How to use property data to score your first home

The migrant investor blueprint people don't want you to know

He arrived in Australia with $7,000, no job, and a family to feed. Today, Rohit Gehlot owns 13 properties. This is how he did it. In the latest First Property Buyer Show episode, Emilie Lauer sits down with Rohit Gehlot, director and principal buyer's agent at InvestorAid, to discuss one of the most remarkable property journeys in recent memory. From being knocked back by his own bank to buying six properties in a single financial year, Rohit reveals the mindset, strategies, and broker relationships that made it possible, including why rentvesting could be the smartest move buyers aren't considering. His advice is simple, contrarian, and battle-tested: stop staring at the whole staircase. Just find the next step. This is the Australian dream, rebuilt from scratch.

RBA hike: What does it really mean for first-time buyers?

In the latest episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with Strategic Brokers' Hung Chuy about the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest cash rate hike and its impact on first home buyers. Chuy said the 0.25 percentage point rise to 4.10 per cent was expected, and while it affects borrowing capacity, the impact is not as significant as many assume. He notes lenders are already assessing borrowers under tighter buffers, effectively resetting borrowing power to similar levels seen around a year ago. Despite affordability pressures, Chuy says the entry-level market remains highly competitive, with first home buyers, investors, and grant recipients all competing for the same price points. He points to Melbourne suburbs 20–25 kilometres from the CBD as still offering value, with homes around $700,000 providing strong land and housing appeal. The pair notes that while higher rates can feel restrictive, they may also create opportunities by reducing competition and improving negotiation conditions for prepared buyers. Chuy urges buyers to focus on asset selection and avoid overextending financially, highlighting fixed and split loans as tools for managing risk and repayment certainty in a shifting rate environment. Looking ahead, Chuy says success comes down to strategy over timing, with well-prepared buyers better positioned to navigate changing conditions.

How to use property data to score your first home

In a dynamic crossover episode of The Smart Property Investment Show and the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with PRD chief economist Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo to explore how data drives property investment decisions in Australia. They begin by highlighting the importance of analysing long-term trends, with Mardiasmo advising investors to examine seven to ten years of suburb performance rather than reacting to short-term fluctuations. Rental yield, vacancy rates, and upcoming developments in the suburbs are also flagged as key metrics for assessing potential returns and risks. Despite the recent 0.25 per cent cash rate increase, Mardiasmo says demand remains strong across the country. The duo dives deep into the different markets, noting that Sydney and Melbourne have slowed, while Brisbane's unit market surged 18 per cent over the past year, boosted in part by the upcoming 2032 Olympics. Brisbane's growth is spreading beyond the city centre to suburbs like Logan and Ipswich, offering affordable investment options. Melbourne, while slower-growing, presents value opportunities, with new apartment supply potentially driving renewed investor interest. Mardiasmo also discusses challenges for first home buyers, noting reduced borrowing power but highlighting available government grants and schemes. Overall, the episode offers practical, data-driven insights for investors and first home buyers, emphasising preparation, strategy, and market awareness.

Rentvesting or PPOR: A buyer's guide to Melbourne's market

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer speaks with Dawn Fouhy of Future Proof Property Advisory about breaking into Melbourne's shifting property market. According to Fouhy, the Melbourne market has held firm over the past six months, with strategies like guarantor loans and sibling co-purchases helping first-time buyers gain entry. Drawing on her own experience, she explains how buying at the bottom of the cycle delivered strong capital growth and underscored the value of timing. She acknowledges the fear and confusion that often come with a first purchase – particularly around finance and stamp duty – but stresses that discipline and short-term sacrifice can accelerate long-term gains. Despite recent price growth, she notes houses under $700,000 are still achievable in outer suburbs, alongside well-positioned units and townhouses. For investors, Fouhy backs rentvesting and prioritising capital growth over yield as the key to building wealth. She urges buyers to do rigorous due diligence, avoid high-density oversupply and target scarce, owner-occupier-grade assets. While optimistic about Melbourne's recovery, she warns against oversaturated pockets and encourages buyers to focus on job-rich areas and resilient property types.

Rate hikes: What first-time buyers must know now

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer is joined by Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos to unpack how rising interest rates and shifting lending policies are reshaping the path to home ownership. The trio breaks down the Reserve Bank of Australia's recent 0.25 per cent cash rate increase and explains how inflationary pressures are driving tighter monetary policy. They warn that even modest rate hikes can significantly reduce borrowing capacity, particularly as property prices continue to climb. The discussion highlights how successive increases compound repayment pressures, widening the gap between what buyers can borrow and what homes cost. Loisance outlines how family pledge arrangements are helping first home buyers enter the market without a large cash deposit by leveraging parental equity. Arvanitopoulos stresses that borrowing power varies widely between lenders, making broker guidance critical in navigating credit policies and living expense assessments. The brokers also reframe lenders mortgage insurance as a strategic tool that can help buyers secure property sooner and potentially benefit from capital growth. Ultimately, the hosts emphasise proactive budgeting, refinancing strategies, and informed decision-making as essential tools for buyers operating in a volatile rate environment.