In an ideal world, we would find a house we love in the location we love, arrange finance and buy it. That’s the dream, isn’t it?
But, in the real world, we have to deal with affordability, competition from other buyers and lenders who want to make sure they’re not taking too big a risk by giving you the money for the property.
First home buyers have it particularly tough as they try to take their first steps into the property market.
These challenges can seem insurmountable, especially when property prices are rising faster than your savings balance.
But there are ways around this. The most important thing is to get into the market. Once you own something, it’s easier to buy your next property. You just have to make sure you buy the first property well.
Options to get into the market include buying with a friend or family member, asking for a loan from your family, buying anything you can afford just so you have a roof over your head.