> Ready to make confident decisions about your home loan? Connect with Lee Rosenfeld and the team at Innovative Home Loans to book your choice of a First Home Buyer Discovery Call, Home Loan Discussion, Home Loan Meeting, or Home Loan Review here: ⁠https://outlook.office.com/book/hghjg@innovativehl.com.au/?ismsaljsauthenabled⁠

In the final episode of our First Home Buyer Special series, Lee Rosenfeld and Alex Ucchino bring everything together with practical, real-world advice for navigating the property market with confidence. After covering government schemes, guarantors and stamp duty in earlier episodes, this conversation focuses on the lessons learned from working with first home buyers every day and the biggest mistakes to avoid when stepping into the market.

This episode dives into the mindset shift buyers need to make, moving away from borrowing the maximum and instead focusing on what repayments actually feel comfortable and sustainable over the long term. You will learn why budgeting properly, stress-testing your finances and planning for future life changes are essential before committing to a 30-year mortgage. The discussion also covers hidden ownership costs such as strata fees, utilities and lifestyle expenses that many buyers underestimate.

Lee and Alex also break down how to build the right professional team around you, from brokers and conveyancers to financial planners and buyer’s agents. They explain how early conversations and pre-approval can put you in a stronger position, how personal debt impacts borrowing capacity, and why flexibility and preparation can make your offer more competitive in a fast-moving property market.

If you are a first home buyer wanting clarity, confidence and practical guidance before making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, this episode wraps up the series with the key steps to help you move forward.

Lee Rosenfeld | Innovative Home Loans

⁠https://innovativehomeloans.com.au/our-team/lee-rosenfeld/⁠

Alex Ucchino | Innovative Home Loans

⁠https://innovativehomeloans.com.au/our-team/alex-ucchino/⁠

The Grey Creative Studio | Podcast Studio & Production

https://www.thegrey.au/

***Disclaimer: The topics, conversation, opinions and discussion provided in this episode are general in nature and does not take into account your personal needs and requirements. As a listener you should not take or use the information discussed as financial advice. We always recommend that you engage in independent financial advice before making any finance decisions.

> Ready to make confident decisions about your home loan? Connect with Lee Rosenfeld and the team at Innovative Home Loans to book your choice of a First Home Buyer Discovery Call, Home Loan Discussion, Home Loan Meeting, or Home Loan Review here: https://outlook.office.com/book/hghjg@innovativehl.com.au/?ismsaljsauthenabled

In Part 3 of our First Home Buyer Special, we break down the key first home buyer schemes available in NSW, with a focus on how to reduce upfront costs and make buying your first property more achievable.

Lee and Alex from Innovative Home Loans, explain how the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme works; including stamp duty exemptions for properties up to $800,000 and concessions up to $1 million. They also cover the owner-occupier requirements, timing rules, and common mistakes that can leave buyers with an unexpected stamp duty bill.

This episode further explores how different schemes can be used together, including low-deposit loans, guarantors, and government guarantees, and when it might make sense to pay a small amount of stamp duty to secure a better property or location.

Lee and Alex also talk through the First Home Super Saver Scheme, how it actually works in practice, who it suits, and what you need to set up well before buying. Finally, they touch on the upcoming Shared Equity Scheme, which could allow eligible buyers to purchase with as little as a 2% deposit.

If you’re serious about buying your first property and want clear, practical advice without the fluff, this episode is a must-listen.

Lee Rosenfeld | Innovative Home Loans

https://innovativehomeloans.com.au/our-team/lee-rosenfeld/

Alex Ucchino | Innovative Home Loans

https://innovativehomeloans.com.au/our-team/alex-ucchino/

***Disclaimer: The topics, conversation, opinions and discussion provided in this episode are general in nature and does not take into account your personal needs and requirements. As a listener you should not take or use the information discussed as financial advice. We always recommend that you engage in independent financial advice before making any finance decisions.

> Ready to make confident decisions about your home loan? Connect with Lee Rosenfeld and the team at Innovative Home Loans to book your choice of a First Home Buyer Discovery Call, Home Loan Discussion, Home Loan Meeting, or Home Loan Review here: https://outlook.office.com/book/hghjg@innovativehl.com.au/?ismsaljsauthenabled

Welcome back to Part 2 of the First Home Buyer Special series. In this episode, Lee sits down with Alex to explore one of the most influential yet often misunderstood strategies in the Australian property landscape: security guarantees, commonly known as the “Bank of Mum and Dad.” The conversation sets out to demystify how these guarantees really work and why they’ve become such a powerful tool for buyers trying to enter the market sooner.

Lee and Alex walk through the practical side of guarantor loans, explaining who can act as a guarantor, how family equity can reduce or eliminate lender’s mortgage insurance, and why this approach often allows buyers to enter the market with little or no deposit. They also discuss how security guarantees differ from government initiatives like the First Home Guarantee Scheme, helping listeners understand when each option might apply.

The discussion also tackles common misconceptions, particularly around borrowing capacity and the level of involvement required from family members. Lee and Alex explain what guarantors are actually responsible for, the legal and financial considerations they need to be aware of, and why clear communication and proper advice are essential for protecting everyone involved.

Finally, the episode looks at how guarantees can be used strategically by first home buyers and rentvestors to build long-term wealth, while also recognising the situations where a guarantor may not be the right fit. Whether you're a first home buyer, a supportive family member, or someone navigating the complexities of the Australian property market, this episode offers practical, grounded insights to guide confident decision-making

Lee Rosenfeld | Innovative Home Loans

https://innovativehomeloans.com.au/our-team/lee-rosenfeld/

Alex Ucchino | Innovative Home Loans

https://innovativehomeloans.com.au/our-team/alex-ucchino/

***Disclaimer: The topics, conversation, opinions and discussion provided in this episode are general in nature and does not take into account your personal needs and requirements. As a listener you should not take or use the information discussed as financial advice. We always recommend that you engage in independent financial advice before making any finance decisions.