussies navigate lending every day) and Shane Pope (buyer’s agent on the ground negotiating deals) to unpack the critical first steps that can make — or break — your journey.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The difference between borrowing power and true affordability
  • Why a 20% deposit isn’t always necessary (and what your options are)
  • The hidden costs most buyers forget to budget for
  • Why not all pre-approvals are created equal
  • How lenders actually assess your application (and what can trip you up)

Because folks, most costly mistakes don’t happen at auction; they happen before you even make an offer.

Listen now.

Resources Mentioned

  • Moorr: Your Free Money Management Tool 📊
    Take control of your money, track your spending and uncover your surplus — all in one place.
    👉 Join the 2026 Surplus Challenge
    📱 Download Moorr (iOS & Android): Access 100+ Resources in Moorr’s MyKNOWLEDGE (On buying your first home, structuring your finances & building long-term wealth)
  • Property Outlook Webinar (April 28) 📈
    A deep dive into market shifts, rising rates and what it means for buyers.
    👉 Register now
  • 6-Part Money-Saving Series (Mortgage Focus) 💡
    Learn how to find those much-needed extra dollars per month in your household budget.
    👉 Start listening

Timestamps  

  • 0:00 – 593 | How to Buy a Home (The Right Way) – Part 1
  • 02:00 – Market Shift: Critical Property Outlook Webinar Incoming (28 April, 7:30pm AEST)
  • 04:15 – Cash Flow Crunch: Finding Surplus in Your Budget
  • 05:30 – 2026 Surplus Challenge: Why Wealth Starts with Surplus
  • 06:30 – The “What If” Moment: When Buying Becomes Real
  • 09:50 – Borrowing Power Trap: What the Bank Says vs Reality
  • 12:40 – How Banks Assess You: Income, Expenses & the 3% Buffer
  • 15:15 – LMI & Schemes: The Trade-Off to Get In Sooner
  • 17:45 – Bank of Mum & Dad: Gifts, Guarantors & Risks
  • 20:40 – Broker vs Bank: Why Lender Choice Changes Everything
  • 27:45 – Pre-Approval Pitfalls: Expiry, Rate Changes & Risk
  • 30:05 – The Smart Process: Finance First, Property Second
  • 36:30 – Budget Creep: Why Buyers Keep Stretching Too Far
  • 42:50 – Property Grading: A-Grade vs B-Grade vs C-Grade
  • 44:50 – Inspecting Like a Pro: What to Look For First
  • 50:20 – Found “The One”? What To Do Before You Offer
  • 55:30 – Negotiation Truths: Why Price Isn’t Everything
  • 1:01:30 – Final Advice: Build Your Team & Play the Long Game