Here’s Your First-Home Buyer Timeline!
Buying your very first home? It’s a big deal – and I know it can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to figure out where to even start. The good news is, you don’t have to know it all at once. There’s a clear path most first-home buyers follow here in NSW, and with the right people around you, it’s a whole lot smoother than it looks at first glance.
Let me walk you through it.
How it usually plays out:
Finance first. Chat with a mortgage broker or lender so you know your budget. This is where your journey really begins.
Make your offer. Found a place you love? Time to put that offer on the table.
Contract check. This is where I come in – reviewing the contract, explaining the fine print, and making sure there are no nasty surprises.
Exchange & deposit. Once everything looks good, you’ll sign and pay the deposit – and suddenly it starts to feel very real!
Pre-purchase checks. Pest, building, strata reports, service availability (yep, even things like NBN). These give you peace of mind before you fully commit.
The “after exchange” stage. Don’t worry, I’ll guide you through what happens here step by step.
Settlement day. The best day of all – you get the keys and it’s officially yours.
Here’s the thing… you’re not doing this on your own. A good first-home buyer support team makes all the difference:
A mortgage broker or lender to line up finance.
Me (your conveyancer!) to look after contracts and keep things moving.
Building, pest, strata inspectors (and more) to make sure the property is sound.
A real estate agent you trust to help with the search and negotiation.
And often, a family member or mate to keep you grounded and celebrate the wins with you.
My tip
The first-home buyer process can feel like a lot, but I promise – once you break it down, it’s just step by step. And with the right guidance, it can even be exciting rather than stressful.
Thinking about buying your first home?
Give me (Rebekah) a call on 0409 433 334 – I’d love to help you through it.