Before you browse, know your budget.
The first step is understanding how much you can borrow. This usually involves chatting with a mortgage broker or lender to get pre-approval. It’s basically the bank saying, “Yes, you can afford this much. Go forth and house hunt.”
Pre-approval isn’t a guarantee, but it’s a solid starting point—and sellers take you way more seriously when you have it.
AKA: Create your property wishlist.
Location? Number of bedrooms? Backyard for the dog? Apartment with a view? Knowing your “must-haves” vs “nice-to-haves” saves you a lot of wasted Saturdays at open homes.
Think about both lifestyle and future resale value. Suburbs with good schools, transport, or planned infrastructure tend to grow in value.
Time to hit realestate.com.au and domain.com.au like it’s your new part-time job.
This is the fun bit—but also where the overwhelm creeps in. Consider attending open homes, chatting to agents, and maybe even enlisting the help of a buyer’s agent (especially if you’re short on time or want expert eyes on the deal).
Don’t skip this bit—your wallet will thank you.
Once you find a place you love, get serious. This includes reviewing recent sales in the area, ordering a building and pest inspection, and checking out council zoning or future development plans.
Your conveyancer or solicitor can help here. They’ll comb through the contract with a fine-tooth comb (so you don’t have to Google every second word).
Deep breaths. This is the moment.
Depending on the property, you’ll either make a private offer or go head-to-head in an auction. Your buyer’s agent can negotiate on your behalf or help you set your limit and stick to it if it’s auction time.
Pop the champagne—but not too much, you’ve still got a few steps to go.
Once your offer is accepted, you’ll exchange contracts and pay a deposit. From this point, the property is officially under contract—yay!
A bit of a waiting game.
Settlement usually takes 4–6 weeks (unless negotiated otherwise). During this time, your lender will finalise your loan, your conveyancer will do legal checks, and you’ll arrange insurance, utilities, and moving plans.
Time to move in, snap the keys pic, and maybe cry a little.
On settlement day, your lender sends the money, the property title changes hands, and you officially become the owner. Your agent or solicitor will hand you the keys and you can finally breathe easy (and start assembling flatpacks).
Buying a property might seem daunting, but when you break it down step-by-step, it becomes way more manageable. Surround yourself with the right people (like a buyer’s agent, broker, and solicitor), and you’ll navigate the journey like a seasoned pro—even if it’s your first time.
