Buying with just a 5% deposit sounds like a dream — until you see what it really means for your borrowing power, repayments, and long-term financial safety. In this episode, Meighan and Veronica sit down with financial planner James Wrigley to break down the numbers behind the government’s guarantee scheme, and why so many first home buyers misunderstand how it actually works.

James reveals the real cost of borrowing 95% of a property’s value — from enormous loan sizes to eye-watering repayments — and explains why income requirements soar as loan sizes increase. You’ll hear the stark difference between buying at the top of Sydney’s $1.5M cap versus Melbourne’s $950k cap, and why couples dramatically outperform singles simply because of Australia’s tax system. If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I actually afford this?”, this conversation brings the clarity you’ve been missing.

The trio also unpack hidden costs like stamp duty (often turning a “5% deposit” into closer to 10%), the dangers of maxing out borrowing capacity, and why having no buffer puts buyers at risk if interest rates rise. They explore how price caps influence decision-making, why chasing incentives can push you toward poorer-quality properties, and why your first property matters more than you think for your long-term ability to upgrade.

Whether you’re considering the 5% scheme, unsure if your income stacks up, or simply trying to understand the flow-on effects of a small deposit, this episode will leave you informed, grounded, and more confident about your next step.

00:00 – Introduction to the 5% Deposit Scheme

01:11 – Meet the Expert: James Wrigley

02:09 – Understanding the 5% Deposit Guarantee Scheme

03:15 – Financial Implications of a 5% Deposit

05:11 – Income Requirements for High-Value Loans

08:16 – Comparing Sydney and Melbourne Markets

16:05 – The Importance of the First Property Purchase

18:38 – The Importance of Quality Over Schemes

19:19 – Navigating Cash Flow and Mortgage Affordability

20:36 – When is a 5% Deposit a Good Idea?

21:30 – Scenarios Where the Scheme Works

23:02 – Understanding Loan Costs and Repayments

24:33 – The Risks of High Loan-to-Value Ratios

26:15 – Advice for Older First Home Buyers

30:44 – Personal Experiences and Lessons Learned

33:57 – Final Thoughts and Joining the Community

1. THE First Home Buyer Course is our Step-By-Step, No BS Guide to Every Stage of The Home Buying Process – It’s the next best thing to having your own buyer’s agent. With our expert guidance, you’ll know what to do at every step along the way. Become a home owner faster and easier. Click here: https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBG

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

1. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFirstHomeBuyerCourse
2. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/your-first-home-buyer-guide-podcast/id1544701825

Subscribe on Spotify:

Planning to buy your first home in 2026? The market won’t magically get easier — but the buyers who prepare early will have a real advantage. In this episode, Meighan and Veronica break down what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and the exact steps smart buyers are taking now to get ahead.

You’ll learn how shifting lending policies, government incentives, tight rental markets and rising competition are shaping the year ahead. The hosts also unpack the risks of shared equity schemes, why 95% loans demand smarter asset selection, and why strategy — not emotion — will matter more than ever.

Most importantly, they reveal the preparation steps that actually move the needle: tightening your finances, checking your borrowing power, building buffers, defining your buying strategy, and avoiding analysis paralysis.

If you want clarity instead of chaos in 2026, this episode gives you the framework to move forward with confidence.

00:00 – Introduction: Preparing to Buy Your First Home in 2026

01:28 – Understanding the 2026 Property Market

02:33 – Key Takeaways for 2026 Home Buyers

03:10 – Market Outlook and Trends

06:17 – Financial and Policy Changes to Watch

10:52 – Practical Tips for First Home Buyers

13:11 – Avoiding Common Mistakes

16:10 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement

18:49 – Conclusion and Resources

• THE First Home Buyer Course is our Step-By-Step, No BS Guide to Every Stage of The Home Buying Process – It’s the next best thing to having your own buyer’s agent. With our expert guidance, you’ll know what to do at every step along the way. Become a home owner faster and easier. Click here: https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBG

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFirstHomeBuyerCourse
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/your-first-home-buyer-guide-podcast/id1544701825
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GyrfXoqvDxjqNRv40NVQs?si=7c8bc4362fab421f

This year brought some of our most eye-opening and challenging conversations yet. In this Christmas-Eve episode, we’re pulling together the biggest insights from 2025. These aren’t highlights — they’re gold nuggets that could save you money, regret, and years of lost progress.

We revisit the truth about rentvesting, the episode that reshaped how we explain compounding growth, and the surprising risks uncovered through Title Insurance. You’ll also hear our breakdown of the Pain & Gain Report, showing why some properties boom while others stall. These lessons genuinely shifted how first home buyers should approach their decisions.

We unpack what hot markets taught us about buyer behaviour, offer strategy, and staying grounded under pressure. We also revisit powerful coaching moments from our Campfire sessions. These real conversations helped buyers get unstuck and apply the process with clarity.

Whether you’re planning to buy in early 2026 or trying to make sense of the market, this episode distils what truly matters. You’ll learn how to think long-term, reduce risk, and choose assets with confidence. If it saves you even one misstep, every conversation this year has been worth it.

00:00 — Introduction and Podcast Highlights

00:38 — Welcome to Your First Home Buyer Guide

01:23 — Reflecting on Key Lessons

02:14 — Rentvesting Insights

03:20 — Understanding Title Insurance

05:36 — The Power of Compounding Growth

08:54 — CoreLogic Pain and Gain Report

13:24 — Navigating Offers in Hot Markets

16:00 — Understanding the Home Buying Process

16:48 — Exclusive Campfire Coaching Sessions

18:40 — Mindset and Media Influence

20:34 — Navigating Home Buyer Blues

23:49 — Making the Right Compromises

26:08 — Learning from Disaster Stories

27:18 — Engaging with the Community

28:38 — Year-End Reflections and Holiday Wishes

• Episode 205 — Rentvesting: What You Need to Know Before Taking the Leap
• Episode 207 — How Rentvesting Can Secure—or Sabotage—Your Financial Future
• Episode 211 — What Tax Benefits Can First-Home Buyers Gain from Rentvesting?
• Episode 212 — What Happens When Due Diligence Isn’t Enough?
• Episode 218 — The Magic of Compounding—Why It’s a Game-Changer for Property Owners
• Episode 225 — Inside Australia’s Riskiest Property Types According to New Data
• Episode 226 — How First Home Buyers Can Keep Up in a Hot Property Market
• Episode 230 — Inside a Real Coaching Call That Transforms First Home Buyers
• Episode 239 — Fix the Habits, Change the Game: What It Really Takes to Buy Your First Home