Buying your first home is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, and it can feel overwhelming before you even begin. At Abundance Home Loans, we work with first home buyers across the Mornington Peninsula and nationwide to make the process feel manageable, clear, and genuinely exciting.
As a first home buyer, there is a lot to take in. From working out your borrowing capacity to understanding your deposit options, knowing what government support may be available, and getting your pre-approval in place before you start inspecting properties. Mandy at Abundance Home Loans is here to help you understand each step and make informed decisions along the way.
Understanding Your Deposit and Borrowing Capacity
One of the first questions most first home buyers ask is how much they can afford. Your borrowing capacity depends on your income, expenses, existing debts, and the size of your deposit. Many lenders require a minimum deposit of 5%, though a larger deposit can reduce your costs. If your deposit is below 20%, lenders may apply a Low Equity Premium (LEP) or require Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which is worth understanding before you commit to a purchase price.
Building genuine savings is important. Lenders want to see that your deposit has been saved over time, not just gifted or borrowed at the last minute. If you are still saving, we can help you understand what lenders are looking for and how to position yourself well when you are ready to apply.
Government Support for First Home Buyers
There are government schemes designed to help first time buyers get into the market sooner. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for a first home buyer grant or stamp duty concessions. Eligibility criteria, income caps, and property price thresholds apply, and these change from time to time. At Abundance Home Loans, we can help you understand what support you may qualify for based on your individual circumstances, without making promises about outcomes.
Getting Pre-Approval in Place
A pre-approval gives you a clearer picture of your budget before you start attending auctions or private sales. It also shows sellers and agents that you are a serious buyer. Understanding the difference between a finance clause, an unconditional offer, and a cooling off period is important before you sign anything. We work alongside your solicitor or conveyancer to make sure the finance side of things is well understood.
What to Consider When Buying Your First Property
Whether you are buying at auction, through a private sale, or via tender, there are a number of things to consider beyond the purchase price. Building and pest inspections, a LIM report, and a registered valuation can all give you confidence before you commit. Once settlement is complete, ongoing costs like council rates, insurance, and body corporate fees (if applicable) become part of your budget. Abundance Home Loans helps first home buyers think through the full picture, not just the loan itself.
If you are ready to stop renting and start building equity in your own home, reach out to Mandy at Abundance Home Loans. We are proud to support first home buyers across the Mornington Peninsula and beyond, and we would love to help you take that first step toward home ownership.
Step 1: Understanding your borrowing power
Every journey starts with clarity. We'll look at your income, expenses, and financial goals to work out your borrowing capacity and what you can comfortably afford. Whether you're a first home buyer, refinancing an existing home loan, exploring investment loans, building with a construction loan, purchasing a car, or looking at personal finance options, this step gives you a clear picture of where you stand.
Step 2: Finding the right loan
As your mortgage and finance broker, we compare options across a wide panel of lenders to match you with a loan that suits your situation. From fixed or variable home loans and offset accounts to expat loans, car loans, and personal loans, we'll walk you through the details so you can move forward with confidence. Once we've locked in the right fit, we'll handle the application and take the stress out of the paperwork.
Step 3: Navigating the next steps
Depending on your loan type, this stage looks a little different. If you're buying a home or investment property, we'll guide you through making an offer or bidding at auction. If you're refinancing, we'll coordinate the transition from your current lender. For construction loans, we'll help you understand progress payments and drawdown stages. Whatever your path, we're right beside you through every step.
Step 4: Formal approval
This is where it all comes together. Your application is assessed, valuations and checks are completed, and once your loan is formally approved, you're ready to move forward. From those early "what if" conversations to right now, you've done an amazing job.
Step 5: Settlement and beyond
We'll walk you through the loan documents, the signing process, and everything you need to know to prepare for settlement or completion. And our support doesn't stop there. We'll check in regularly and review your loan each year with a loan health check to make sure you're still on a competitive rate, whether that means refinancing to reduce repayments, accessing equity, or reviewing your fixed rate expiry.
We love hearing from our first home buyer clients once they have settled into their new home. At Abundance Home Loans, we take pride in being a mortgage adviser that genuinely cares about the people we work with, not just the paperwork. Read what some of our clients have to say about their experience.
Professional service 👍👍 ...
LEO LI
I can't say enough good things about my experience with Mandy from Abundance Home Loans! From the very beginning, she went above and beyond to guide me through the mortgage process, making what often feels overwhelming seem effortless. ...
Sam Mason
Always as helpful as possible. With you on the journey. Great communicator. This is my second time using Mandy's services and I can not wait until the next time:)
Fresh Ventilation
At Abundance Home Loans, we work with a wide panel of lenders to find first home loan options that suit your situation. Our lender relationships mean we can compare products across banks, credit unions, and specialist lenders on your behalf.



























































































If you are a first home buyer looking for clear, honest guidance on your first home loan, Abundance Home Loans is here to help. Book an appointment with Mandy today and let us help you move forward with confidence.
Book AppointmentStay informed with the latest articles from Abundance Home Loans. From deposit saving tips to understanding affordability and first home buyer eligibility, our resources are written to help you make sense of the home buying process.