Invest
Reality check for first home buyers: Affordable suburbs with 5% deposit
Invest
Reality check for first home buyers: Affordable suburbs with 5% deposit
In a significant development for Australian first home buyers, a new property search tool from Aussie Home Loans is set to transform the way prospective homeowners approach the market. As the Federal Government's First Home Guarantee scheme becomes available to eligible buyers from tomorrow, this innovative tool offers a clear path for entering the property market with just a 5% deposit.
Reality check for first home buyers: Affordable suburbs with 5% deposit
In a significant development for Australian first home buyers, a new property search tool from Aussie Home Loans is set to transform the way prospective homeowners approach the market. As the Federal Government's First Home Guarantee scheme becomes available to eligible buyers from tomorrow, this innovative tool offers a clear path for entering the property market with just a 5% deposit.

The First Home Guarantee Calculator, unveiled by Aussie Home Loans, identifies affordable suburbs across the country where first-time buyers can purchase a house or unit based on their savings. This comes as a much-needed solution for many Australians eager to step onto the property ladder but held back by the daunting task of saving for a substantial deposit.
The tool's insights highlight suburbs such as Edgeworth in New South Wales, Melton South in Victoria, and Beaudesert in Queensland as viable options for those with a 5% deposit. These findings aim to bridge the knowledge gap that often leaves first home buyers overwhelmed and unsure of where to start their property search.
Aussie Mortgage Broker, Tracey Hammond, emphasised the importance of aligning expectations with financial realities. "The disconnect between a dream home and financial reality can lead to missed opportunities, prolonged searches, and the risk of overpaying or buying a property that leaves them with little financial buffer," she said. Hammond further noted that the challenge of saving for a deposit is not just a millennial issue but one that cuts across generations. "The new First Home Guarantee is a game changer, allowing many to enter the market with just a 5% deposit," she added.
The tool is designed to help buyers make informed decisions by showcasing affordable suburbs that might otherwise be overlooked. "Because there are so many areas to search, many affordable suburbs are overlooked. The First Home Guarantee Calculator puts affordable suburbs on the shortlist," Hammond explained. This empowers first-home buyers to start their property journey sooner, rather than delaying until the market becomes even more inaccessible.

The calculator's state-by-state breakdown provides a clear picture of where first home buyers can realistically purchase property. For instance, in New South Wales, suburbs like Edgeworth, Dapto, and Blackheath are highlighted as affordable for those with average savings of $59,982.60. In Victoria, with average savings of $38,708.40, suburbs such as Melton South, Wyndham Vale, and Brookfield are within reach. Queensland's affordable options include Beaudesert, Bethania, and Caboolture South, based on average savings of $44,974.60.
Western Australia's property market, with average savings of $49,609.10, offers affordable houses in Gosnells, Midland, and Balga. Meanwhile, in Tasmania, where the average savings amount to $37,553.60, suburbs like Carlton, West Moonah, and Moonah present viable options. The ACT and Northern Territory also feature affordable suburbs, with average savings of $28,617.90 and $68,147.70, respectively.
Hammond stresses the importance of making informed decisions early in the property journey. "With the Calculator, first-home buyers can make informed decisions about affordability to start their property journey sooner and work towards their dream home," she said. This approach not only saves time but also helps buyers avoid the pitfalls of unrealistic expectations and the risk of overextending financially.
The launch of the First Home Guarantee Calculator comes at a crucial time when many Australians are grappling with the fast-paced property market and the ever-increasing cost of homeownership. By providing a realistic assessment of what is achievable with a 5% deposit, the tool aims to empower first home buyers to take the first step towards homeownership with confidence.
As the First Home Guarantee scheme rolls out, eligible buyers now have a powerful resource at their disposal to navigate the property market effectively. With the ability to pinpoint affordable suburbs and align their expectations with their financial situation, first home buyers are better equipped than ever to make their dream of homeownership a reality.

Property
From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices
In Australia’s residential market, trust is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a pricing variable. Persistent distrust of real estate agents is depressing vendor outcomes and inviting regulatory heat, but ...Read more

Property
Trust as a performance multiplier in Australia's real estate market
In Australia’s A$10–11 trillion housing market, trust is emerging as a crucial factor that sellers and agencies can no longer afford to overlook. Traditionally viewed as a soft metric, trust is now ...Read more

Property
LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie makes a splash with Belmont buy as real estate consolidation looms
LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie’s acquisition of the Belmont office, including its rent roll, is less about shopfronts and more about balance‑sheet resilience. In a market where listings ebb and flow with ...Read more

Property
Twice the demand: the case study behind Melbourne’s first‑home buyer surge
Melbourne has quietly engineered one of Australia’s most consequential housing turnarounds, with first‑home buyer demand running at roughly double the national pace and four of the top five buyer ...Read more

Property
First‑home buyers now anchor Australia’s mortgage growth — but the risk maths is changing
Great Southern Bank’s revelation that nearly one in three of its new mortgages went to first‑home buyers is not an outlier. It is the leading edge of a broader market realignment powered by government ...Read more

Property
Home guarantee scheme shake-up challenges Australia’s housing market players
From 1 October 2025, the expanded Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) materially widens what first-home buyers can purchase and where. By sharply lifting price caps and relaxing eligibility settings, the ...Read more

Property
GSB’s first‑home buyer play: turning policy tailwinds into market share
Great Southern Bank’s latest results show that nearly one in three of its new mortgages now go to first‑home buyers—evidence of a fast‑moving market reshaped by government guarantees, easing rates and ...Read more

Property
Why investors are fleeing and renters are scrambling in Australia's housing maze
Australia’s rental market is tightening even as individual landlords sell down. New data points to a multi‑year investor retreat tied to higher holding costs and regulatory uncertainty, while prices ...Read more

Property
From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices
In Australia’s residential market, trust is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a pricing variable. Persistent distrust of real estate agents is depressing vendor outcomes and inviting regulatory heat, but ...Read more

Property
Trust as a performance multiplier in Australia's real estate market
In Australia’s A$10–11 trillion housing market, trust is emerging as a crucial factor that sellers and agencies can no longer afford to overlook. Traditionally viewed as a soft metric, trust is now ...Read more

Property
LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie makes a splash with Belmont buy as real estate consolidation looms
LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie’s acquisition of the Belmont office, including its rent roll, is less about shopfronts and more about balance‑sheet resilience. In a market where listings ebb and flow with ...Read more

Property
Twice the demand: the case study behind Melbourne’s first‑home buyer surge
Melbourne has quietly engineered one of Australia’s most consequential housing turnarounds, with first‑home buyer demand running at roughly double the national pace and four of the top five buyer ...Read more

Property
First‑home buyers now anchor Australia’s mortgage growth — but the risk maths is changing
Great Southern Bank’s revelation that nearly one in three of its new mortgages went to first‑home buyers is not an outlier. It is the leading edge of a broader market realignment powered by government ...Read more

Property
Home guarantee scheme shake-up challenges Australia’s housing market players
From 1 October 2025, the expanded Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) materially widens what first-home buyers can purchase and where. By sharply lifting price caps and relaxing eligibility settings, the ...Read more

Property
GSB’s first‑home buyer play: turning policy tailwinds into market share
Great Southern Bank’s latest results show that nearly one in three of its new mortgages now go to first‑home buyers—evidence of a fast‑moving market reshaped by government guarantees, easing rates and ...Read more

Property
Why investors are fleeing and renters are scrambling in Australia's housing maze
Australia’s rental market is tightening even as individual landlords sell down. New data points to a multi‑year investor retreat tied to higher holding costs and regulatory uncertainty, while prices ...Read more