How to buy your first home — even when you think you can't afford it. I bought my first property at 18, and I've never been able to "afford" any of the 6 homes I've owned. Here's exactly how I did it.

In this episode I'm breaking down the exact steps I took to buy property in Australia — starting at 18 years old with my four sisters, all the way through to buying in Sydney's eastern suburbs. This isn't motivational fluff. I'm giving you the real numbers, the real negotiation tactics, and the honest financial math that nobody talks about.

I walk you through what it actually looks like to buy your first home on a $100,000 salary in 2026 — how much you can borrow, what your repayments look like, and whether the rent will cover the mortgage if you're buying an investment property. I also share the property buying strategy that has worked for me on every single purchase: how to research the market, how to befriend real estate agents so they call YOU when a deal comes up, and how to negotiate the price down before you even make an offer.

If you're a first home buyer in Australia — or anywhere — feeling like property ownership is impossible, this episode will change your mind. I cover everything from deposits and borrowing limits to strata fees, sinking funds, body corporate costs, and the one inspection report you must get before signing anything. Plus the settlement flexibility trick that saved me tens of thousands of dollars and that almost nobody uses.

Whether you're looking at your first investment property in a regional area or trying to get into the city market, this is the property buying guide I wish someone had given me when I started.

Timestamps:

0:00 — Owning a home isn't an impossible dream

1:02 — Cost of living: 1990 vs 2026 (real numbers)

2:12 — My first home at 18 — buying with my sisters

3:10 — Purpose: investment vs personal vs co-buying

4:17 — Buy your profit in upfront (the #1 rule)

5:28 — How I researched the market for 2 years

6:48 — Make every real estate agent your best friend

7:31 — How I negotiated $30K off my second property

9:03 — Budgeting and borrowing within your means

9:48 — "I've never been able to afford any property I bought"

11:37 — Finding a good solicitor (and getting free contract reviews)

13:02 — The $100K salary example — real math

14:49 — Mortgage repayments and fixing rates

15:44 — Tenant risk and the 3-month buffer rule

17:21 — Strata, body corporate, and sinking funds explained

19:32 — Inspections, pest reports, and council planning

21:01 — The Dover Heights story — buying $500K under budget

22:19 — My two non-negotiables: parking and light

23:10 — Summary: the step-by-step action plan

25:08 — Flexible settlements — the trick nobody uses

26:30 — Your best friends: bank manager + real estate agent

Connect:DM me on Instagram if you have questions about buying your first property — I'd love to hear what areas you want me to cover in the next property episode.

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The Step-by-Step Guide to Buying Your First Home (2026)