Property

array(6) { [0]=> object(stdClass)#8728 (57) { ["id"]=> int(18963) ["title"]=> string(87) "AFG Securities waives settlement fees for first-home buyers, signalling strategic shift" ["alias"]=> string(92) "afg-securities-fee-waiver-for-first-home-buyers-a-699-gesture-with-outsized-strategic-weight" ["introtext"]=> string(445) "

In a strategic move aimed at easing the financial burden on first-home buyers, AFG Securities has announced the elimination of settlement fees on select loans, potentially saving customers up to $699. While the dollar amount may seem modest against the backdrop of a six-figure mortgage, the decision carries significant strategic weight in the current housing market, where even small financial frictions can have a substantial impact.

" ["fulltext"]=> string(4480) "

The Australian housing market remains challenging for first-home buyers (FHBs), who are often seen as a key indicator of the mortgage cycle's health. Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures and constraints on borrowing capacity, demand from FHBs has shown resilience. In 2024 alone, 125,220 FHB loans were issued, marking an increase of approximately 5.9% from the previous year. Projections for 2025 suggest a further rise to around 133,000 loans, a 6.5% increase. This growth is occurring alongside a broader shift in lender incentives, moving away from broad cashbacks towards more targeted strategies like fee waivers.

AFG Securities, the lending arm of the Australian Finance Group, has chosen to waive settlement fees on certain FHB products. The fee waiver applies exclusively to first home buyer applications for the AFG Home Loans Retro Full Doc and AFG Home Loans Link Premium products, submitted by 31 October 2025 and settling before 31 December 2025. This decision aims to reduce upfront costs for borrowers at a crucial decision-making moment. "It's a small-ticket saving against a six-figure loan," explained an industry analyst, "but it removes a highly salient pain point at the exact moment of decision."

The strategic rationale behind this move is clear: by foregoing a small amount of non-interest fee income, AFG aims to improve conversion rates in a segment with high lifetime value. Analysts have pointed out two immediate benefits of this approach. Firstly, it positions AFG Securities as a FHB-friendly lender without distorting headline rates or resorting to costly cashbacks. Secondly, it empowers brokers to present a tangible out-of-pocket saving to clients who are often deposit-constrained. This is especially beneficial when combined with state concessions and the federal Home Guarantee Scheme.

The implementation of this fee waiver involves several technical adjustments. Lenders must align product disclosure, credit policy, systems, and broker tools to ensure seamless execution. This includes defining clear eligibility rules for FHB status, updating pricing engines and loan origination systems, and providing brokers with concise, outcome-focused collateral. These steps are crucial to maintaining transparency and compliance with ASIC regulations.

AFG Securities' broker-first channel magnifies both the risks and rewards of this initiative. "If the policy is simple and the savings are undeniable at the decision point, brokers will use it," noted a spokesperson from AFG. "If eligibility is opaque, the signal is lost."

While comprehensive market data on the initiative's uptake is still emerging, the microeconomic implications are straightforward. Forgoing a $699 fee on a $500,000 loan equates to roughly 14 basis points of principal. If AFG's net interest margin (NIM) is 100 basis points, the fee waiver represents about 14% of the first-year margin. The break-even point requires either a small uplift in conversion rates or a marginally longer loan life.

For brokers, the practical impact of AFG's decision is significant. Lenders that streamline upfront costs and documentation are likely to gain a larger share of broker recommendations. For regulators, the focus remains on ensuring clear disclosure and fair treatment, preventing incentives from driving unsuitable borrowing or obscuring long-term costs.

The broader competitive dynamics of the market are also at play. Fee waivers are seen as a lower-cost alternative to cashbacks, and if AFG's initiative resonates, other lenders may follow suit. Major incumbents might counter with bundled offers, such as valuation or application fee waivers, to avoid reigniting costly cashback wars.

As the housing market continues to evolve, AFG Securities' move offers valuable lessons for decision-makers across the industry. "Target the moment of maximum salience," advised an industry expert. "Small, immediate savings at settlement can outperform larger, deferred benefits in driving decisions—especially in high-stress transactions."

Looking ahead, the most effective lenders will likely focus on stacking incremental, practical benefits like fee relief and fast turnarounds, rather than relying solely on blunt pricing moves. In a market where FHB volumes are set to grow and affordability remains tight, the winners will be those who compete on reducing friction, not just on interest rates.

" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["catid"]=> int(293) ["created"]=> string(19) "2025-10-06 22:30:58" ["created_by"]=> int(1891) ["created_by_alias"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["modified"]=> string(19) "2025-10-09 18:30:32" ["modified_by"]=> int(2421) ["publish_up"]=> string(19) "2025-10-06 23:28:22" ["publish_down"]=> NULL ["images"]=> string(464) "{"public_id_cloudinary":"pexels-ivan-samkov-8962686_bmw1gg","image_intro":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd\/image\/upload\/v1759872466\/pexels-ivan-samkov-8962686_bmw1gg.jpg","image_intro_alt":"AFG Securities waives settlement fees for first-home buyers, signalling strategic shift","float_intro":"","image_intro_caption":"Photo by Ivan Samkov","image_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_alt":"","float_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_caption":""}" ["urls"]=> string(112) "{"urla":"","urlatext":"","targeta":"","urlb":"","urlbtext":"","targetb":"","urlc":"","urlctext":"","targetc":""}" ["attribs"]=> string(604) "{"article_layout":"","show_title":"","link_titles":"","show_tags":"","show_intro":"","info_block_position":"","info_block_show_title":"","show_category":"","link_category":"","show_parent_category":"","link_parent_category":"","show_author":"","link_author":"","show_create_date":"","show_modify_date":"","show_publish_date":"","show_item_navigation":"","show_hits":"","show_noauth":"","urls_position":"","alternative_readmore":"","article_page_title":"","show_publishing_options":"","show_article_options":"","show_urls_images_backend":"","show_urls_images_frontend":"","readingDiff":"3","comments":"1"}" ["metadata"]=> string(52) "{"robots":"","author":"","rights":"","metatitle":""}" ["metakey"]=> string(753) "Focusing on high-salience frictions (like settlement fees) can lift conversion more efficiently than broad price cuts, improving unit economics., Targeted fee waivers create a clear broker sales message and segment signal without reigniting high-burn cashback wars., With FHB loan volumes projected to rise into 2025, lenders that streamline upfront costs can capture outsized share in a constrained affordability environment., Effective implementation hinges on simple eligibility, clean systems integration, and compliant disclosure to avoid eroding the offer’s impact., Future competition will likely centre on friction reduction—bundled fee relief and process speed—rather than headline-rate subsidies, favouring agile non-banks and mid-tiers." ["metadesc"]=> string(436) "In a strategic move aimed at easing the financial burden on first-home buyers, AFG Securities has announced the elimination of settlement fees on select loans, potentially saving customers up to $699. While the dollar amount may seem modest against the backdrop of a six-figure mortgage, the decision carries significant strategic weight in the current housing market, where even small financial frictions can have a substantial impact." ["access"]=> int(1) ["hits"]=> int(111) ["featured"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["readmore"]=> int(4480) ["ordering"]=> int(56) ["featured_up"]=> NULL ["featured_down"]=> NULL ["state"]=> int(1) ["category_title"]=> string(8) "Property" ["category_route"]=> string(21) "invest-money/property" ["category_access"]=> int(1) ["category_alias"]=> string(8) "property" ["category_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["published"]=> int(1) ["parents_published"]=> int(1) ["lft"]=> int(52) ["author"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["author_email"]=> string(33) "[email protected]" ["modified_by_name"]=> string(17) "Nicole Comendador" ["parent_title"]=> string(6) "Invest" ["parent_id"]=> int(284) ["parent_route"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_alias"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["alternative_readmore"]=> NULL ["layout"]=> NULL ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8708 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#972 (94) { ["article_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_titles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_intro"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["link_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_associations"]=> string(1) "0" ["flags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_author"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_create_date"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_modify_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_publish_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_item_navigation"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_vote"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["readmore_limit"]=> string(3) "100" ["show_tags"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_icons"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_print_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_email_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["record_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_noauth"]=> string(1) "0" ["urls_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["captcha"]=> string(0) "" ["show_publishing_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_article_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["save_history"]=> string(1) "1" ["history_limit"]=> int(10) ["show_urls_images_frontend"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_urls_images_backend"]=> string(1) "1" ["targeta"]=> int(0) ["targetb"]=> int(0) ["targetc"]=> int(0) ["float_intro"]=> string(4) "left" ["float_fulltext"]=> string(5) "right" ["category_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_category_heading_title_text"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_description"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_description_image"]=> string(1) "0" ["maxLevel"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_no_articles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_subcat_desc"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_cat_tags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_base_description"]=> string(1) "1" ["maxLevelcat"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories_cat"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcat_desc_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["num_leading_articles"]=> string(2) "14" ["num_intro_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_columns"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_links"]=> string(1) "0" ["multi_column_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcategory_content"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_pagination_limit"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter_field"]=> string(4) "hide" ["show_headings"]=> string(1) "1" ["list_show_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["date_format"]=> string(0) "" ["list_show_hits"]=> string(1) "0" ["list_show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["orderby_pri"]=> string(4) "none" ["orderby_sec"]=> string(5) "rdate" ["order_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["show_pagination"]=> string(1) "2" ["show_pagination_results"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_featured"]=> string(4) "show" ["show_feed_link"]=> string(1) "1" ["feed_summary"]=> string(1) "0" ["feed_show_readmore"]=> string(1) "0" ["sef_advanced"]=> int(1) ["sef_ids"]=> int(1) ["custom_fields_enable"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_page_heading"]=> NULL ["layout_type"]=> string(4) "blog" ["menu_text"]=> int(1) ["menu_show"]=> int(1) ["page_title"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["menu-meta_description"]=> string(160) "Let us help you decide how you want to invest your money on. Learn the best strategies in investing and options like cryptocurrency, bonds, mutual funds, proper" ["page_description"]=> string(7) "nestegg" ["page_rights"]=> NULL ["robots"]=> NULL ["check_access_rights"]=> int(0) ["access-view"]=> bool(true) } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["displayDate"]=> string(19) "2025-10-06 23:28:22" ["slug"]=> string(98) "18963:afg-securities-fee-waiver-for-first-home-buyers-a-699-gesture-with-outsized-strategic-weight" ["event"]=> object(stdClass)#9200 (3) { ["afterDisplayTitle"]=> string(0) "" ["beforeDisplayContent"]=> string(132) "

• Yes

" ["afterDisplayContent"]=> string(0) "" } ["text"]=> string(692) "

In a strategic move aimed at easing the financial burden on first-home buyers, AFG Securities has announced the elimination of settlement fees on select loans, potentially saving customers up to $699. While the dollar amount may seem modest against the backdrop of a six-figure mortgage, the decision carries significant strategic weight in the current housing market, where even small financial frictions can have a substantial impact.

