Deposit
Your deposit sets your loan-to-value ratio and affects whether lenders mortgage insurance applies. Many lenders also look for a portion of it to be genuine savings accumulated over time.
First home buyers
Your first home, without the guesswork.
Deposit, borrowing capacity, government schemes, stamp duty and pre-approval — the pieces that decide what you can realistically buy.
Updated 17 September 2026
Educational information — not personalised financial advice.
Borrowing capacity
Lenders assess income, living expenses, existing debts and dependants against their own benchmarks, then apply a buffer above the product rate.
Government schemes
Australian federal, state and territory governments run first-home schemes and concessions. Eligibility rules, price caps and availability change, so confirm current details with the relevant official source before relying on them.
Stamp duty
Transfer duty is a state or territory tax. First-home concessions and exemptions exist in most jurisdictions and are usually tied to property value thresholds.
Loan structure
Fixed or variable, principal and interest or interest only, offset or redraw — structure decisions shape both your repayments and your flexibility.
Pre-approval
Pre-approval is an indication, usually subject to conditions and a valuation, and it has an expiry date. It is not a guarantee of finance.
The buying process
Research, finance, inspections, contract review, deposit, settlement. Knowing the order of events reduces the pressure at each step.
Common mistakes
Underestimating upfront costs, forgetting credit card limits reduce capacity, relying on an online valuation, and letting a pre-approval expire mid-search.
Tools
Run the numbers
Mortgage Repayment Calculator
Estimate repayments, total interest and how the balance falls over time.
OpenBorrowing Power Calculator
See an indicative borrowing range based on income, expenses and debts.
OpenDeposit Calculator
Work out the deposit and total upfront funds a purchase may require.
OpenStamp Duty Calculator
Estimate transfer duty and government costs in your state or territory.
OpenLoan-to-Value Ratio Calculator
Check your LVR and whether lenders mortgage insurance may apply.
OpenFAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where this comes from: Explanations are written from publicly available Australian lending and government information and are reviewed when policy changes. Confirm current figures with the relevant lender or state revenue office before relying on them.
Get clear on your first purchase.
Start with the deposit and borrowing calculators, then ask to be connected with someone who can look at your situation properly.