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.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer is joined by mortgage broker Eva Loisance to unpack how interest rates shape borrowing decisions for first-time buyers.

Loisance explains how the Reserve Bank cash rate drives lending costs and why small rate movements can still influence buyer confidence and strategy.

She outlines the key economic forces behind rate decisions, including inflation, employment, and broader financial conditions.

The discussion breaks down the pros and cons of fixed and variable loans, highlighting the trade-off between certainty and flexibility.

Loisance also details how splitting a loan between fixed and variable can balance stability with repayment freedom.

Refinancing is presented as a powerful tool, with borrowers encouraged to review their loans regularly to secure better terms.

The episode stresses the importance of maintaining a financial buffer to manage rate rises and unexpected expenses.

It concludes with practical tips on making extra repayments and using offsets to reduce interest and shorten loan terms.