Write comment (0 Comments) " ["jcfields"]=> array(9) { [1]=> object(stdClass)#9228 (33) { ["id"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["name"]=> string(17) "automatic-tagging" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2018-08-29 05:26:30" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2355) ["ordering"]=> int(-1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8928 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8744 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8746 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8747 (2) { ["name"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8745 (2) { ["name"]=> string(2) "No" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8927 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8742 (6) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(7) "autotag" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(1) "1" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(1) ["label"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["description"]=> string(51) "Automatic tagging of article base on title keywords" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(17) "Celeste Fernandez" ["group_title"]=> string(4) "Tags" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["rawvalue"]=> string(1) "1" } [7]=> object(stdClass)#9234 (33) { ["id"]=> int(7) ["title"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["name"]=> string(3) "url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-09 01:32:54" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8926 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8748 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8743 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8738 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [8]=> object(stdClass)#9230 (33) { ["id"]=> int(8) ["title"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["name"]=> string(18) "second-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:04" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8741 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8913 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8739 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8908 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [9]=> object(stdClass)#9229 (33) { ["id"]=> int(9) ["title"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["name"]=> string(17) "third-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:42" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8914 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8904 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8907 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8912 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [4]=> object(stdClass)#9227 (33) { ["id"]=> int(4) ["title"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["name"]=> string(9) "video-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-19 05:54:21" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8911 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8909 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8910 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8938 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [6]=> object(stdClass)#9215 (33) { ["id"]=> int(6) ["title"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["name"]=> string(31) "image-caption-video-description" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 16:29:55" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(2) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8906 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8940 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8937 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8942 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [3]=> object(stdClass)#9236 (33) { ["id"]=> int(3) ["title"]=> string(6) "Status" ["name"]=> string(6) "status" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:45:26" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(3) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8939 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8947 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8945 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8944 (2) { ["name"]=> string(8) "Inactive" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8946 (2) { ["name"]=> string(6) "Active" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8941 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8949 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(6) "Status" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [5]=> object(stdClass)#9161 (33) { ["id"]=> int(5) ["title"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["name"]=> string(21) "essential-information" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 06:10:20" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(4) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8943 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8951 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8948 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8953 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["description"]=> string(35) "3 points that summarize the article" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [2]=> object(stdClass)#9235 (33) { ["id"]=> int(2) ["title"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["name"]=> string(14) "embedded-video" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:43:32" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(5) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8950 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8955 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8952 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8957 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(29) "Paste your embedded code here" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } } ["link"]=> string(115) "/invest-money/property/afg-securities-fee-waiver-for-first-home-buyers-a-699-gesture-with-outsized-strategic-weight" ["image"]=> string(118) "https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1759872466/pexels-ivan-samkov-8962686_bmw1gg.jpg" ["image_alt"]=> string(87) "AFG Securities waives settlement fees for first-home buyers, signalling strategic shift" } [1]=> object(stdClass)#8727 (57) { ["id"]=> int(18971) ["title"]=> string(73) "From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices" ["alias"]=> string(91) "the-trust-dividend-how-australian-agencies-can-turn-a-reputation-problem-into-pricing-power" ["introtext"]=> string(497) "

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 it’s also creating space for independents and tech-forward firms to win share. The playbook is emerging: operationalise transparency, align incentives, and productise proof. Here’s how agencies and sellers can convert trust into speed, price and market power.

" ["fulltext"]=> string(8819) "

Real estate still runs on human judgment, but the market now prices trust. In vendor campaigns where information is thin, incentives are opaque, and reporting is patchy, buyers widen their discount and sellers accept suboptimal offers just to end uncertainty. Conversely, when agents provide verifiable visibility—on enquiry, offers and campaign economics—buyers bid with more confidence and vendors hold their nerve. The trust dividend shows up as fewer days on market, tighter sale-to-list differentials, and better reserve outcomes.

Market Reality: The Data Behind Distrust

Australia has a trust problem in property. Roy Morgan’s long-running Image of Professions research consistently ranks real estate agents among the least trusted occupations for honesty and ethics, a position that has barely shifted in recent years. State consumer regulators routinely list property services among their most complained-about categories, driven by themes familiar to any vendor: underquoting, opaque offer handling, and poor communication.

The commercial consequences are not abstract. In softer phases of the cycle, CoreLogic’s vendor discounting has typically ranged around 3%–6%, and longer days on market correlate with larger discounts. Where buyers perceive process risk—uncertainty that all offers are treated equally or that price guides are credible—discounts widen and auctions underperform. That is real money leaking from vendors’ P&L.

Global trust indicators reinforce the pressure. Edelman’s Trust Barometer shows expectations rising for businesses to evidence responsible conduct and meaningful transparency. Real estate is not exempt, and the gap between what vendors expect and what many agencies deliver invites both market disruption and regulatory intervention.

Economics of Agency: Incentives, Information, Outcomes

Principal–agent theory explains much of the friction. Vendors (principals) rely on agents (agents) who control information flows, set marketing strategy, and negotiate. Classic misalignments emerge:

• Commission asymmetry: An extra $20,000 for the vendor may only add a few hundred dollars to the agent’s commission, weakening incentives to grind out the final bid.
• Information asymmetry: Agents see enquiry quality and buyer intent; vendors see a filtered narrative.
• Effort observability: It’s hard for vendors to verify whether outreach and buyer nurturing is best-in-class or perfunctory.

These can be corrected with measurable controls: tiered commission with a bonus above an independently appraised price band; mandatory, timestamped offer logs; and service-level metrics such as average days on market relative to suburb medians, sale-to-list ratios, and Net Promoter Score (NPS) published post-settlement.

Where Competitive Advantage Emerges

Trust has become a differentiator, and early movers are converting it into share. Independents and tech-forward agencies are leaning into transparency with:

• Transparent pricing frameworks: Clear, written explanations of guide-setting methodology tied to data (CoreLogic, Domain, local comparables) and live adjustments.
• Service guarantees: SLAs on vendor updates, buyer follow-ups, and campaign reporting with fee-at-risk if missed.
• Data-rich vendor dashboards: Real-time enquiry volumes, buyer segmentation, private inspection feedback, and bid histories.
• Reputation systems: Publicly reported NPS, review response rates, and complaint resolution times.

