Buying your first home is a massive deal, and James, a first-time buyer in Melbourne, takes us through everything he learned along the way. From saving a deposit while living at home to making some tough calls on which properties to walk away from, he shares exactly what went into getting his own place.

In this episode, James talks about the trade-offs he had to make, why he didn’t go the renting route, and how he fine-tuned his search criteria after getting out there and seeing places in person. He also breaks down what it was like buying at auction, dealing with legal complications, and making sure he was setting himself up for a solid future—not just jumping on the first thing that seemed good on paper.

For anyone trying to figure out how to actually make this whole home-buying thing happen, this chat is packed with real, practical insights. James did the work, and now he’s got the keys—his story might just help you do the same.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

02:13 - Meighan’s special house of the week

03:28 - When did James first decide he wanted to buy a property?

04:53 - Why James chose to save for a deposit instead of renting

05:57 - How James saved up for his deposit

10:37 - How long did it take to save for a home?

12:00 - When did James start learning about the home-buying process?

13:14 - When did James start looking for a property?

14:38 - James’ experience when he started attending inspections

15:59 - Did his vision for his first home change over time?

18:01 - The first property James considered, and the complications he found

23:26 - James’ biggest ‘aha’ moments in his home buying journey

25:20 - James’ preparation for the auction and the auction itself

31:31 - How James is preparing for his homeownership and the mortgage

33:49 - Was the home-buying course worth it for James? Would he recommend it to others?

Resources:

• FREE MINI COURSE: How to price property like a professional https://www.homebuyeracademy.com.au/freecourse
• Meet our recommended mortgage brokers at Home Buyer Academy https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/brokers
• Visit our website https://www.homebuyeracademy.com.au/
• Join our Facebook Group to get access to free monthly live Q&A sessions
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourfirsthomebuyerguideaustralia
• Learn how to buy property without making a mistake with our ultimate 10-step online course for first time home buyers https://homebuyeracademy.com.au/YFHBG
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: Your First Home Buyer Guide Podcast support@homebuyeracademy.com.au
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Brisbane Buyers Agent? https://www.propertypursuit.com.au/
• Work with Meighan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meighanwells/

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!

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