In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer is joined by Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos to unpack how rising interest rates and shifting lending policies are reshaping the path to home ownership.

The trio breaks down the Reserve Bank of Australia's recent 0.25 per cent cash rate increase and explains how inflationary pressures are driving tighter monetary policy.

They warn that even modest rate hikes can significantly reduce borrowing capacity, particularly as property prices continue to climb.

The discussion highlights how successive increases compound repayment pressures, widening the gap between what buyers can borrow and what homes cost.

Loisance outlines how family pledge arrangements are helping first home buyers enter the market without a large cash deposit by leveraging parental equity.

Arvanitopoulos stresses that borrowing power varies widely between lenders, making broker guidance critical in navigating credit policies and living expense assessments.

The brokers also reframe lenders mortgage insurance as a strategic tool that can help buyers secure property sooner and potentially benefit from capital growth.

Ultimately, the hosts emphasise proactive budgeting, refinancing strategies, and informed decision-making as essential tools for buyers operating in a volatile rate environment.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer spoke with Kev Tran of Kev Tran Group about how young Australians can realistically build their property portfolios in 2026.

Tran says strong market fundamentals have been keeping property prices growing despite interest rate hikes, but warns that rising prices and stagnant wages will limit borrowing power, making income growth essential.

He highlights shaping strategies around factors such as loan-to-value ratios, guarantor support, and lenders mortgage insurance, and encourages buyers to look beyond local markets for affordability.

First-time investors should understand their finances and work with a broker to identify suitable properties. Tran names Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia as hotspots, noting Melbourne may offer value after slower growth.

Tran also cautions against high-supply apartments with large strata fees and overstretching on programs such as the 5 per cent Deposit Scheme.

Ultimately, the duo urge first-time investors to avoid hesitation and FOMO-driven choices, focus on education and preparation, and seize opportunities amid market uncertainty.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer is joined by Cyber Daily journalist Daniel Croft to unpack the growing threat of real estate scams and share tips on how buyers can avoid losing their money.

The discussion centres on a recent case in which a first-time buyer lost a $50,000 deposit after falling victim to a sophisticated phishing email impersonating a conveyancer.

Despite checking the details, the buyer was only able to recover a small portion of the funds, highlighting the devastating financial consequences of these schemes.

The hosts explain that scammers are increasingly drawn to property transactions due to the large sums involved and are using advanced technology to make fraudulent communications appear legitimate.

Another attempted scam involving a $1.2 million transfer was stopped by a bank, underscoring the critical role financial institutions play in fraud prevention.

Data showing Australians lost more than $334 million to scams in 2025 further illustrates the scale of the issue.

Croft urges buyers to verify all communications, use secure payment methods, enable two-factor authentication, and avoid acting on urgent requests until they are properly verified.