Platforms such as Openn Negotiation/Openn Offers have demonstrated that verified, timestamped digital offer trails can increase buyer participation and vendor confidence by reducing fears of phantom bids or uneven treatment. In markets where these tools are adopted, agencies report tighter price dispersion and fewer failed auctions—evidence that trusted process reduces friction.

Implementation Playbook for Sellers

Vendors can engineer better outcomes by treating agent selection like a procurement process, not a personality contest. A practical due diligence framework:

• Performance metrics: Ask for the agency’s last 12 months’ median days on market vs suburb median; sale-to-list ratio distribution; auction clearance rate vs market; withdrawal rate.
• Evidence pack: Request anonymised weekly vendor reports from recent campaigns and a sample end-of-campaign report showing offer chronology and buyer segmentation.
• Incentive design: Propose a baseline commission with a stepped bonus above an independently assessed price band (e.g., valuer or algorithmic appraisal range), and a fee-at-risk tied to service SLAs.
• Process integrity: Require a verified offer log (with buyer identity checked), clear policy on pre-auction offers, and documented handling of simultaneous bids.
• Marketing ROI: Demand a budget with channel-level KPIs (impressions, enquiry, inspection conversion) and mid-campaign optimisation rules.
• Governance signals: Confirm annual trust-account audits, insurer details for professional indemnity, and complaint-handling procedures with measured resolution times.

Interview questions that surface real capability: “Show me three campaigns where you reset strategy mid-flight—what changed and why?” “What’s your three-sentence script for handling price conditioning without eroding buyer urgency?” “Which buyers are you already nurturing for my property and what’s their timeframe?”

Regulatory Overhang and Governance

Regulatory risk is rising. Federal consultations on “Tranche 2” anti-money laundering reforms would bring real estate agents into the AML/CTF regime alongside lawyers and accountants, increasing KYC/AML obligations and compliance costs. States continue to tighten trust-account controls and underquoting enforcement. Prominent industry figures have warned that, if misconduct persists, the sector risks a banking-style inquiry—an existential reputational event.

For agencies, the strategic move is to get ahead: deploy digital trust-account reconciliation, automate audit trails in the CRM, formalise fair-offer policies, train teams in AML/CTF readiness, and publish a plain-English Code of Conduct. Treat compliance as product: visible, verifiable, and valued by vendors.

Technical Deep Dive: PropTech’s Trust Stack

Technology can’t fix integrity, but it can prove it. A pragmatic trust stack includes:

• CRM auditability: Immutable activity logs for all buyer contacts, follow-ups, and price discussions; role-based access; automated time-stamping.
• Verified offer logs: Digital platforms that validate buyer identity and funding pre-qualification, time-stamp all offers, and provide vendor-readable histories.
• Identity and VOI: Alignment with ARNECC verification-of-identity standards used in e‑conveyancing; integration with secure ID services reduces impersonation risk.
• Settlement rails: PEXA-style electronic settlement and digital escrow reduce error and fraud, improving certainty at the pointy end.
• Comparable data transparency: Direct feeds from property data providers to justify pricing decisions, with vendor-visible adjustments.
• Blockchain pilots: International registries—from Sweden’s Lantmäteriet to initiatives in Georgia and Dubai—show how distributed ledgers can enhance provenance and tamper-resistance. While Australia’s titles remain centralised, agencies can still use hash-based proofs for offer logs and document integrity today.

The rule of thumb: if it’s material to the outcome, it should be measured, time-stamped, and shared with the vendor.

Outlook: From Personality Sales to Proof‑Based Selling

Over the next three to five years, trust will be productised. Vendors will expect verifiable processes, not glossy promises. The winning agencies will standardise a trust-led operating model: transparent pricing frameworks, aligned incentives, auditable processes, and technology that turns anecdotes into evidence. Expect listings to prefer “evidence packs” over pitch decks, and vendor agreements to embed SLAs and verified offer handling.

For sellers, the immediate roadmap is clear: shortlist agents who can prove performance with data, insist on offer transparency, and structure fees that reward genuine outperformance. For agencies, the strategy is simpler still—treat trust as an asset on the balance sheet. Invest to build it, instrument it to prove it, and price to capture the dividend.

" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["catid"]=> int(293) ["created"]=> string(19) "2025-09-29 02:05:58" ["created_by"]=> int(1891) ["created_by_alias"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["modified"]=> string(19) "2025-09-29 21:12:27" ["modified_by"]=> int(2421) ["publish_up"]=> string(19) "2025-09-29 02:11:53" ["publish_down"]=> NULL ["images"]=> string(441) "{"public_id_cloudinary":"pexels-thirdman-8482519_av4ll5","image_intro":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd\/image\/upload\/v1759180245\/pexels-thirdman-8482519_av4ll5.jpg","image_intro_alt":"From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices","float_intro":"","image_intro_caption":"Photo by Thirdman","image_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_alt":"","float_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_caption":""}" ["urls"]=> string(112) "{"urla":"","urlatext":"","targeta":"","urlb":"","urlbtext":"","targetb":"","urlc":"","urlctext":"","targetc":""}" ["attribs"]=> string(604) "{"article_layout":"","show_title":"","link_titles":"","show_tags":"","show_intro":"","info_block_position":"","info_block_show_title":"","show_category":"","link_category":"","show_parent_category":"","link_parent_category":"","show_author":"","link_author":"","show_create_date":"","show_modify_date":"","show_publish_date":"","show_item_navigation":"","show_hits":"","show_noauth":"","urls_position":"","alternative_readmore":"","article_page_title":"","show_publishing_options":"","show_article_options":"","show_urls_images_backend":"","show_urls_images_frontend":"","readingDiff":"3","comments":"1"}" ["metadata"]=> string(52) "{"robots":"","author":"","rights":"","metatitle":""}" ["metakey"]=> string(722) "Trust is a measurable pricing variable: transparent offer handling and auditable reporting tighten sale-to-list gaps and reduce days on market., Early adopters that operationalise transparency (verified offer logs, NPS, SLAs) gain listing share and command premium fees tied to performance., Regulatory momentum—AML Tranche 2, stricter trust-account oversight—will raise the compliance bar and punish opaque practices., Vendors should run agent selection like procurement: demand evidence packs, align incentives with stepped bonuses, and codify service levels., Over 3–5 years the market will pivot to proof‑based selling; agencies that build a ‘trust stack’ of governance and PropTech will outgrow the field." ["metadesc"]=> string(0) "" ["access"]=> int(1) ["hits"]=> int(158) ["featured"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["readmore"]=> int(8819) ["ordering"]=> int(68) ["featured_up"]=> NULL ["featured_down"]=> NULL ["state"]=> int(1) ["category_title"]=> string(8) "Property" ["category_route"]=> string(21) "invest-money/property" ["category_access"]=> int(1) ["category_alias"]=> string(8) "property" ["category_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["published"]=> int(1) ["parents_published"]=> int(1) ["lft"]=> int(52) ["author"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["author_email"]=> string(33) "[email protected]" ["modified_by_name"]=> string(17) "Nicole Comendador" ["parent_title"]=> string(6) "Invest" ["parent_id"]=> int(284) ["parent_route"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_alias"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["alternative_readmore"]=> NULL ["layout"]=> NULL ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#970 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8693 (94) { ["article_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_titles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_intro"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["link_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_associations"]=> string(1) "0" ["flags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_author"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_create_date"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_modify_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_publish_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_item_navigation"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_vote"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["readmore_limit"]=> string(3) "100" ["show_tags"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_icons"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_print_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_email_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["record_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_noauth"]=> string(1) "0" ["urls_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["captcha"]=> string(0) "" ["show_publishing_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_article_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["save_history"]=> string(1) "1" ["history_limit"]=> int(10) ["show_urls_images_frontend"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_urls_images_backend"]=> string(1) "1" ["targeta"]=> int(0) ["targetb"]=> int(0) ["targetc"]=> int(0) ["float_intro"]=> string(4) "left" ["float_fulltext"]=> string(5) "right" ["category_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_category_heading_title_text"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_description"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_description_image"]=> string(1) "0" ["maxLevel"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_no_articles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_subcat_desc"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_cat_tags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_base_description"]=> string(1) "1" ["maxLevelcat"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories_cat"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcat_desc_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["num_leading_articles"]=> string(2) "14" ["num_intro_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_columns"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_links"]=> string(1) "0" ["multi_column_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcategory_content"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_pagination_limit"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter_field"]=> string(4) "hide" ["show_headings"]=> string(1) "1" ["list_show_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["date_format"]=> string(0) "" ["list_show_hits"]=> string(1) "0" ["list_show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["orderby_pri"]=> string(4) "none" ["orderby_sec"]=> string(5) "rdate" ["order_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["show_pagination"]=> string(1) "2" ["show_pagination_results"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_featured"]=> string(4) "show" ["show_feed_link"]=> string(1) "1" ["feed_summary"]=> string(1) "0" ["feed_show_readmore"]=> string(1) "0" ["sef_advanced"]=> int(1) ["sef_ids"]=> int(1) ["custom_fields_enable"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_page_heading"]=> NULL ["layout_type"]=> string(4) "blog" ["menu_text"]=> int(1) ["menu_show"]=> int(1) ["page_title"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["menu-meta_description"]=> string(160) "Let us help you decide how you want to invest your money on. Learn the best strategies in investing and options like cryptocurrency, bonds, mutual funds, proper" ["page_description"]=> string(7) "nestegg" ["page_rights"]=> NULL ["robots"]=> NULL ["check_access_rights"]=> int(0) ["access-view"]=> bool(true) } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["displayDate"]=> string(19) "2025-09-29 02:11:53" ["slug"]=> string(97) "18971:the-trust-dividend-how-australian-agencies-can-turn-a-reputation-problem-into-pricing-power" ["event"]=> object(stdClass)#9211 (3) { ["afterDisplayTitle"]=> string(0) "" ["beforeDisplayContent"]=> string(132) "

• Yes

" ["afterDisplayContent"]=> string(0) "" } ["text"]=> string(743) "

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 it’s also creating space for independents and tech-forward firms to win share. The playbook is emerging: operationalise transparency, align incentives, and productise proof. Here’s how agencies and sellers can convert trust into speed, price and market power.

