Making first homes happen
Your first home, without the guesswork
Making first homes happen is what Influx is known for. Buying your first home means learning a new language — LVR, LMI, conveyancing, conditional approval — while making the biggest financial decision of your life so far. We translate all of it, map out your realistic budget, and stay beside you from first savings check to settlement day.
What to prepare before you start
The buyers who move fastest are the ones whose paperwork and savings story are ready before the right listing appears. Three things matter most:
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A consistent savings pattern
Lenders like to see your deposit accumulating steadily over at least three months — "genuine savings" in lender language.
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Tidy debts and limits
Credit card limits count against you even at zero balance. Reducing limits and clearing buy-now-pay-later accounts lifts borrowing power.
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Stable income timing
Past probation in a new role is easier; if you're planning a job change, let's sequence it around the purchase.
Deposit: what "enough" looks like
Twenty percent avoids lenders mortgage insurance — but it's a benchmark, not a rule. Buying with less is common through three main paths:
Pay LMI and buy sooner
A one-off insurance premium lets you buy with a smaller deposit. Sometimes cheaper than saving for two more years in a rising market — sometimes not. We do that maths with you.
A family guarantor
A parent's equity secures part of the loan, reducing or removing the cash deposit and LMI. Real obligations for the guarantor — we brief everyone properly.
Government low-deposit schemes
Eligible buyers can purchase with as little as a 5% deposit without LMI under the federal scheme — subject to caps and available places. Details below.
Deep dive: how much deposit do you really need?
The buying process
From first chat to front door
Pre-approval is the hinge of the whole process: a lender's conditional assessment of your borrowing power, valid for around 90 days. Get it before you fall for a property — especially for auctions, which are unconditional in Victoria.
- 1
Free first-buyer consultation
We talk through your savings, income and goals, and answer every question — no jargon.
- 2
Budget & deposit plan
You leave with a realistic price range, deposit target and timeline.
- 3
Pre-approval
We lodge a pre-approval with a well-matched lender so you can hunt with confidence.
- 4
Offer & formal approval
Found a place? We move fast on valuation and unconditional approval.
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Settlement & beyond
We coordinate the final steps, then review your loan as your equity grows.
Government help
Schemes and grants for first home buyers
Genuine help exists — but every scheme has income caps, property price caps and limited places, and the settings change regularly.
Home Guarantee Scheme (federal)
Lets eligible buyers purchase with a low deposit without paying LMI, with the government guaranteeing part of the loan. Income caps, property price caps and place limits apply and are updated regularly.
First Home Owner Grant (Victoria)
A grant for eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home in Victoria. Eligibility depends on the property type, value and your circumstances.
Stamp duty exemption or concession (Victoria)
Eligible first home buyers pay reduced or no stamp duty under certain price thresholds — often worth more than any grant. Thresholds change, so we confirm the current position when you buy.
We deliberately don't publish thresholds here — they go stale.
We check your eligibility against the current official criteria when you're ready. Content last reviewed: .
Learn from others
Six first-buyer mistakes we see on repeat
Bidding at auction without pre-approval
Victorian auction purchases are unconditional — no cooling-off, no finance clause. Solid pre-approval and a hard limit come first.
Maxing out the budget on day one
The maximum a lender offers is not a target. Leave room for rate rises, furniture, and a life.
Changing jobs mid-application
Probation periods complicate approvals. If a move is coming, sequence it with your purchase.
Relying on last year’s scheme rules
Grants and caps change between budgets. Eligibility gets checked at application time, not from an old blog post.
Forgetting the upfront costs
Conveyancing, inspections, insurance and moving costs land before and at settlement — they belong in the savings target.
Skipping contract review
A conveyancer reviewing before you sign is cheap insurance against expensive surprises.
Get ready
Your starting documents checklist
This is the typical starter list — we'll give you a personalised one at your consultation.
- Photo ID (driver licence or passport)
- Two recent payslips (and your latest tax return if income is variable)
- Three months of bank statements showing savings
- Statements for any existing debts or credit cards
- Details of any gifted funds (a signed gift letter)
- Rental ledger if you’re currently renting
Full guide: the complete home loan documents checklist
FAQs
First home buyer questions
How much deposit do I really need?
What government help is available for first home buyers?
Should I get pre-approval before going to inspections?
How long does it take to buy a first home?
The information on this page is general in nature and does not take your personal objectives, financial situation or needs into account. Consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances and seek advice before acting on it. Lending criteria, fees and charges apply to all loan products.
Start your first-home plan
Book a free consultation and leave with a realistic budget, a deposit target, and a clear next step — even if you're 12 months away from buying.
Or send an enquiry and we'll call you back.