The biggest mistake first home buyers make? Waiting.

In this episode of Own It: Your Property Partner, Quentin Smith shares practical, real world insights to help first home buyers get into the market sooner, without the overwhelm. The conversation explores what a realistic first home looks like today, which compromises can make a meaningful difference, and how common financial habits can impact borrowing power.

They also break down saving for a house deposit, managing debt, and how everyday spending habits influence your borrowing power. For first home buyers feeling stuck, this episode provides clear, practical guidance to help move from planning to owning with confidence.

If you’re feeling stuck on the sidelines, this episode offers a practical game plan to move forward.

Here’s what you’re in for:

00:00 Guest Intro

00:54 Life in South Africa and Moving to Australia

02:05 Experiences with Crime in South Africa

03:59 Choosing Perth and Building a Life

05:30 Work Ethic and Cultural Differences

07:13 Perth's Housing Market Challenges

11:59 Impact of COVID on Housing and Work

16:06 Government Schemes and Financial Advice

17:55 Real Estate Market Trends and Opportunities

27:18 Creating a Game Plan for Home Ownership

27:56 Market Trends and Opportunities

28:32 The Importance of Timing in Real Estate

29:12 The Value of Early Investment

31:16 Adjusting Expectations for First-Time Buyers

35:06 Smart Financial Planning for Home Buyers

39:39 The Role of Education and Planning

47:04 Overcoming Financial Barriers

50:23 Success Stories and Final Thoughts

—-------------------------------------------------------------

Learn more at https://localehomes.com.au/

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more!

—-------------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT QUENTIN SMITH

With over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, Quentin has worked across multiple countries and gained a wealth of hands on knowledge along the way. His passion for building goes beyond bricks and mortar, he’s driven by a genuine desire to change lives and help people take that life changing step into homeownership.

See more from Quentin:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/quentin-smith-55203a31a/?originalSubdomain=au

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quentinlocalehomes/

ABOUT ADAM SCHAAL

Adam Schaal is the Founder and Director of Locale Property Group, a leading name in Australia’s property and construction industry. With decades of experience and billions in property transactions, he’s known for his integrity, leadership, and commitment to transparent, client-focused service. Adam is passionate about helping people achieve their property goals through honesty, expertise, and long-term relationships.

See more from Adam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-schaal

Website: https://localewealth.com.au/

https://localehomes.com.au/

ABOUT OWN IT Your Property Partner

Real stories. Real lessons.&

Australia’s property market is changing fast, with many of the trends of the past five years now reversing. Adam speaks with Angus Moore, Senior Economist at REA Group, about what’s shaping today’s housing market, from uneven growth between cities to shifting migration patterns and the impact of higher interest rates on buyers and renters.

Listen to the full episode of Own It: Your Property Partner for expert insights on navigating Australia’s housing market with confidence.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction

00:18 Current market trends

00:45 Differences between major and smaller cities

01:55 Impact of interstate migration

03:26 Market stabilisation outlook

05:58 Rental market pressures

08:23 Construction and approvals

12:59 First-home buyer affordability

15:45 Recent price movements

16:58 Interest rate outlook

17:54 Government schemes

20:35 First-home buyer advice

21:37 Economic risks

22:38 Wages and business investment

23:54 WA market outlook

26:43 Melbourne trends

30:26 National insights

37:04 Generational differences

41:26 Market predictions

42:45 Closing remarks

------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT ANGUS MOORE

Angus Moore is the Senior Economist at REA Group, where he analyses Australia’s housing market using real-time data from PropTrack to help buyers, investors, and policymakers understand market trends and affordability.

He worked as an Economist and Data Scientist at Accenture Strategy, leading data-driven projects on the economic impact of COVID-19 and contributing to Xero’s Small Business Insights and Index. He also spent five years at the Reserve Bank of Australia and holds First Class Honours in Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Adelaide.

See more from Angus:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angus-moore-ba8aa477

Website: https://www.rea-group.com/

https://www.realestate.com.au/

ABOUT ADAM SCHAAL
Founder and Director of Locale Property Group. With decades of experience and billions in transactions, Adam is known for integrity, clarity, and helping clients make confident property decisions through honest, long-term guidance.

More from Adam:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-schaal

ABOUT OWN IT: Your Property Partner
Real stories. Real lessons. Real talk.

Buying your first home, upgrading, or investing can be daunting, you don’t have to do it alone. Hosted by Adam Schaal, Own It shares real experiences, wins, mistakes, and mindset shifts to help you make smarter moves without the jargon.

Learn more:
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6mJ6RDVDZNU4Ov7aoH6FdA

Facebook: facebook.com/localewealth

FOLLOW US : Locale Property Group

Homes
IG: @localehomesau | TikTok: @locale.homes
localehomes.com.au

Wealth
IG: @localewealth | TikTok: @localewealth
localewealth.com.au

Financial
IG: @localefinancial | TikTok: @localefinancial
localefinancial.com.au

If you’ve been wondering why build times keep stretching, why prices are rising, or why WA’s housing market feels so tight, this episode finally connects the dots.

Adam sits down with Joseph Passione, Managing Director of Prime Builders, for a clear look at what’s really driving today’s construction pressures. Joseph explains the key causes of delays, the biggest cost drivers, and why new building methods are becoming critical for WA’s future.

Whether you’re building your first home or planning your next project, this episode gives you a realistic view of what to expect in 2025.

Listen to the full episode of Own It: Your Property Partner for practical insights straight from WA’s building industry.

Here’s what’s inside:
00:00 Intro & Guest
00:51 Prime Builders Role
01:37 Family Business History
03:18 Industry Changes
04:18 Building Innovations
07:28 Client Demographics
09:12 Challenges & Rewards
10:55 Tips for First-Home Buyers
12:50 Home Building BTS
16:21 External Factors Impact
22:48 Future of Bricklaying
25:55 Trade Base & Costs
26:16 Costs: Melbourne vs Perth
27:14 Adopting New Methods
28:03 Brick Veneer Benefits
29:16 Speed of Brick Veneer
32:15 Regulation Impacts
35:38 Timing & Market Conditions
38:31 Client Control
39:43 Sticking to Proven Methods
45:13 Quick Fire
47:38 Transparency & Quality
52:16 Final Thoughts

Learn more at https://localehomes.com.au/

ABOUT JOSEPH PASSIONE
Joseph Passione is the Managing Director of Prime Builders, a third-generation builder leading a long-standing family business in WA. With over a decade of hands-on experience, he focuses on quality, innovation, and helping families enter homeownership.

Website: https://prime-group.net.au

Email: josephp@primeprojects.net.au

ABOUT ADAM SCHAAL
Adam Schaal is the Founder and Director of Locale Property Group and a trusted voice in Australia’s property space. With decades of experience and billions in transactions, he’s known for clear, honest, client-first guidance.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-schaal
Website: https://localewealth.com.au

ABOUT OWN IT: Your Property Partner
Own It shares real stories and practical lessons from people navigating the property world. Hosted by Adam Schaal, the show cuts the jargon and offers clear, honest conversations to help buyers and investors make confident decisions.
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6mJ6RDVDZNU4Ov7aoH6FdA
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalePropertyGroup

Locale Property Group powers Locale Homes, Locale Wealth, and Locale Financial, helping Australians buy smarter with clear, client-first support.

FOLLOW US

Locale Homes | Wealth | Financial
IG: @localehomesau | @localewealth | @localefinancial

TikTok: @locale.homes | @localewealth | @localefinancial