Write comment (0 Comments) " ["jcfields"]=> array(9) { [1]=> object(stdClass)#9239 (33) { ["id"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["name"]=> string(17) "automatic-tagging" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2018-08-29 05:26:30" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2355) ["ordering"]=> int(-1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8928 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8744 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8746 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8747 (2) { ["name"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8745 (2) { ["name"]=> string(2) "No" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8927 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8742 (6) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(7) "autotag" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(1) "1" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(1) ["label"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["description"]=> string(51) "Automatic tagging of article base on title keywords" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(17) "Celeste Fernandez" ["group_title"]=> string(4) "Tags" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["rawvalue"]=> string(1) "1" } [7]=> object(stdClass)#9245 (33) { ["id"]=> int(7) ["title"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["name"]=> string(3) "url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-09 01:32:54" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8926 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8748 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8743 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8738 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [8]=> object(stdClass)#9241 (33) { ["id"]=> int(8) ["title"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["name"]=> string(18) "second-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:04" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8741 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8913 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8739 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8908 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [9]=> object(stdClass)#9240 (33) { ["id"]=> int(9) ["title"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["name"]=> string(17) "third-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:42" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8914 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8904 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8907 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8912 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [4]=> object(stdClass)#9238 (33) { ["id"]=> int(4) ["title"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["name"]=> string(9) "video-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-19 05:54:21" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8911 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8909 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8910 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8938 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [6]=> object(stdClass)#9226 (33) { ["id"]=> int(6) ["title"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["name"]=> string(31) "image-caption-video-description" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 16:29:55" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(2) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8906 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8940 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8937 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8942 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [3]=> object(stdClass)#9247 (33) { ["id"]=> int(3) ["title"]=> string(6) "Status" ["name"]=> string(6) "status" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:45:26" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(3) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8939 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8947 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8945 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8944 (2) { ["name"]=> string(8) "Inactive" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8946 (2) { ["name"]=> string(6) "Active" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8941 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8949 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(6) "Status" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [5]=> object(stdClass)#9137 (33) { ["id"]=> int(5) ["title"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["name"]=> string(21) "essential-information" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 06:10:20" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(4) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8943 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8951 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8948 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8953 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["description"]=> string(35) "3 points that summarize the article" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [2]=> object(stdClass)#9246 (33) { ["id"]=> int(2) ["title"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["name"]=> string(14) "embedded-video" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:43:32" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(5) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8950 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8955 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8952 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8957 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(29) "Paste your embedded code here" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } } ["link"]=> string(114) "/invest-money/property/the-trust-dividend-how-australian-agencies-can-turn-a-reputation-problem-into-pricing-power" ["image"]=> string(115) "https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1759180245/pexels-thirdman-8482519_av4ll5.jpg" ["image_alt"]=> string(73) "From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices" } [2]=> object(stdClass)#8726 (57) { ["id"]=> int(19031) ["title"]=> string(71) "Reality check for first home buyers: Affordable suburbs with 5% deposit" ["alias"]=> string(69) "reality-check-for-first-home-buyers-affordable-suburbs-with-5-deposit" ["introtext"]=> string(399) "

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.

" ["fulltext"]=> string(3886) "

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.

" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["catid"]=> int(293) ["created"]=> string(19) "2025-09-28 23:00:07" ["created_by"]=> int(2421) ["created_by_alias"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["modified"]=> string(19) "2025-09-28 23:00:07" ["modified_by"]=> int(2421) ["publish_up"]=> string(19) "2025-09-28 23:00:28" ["publish_down"]=> NULL ["images"]=> string(449) "{"public_id_cloudinary":"pexels-kindelmedia-7578936_xitowe","image_intro":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd\/image\/upload\/v1759264959\/pexels-kindelmedia-7578936_xitowe.jpg","image_intro_alt":"Reality check for first home buyers: Affordable suburbs with 5% deposit","float_intro":"","image_intro_caption":"Photo by Kindel Media","image_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_alt":"","float_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_caption":""}" ["urls"]=> string(112) "{"urla":"","urlatext":"","targeta":"","urlb":"","urlbtext":"","targetb":"","urlc":"","urlctext":"","targetc":""}" ["attribs"]=> string(604) "{"article_layout":"","show_title":"","link_titles":"","show_tags":"","show_intro":"","info_block_position":"","info_block_show_title":"","show_category":"","link_category":"","show_parent_category":"","link_parent_category":"","show_author":"","link_author":"","show_create_date":"","show_modify_date":"","show_publish_date":"","show_item_navigation":"","show_hits":"","show_noauth":"","urls_position":"","alternative_readmore":"","article_page_title":"","show_publishing_options":"","show_article_options":"","show_urls_images_backend":"","show_urls_images_frontend":"","readingDiff":"3","comments":"1"}" ["metadata"]=> string(52) "{"robots":"","author":"","rights":"","metatitle":""}" ["metakey"]=> string(58) "reality, check, home, buyers, affordable, suburbs, deposit" ["metadesc"]=> string(390) "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." ["access"]=> int(1) ["hits"]=> int(139) ["featured"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["readmore"]=> int(3886) ["ordering"]=> int(1) ["featured_up"]=> NULL ["featured_down"]=> NULL ["state"]=> int(1) ["category_title"]=> string(8) "Property" ["category_route"]=> string(21) "invest-money/property" ["category_access"]=> int(1) ["category_alias"]=> string(8) "property" ["category_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["published"]=> int(1) ["parents_published"]=> int(1) ["lft"]=> int(52) ["author"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["author_email"]=> string(38) "[email protected]" ["modified_by_name"]=> string(17) "Nicole Comendador" ["parent_title"]=> string(6) "Invest" ["parent_id"]=> int(284) ["parent_route"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_alias"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["alternative_readmore"]=> NULL ["layout"]=> NULL ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#973 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8691 (94) { ["article_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_titles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_intro"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["link_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_associations"]=> string(1) "0" ["flags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_author"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_create_date"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_modify_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_publish_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_item_navigation"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_vote"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["readmore_limit"]=> string(3) "100" ["show_tags"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_icons"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_print_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_email_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["record_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_noauth"]=> string(1) "0" ["urls_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["captcha"]=> string(0) "" ["show_publishing_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_article_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["save_history"]=> string(1) "1" ["history_limit"]=> int(10) ["show_urls_images_frontend"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_urls_images_backend"]=> string(1) "1" ["targeta"]=> int(0) ["targetb"]=> int(0) ["targetc"]=> int(0) ["float_intro"]=> string(4) "left" ["float_fulltext"]=> string(5) "right" ["category_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_category_heading_title_text"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_description"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_description_image"]=> string(1) "0" ["maxLevel"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_no_articles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_subcat_desc"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_cat_tags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_base_description"]=> string(1) "1" ["maxLevelcat"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories_cat"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcat_desc_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["num_leading_articles"]=> string(2) "14" ["num_intro_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_columns"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_links"]=> string(1) "0" ["multi_column_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcategory_content"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_pagination_limit"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter_field"]=> string(4) "hide" ["show_headings"]=> string(1) "1" ["list_show_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["date_format"]=> string(0) "" ["list_show_hits"]=> string(1) "0" ["list_show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["orderby_pri"]=> string(4) "none" ["orderby_sec"]=> string(5) "rdate" ["order_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["show_pagination"]=> string(1) "2" ["show_pagination_results"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_featured"]=> string(4) "show" ["show_feed_link"]=> string(1) "1" ["feed_summary"]=> string(1) "0" ["feed_show_readmore"]=> string(1) "0" ["sef_advanced"]=> int(1) ["sef_ids"]=> int(1) ["custom_fields_enable"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_page_heading"]=> NULL ["layout_type"]=> string(4) "blog" ["menu_text"]=> int(1) ["menu_show"]=> int(1) ["page_title"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["menu-meta_description"]=> string(160) "Let us help you decide how you want to invest your money on. Learn the best strategies in investing and options like cryptocurrency, bonds, mutual funds, proper" ["page_description"]=> string(7) "nestegg" ["page_rights"]=> NULL ["robots"]=> NULL ["check_access_rights"]=> int(0) ["access-view"]=> bool(true) } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["displayDate"]=> string(19) "2025-09-28 23:00:28" ["slug"]=> string(75) "19031:reality-check-for-first-home-buyers-affordable-suburbs-with-5-deposit" ["event"]=> object(stdClass)#9222 (3) { ["afterDisplayTitle"]=> string(0) "" ["beforeDisplayContent"]=> string(132) "

• Yes

" ["afterDisplayContent"]=> string(0) "" } ["text"]=> string(623) "

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.

Write comment (0 Comments) " ["jcfields"]=> array(9) { [1]=> object(stdClass)#9250 (33) { ["id"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["name"]=> string(17) "automatic-tagging" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2018-08-29 05:26:30" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2355) ["ordering"]=> int(-1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8928 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8744 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8746 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8747 (2) { ["name"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8745 (2) { ["name"]=> string(2) "No" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8927 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8742 (6) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(7) "autotag" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(1) "1" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(1) ["label"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["description"]=> string(51) "Automatic tagging of article base on title keywords" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(17) "Celeste Fernandez" ["group_title"]=> string(4) "Tags" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["rawvalue"]=> string(1) "1" } [7]=> object(stdClass)#9256 (33) { ["id"]=> int(7) ["title"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["name"]=> string(3) "url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-09 01:32:54" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8926 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8748 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8743 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8738 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [8]=> object(stdClass)#9252 (33) { ["id"]=> int(8) ["title"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["name"]=> string(18) "second-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:04" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8741 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8913 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8739 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8908 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [9]=> object(stdClass)#9251 (33) { ["id"]=> int(9) ["title"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["name"]=> string(17) "third-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:42" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8914 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8904 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8907 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8912 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [4]=> object(stdClass)#9249 (33) { ["id"]=> int(4) ["title"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["name"]=> string(9) "video-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-19 05:54:21" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8911 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8909 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8910 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8938 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [6]=> object(stdClass)#9237 (33) { ["id"]=> int(6) ["title"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["name"]=> string(31) "image-caption-video-description" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 16:29:55" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(2) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8906 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8940 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8937 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8942 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [3]=> object(stdClass)#9258 (33) { ["id"]=> int(3) ["title"]=> string(6) "Status" ["name"]=> string(6) "status" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:45:26" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(3) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8939 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8947 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8945 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8944 (2) { ["name"]=> string(8) "Inactive" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8946 (2) { ["name"]=> string(6) "Active" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8941 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8949 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(6) "Status" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [5]=> object(stdClass)#9136 (33) { ["id"]=> int(5) ["title"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["name"]=> string(21) "essential-information" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 06:10:20" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(4) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8943 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8951 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8948 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8953 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["description"]=> string(35) "3 points that summarize the article" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [2]=> object(stdClass)#9257 (33) { ["id"]=> int(2) ["title"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["name"]=> string(14) "embedded-video" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:43:32" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(5) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8950 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8955 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8952 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8957 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(29) "Paste your embedded code here" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } } ["link"]=> string(92) "/invest-money/property/reality-check-for-first-home-buyers-affordable-suburbs-with-5-deposit" ["image"]=> string(118) "https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1759264959/pexels-kindelmedia-7578936_xitowe.jpg" ["image_alt"]=> string(71) "Reality check for first home buyers: Affordable suburbs with 5% deposit" } [3]=> object(stdClass)#8725 (57) { ["id"]=> int(18983) ["title"]=> string(67) "Trust as a performance multiplier in Australia's real estate market" ["alias"]=> string(81) "the-trust-dividend-how-sellers-can-turn-agent-selection-into-a-precision-strategy" ["introtext"]=> string(517) "

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 being recognised as a powerful performance multiplier that can significantly impact sale prices, speed, and risk management. As the real estate landscape evolves, data transparency, outcome-based fees, and proptech-enabled oversight are transforming trust from an abstract concept into a measurable system.

" ["fulltext"]=> string(5166) "

The significance of trust in residential sales cannot be overstated. Vendors who operationalise trust through evidence-based price guidance, transparent campaign data, and incentive-aligned fee models are more likely to achieve quicker sales and protect their sale prices. For agencies, systematising trust can lead to increased market share, reduced regulatory risk, and enhanced repeat and referral business.

Navigating a high-stakes, low-trust market

Australia’s housing stock, valued at approximately A$10–11 trillion, sees hundreds of thousands of sales each year. Despite the strong commercial incentives created by commissions (ranging from 1.6–2.5% plus marketing) and vendor-paid advertising, trust remains fragile. The Roy Morgan Image of Professions survey consistently ranks real estate agents low on ethics and honesty, with only about three in ten Australians giving them a high rating. In response, regulators have tightened underquoting rules, requiring evidence-based price guides and Statements of Information in states like NSW and Victoria.

Globally, the trust debate is gaining momentum. The United States’ 2024 brokerage settlement is pushing the industry towards clearer value articulation and fee transparency. While Australia’s vendor-pays model differs, the trend towards more disclosure and clearer incentives is unmistakable. As Richard Edelman, a renowned expert on trust, states, “trust is the ultimate currency.” In the property sector, trust also plays a crucial role in pricing risk.

Aligning interests and reducing noise: A framework for trust

To turn trust into a systematic approach rather than a mere slogan, two key frameworks are essential:

1. Principal–agent alignment: Define success, measure it, and create payment structures that reward outperformance. Moving beyond flat commissions to stepped fees that increase only when the sale price exceeds pre-agreed thresholds can align interests more effectively. However, it is important to ensure that these structures comply with state laws and remain simple to avoid unintended consequences.
2. The trust equation: This involves a combination of credibility, reliability, intimacy, and low self-orientation. Practically, this means using credentials and comparable sales for credibility, providing on-time updates and documented buyer feedback for reliability, designing tailored campaigns for intimacy, and maintaining transparent motives through itemised budgets and caps.

Technical insights: From price guides to data integrity

Trust is established or broken in the finer details of real estate transactions. For instance, price substantiation requires agents’ price guides to be based on recent comparable sales, adjusted for specific conditions and micro-locations. In Victoria, the Statement of Information must align with the guide, while in NSW, vendors should demand the file of comparables underpinning the estimate. Marketing transparency is also crucial, with itemised, vendor-paid advertising plans that include clear channel objectives and weekly performance reporting.

Additionally, evidence loops involving third-party data, such as CoreLogic or PropTrack AVMs and suburb-level demand metrics, can help triangulate information. Agents who welcome independent data points demonstrate confidence rather than defensiveness. Transparent offer workflows, like digital negotiations or documented private treaty registers, can reduce disputes and underhanded tactics, creating an auditable trail for regulatory queries.

The business impact of trusted campaigns

Trust can have a significant commercial impact on three levels:

1. Price protection: Evidence-based guides attract the right buyers sooner, reducing the risk of unrealistic expectations and generating cleaner offers.
2. Cycle-time compression: Real-time reporting on enquiries, inspections, and buyer sentiment allows for agile adjustments, saving valuable time on the market, especially during softening cycles.
3. Regulatory risk mitigation: A compliance-first approach lowers legal exposure and safeguards brand equity by avoiding underquoting penalties, misleading marketing claims, and trust account breaches.

Agencies gaining a competitive edge through trust

Leading agencies are transforming trust into a repeatable product by implementing service-level agreements (SLAs), outcome-linked fees, verified social proof, and data transparency. These strategies lower acquisition costs through referrals, strengthen listing conversion rates, and enhance agent productivity. In a slowing market, these economic advantages are particularly crucial.

As the real estate sector continues to evolve, sellers and agencies that embrace trust as a measurable, inspectable, and embedded component of their operations will likely outperform the market in terms of both price and speed, while also enjoying greater peace of mind.

" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["catid"]=> int(293) ["created"]=> string(19) "2025-09-22 00:20:13" ["created_by"]=> int(1891) ["created_by_alias"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["modified"]=> string(19) "2025-09-23 11:27:24" ["modified_by"]=> int(2421) ["publish_up"]=> string(19) "2025-09-22 01:26:56" ["publish_down"]=> NULL ["images"]=> string(453) "{"public_id_cloudinary":"pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7937744_h0slkd","image_intro":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd\/image\/upload\/v1758626781\/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7937744_h0slkd.jpg","image_intro_alt":"Trust as a performance multiplier in Australia's real estate market","float_intro":"","image_intro_caption":"Photo by Pavel Danilyuk","image_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_alt":"","float_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_caption":""}" ["urls"]=> string(112) "{"urla":"","urlatext":"","targeta":"","urlb":"","urlbtext":"","targetb":"","urlc":"","urlctext":"","targetc":""}" ["attribs"]=> string(604) "{"article_layout":"","show_title":"","link_titles":"","show_tags":"","show_intro":"","info_block_position":"","info_block_show_title":"","show_category":"","link_category":"","show_parent_category":"","link_parent_category":"","show_author":"","link_author":"","show_create_date":"","show_modify_date":"","show_publish_date":"","show_item_navigation":"","show_hits":"","show_noauth":"","urls_position":"","alternative_readmore":"","article_page_title":"","show_publishing_options":"","show_article_options":"","show_urls_images_backend":"","show_urls_images_frontend":"","readingDiff":"3","comments":"1"}" ["metadata"]=> string(52) "{"robots":"","author":"","rights":"","metatitle":""}" ["metakey"]=> string(810) "Treat trust as an operating system: codify evidence-based pricing, transparent reporting, and aligned incentives to protect price and compress time-on-market., Agencies that ‘productise’ trust with SLAs, live dashboards, verified reviews, and outcome-linked fees gain a defensible competitive edge and higher referral flow., Regulatory momentum (underquoting enforcement, documentation requirements) and global shifts toward fee transparency will reward compliant, data-forward operators., Use a vendor due-diligence checklist: demand comparables packs, itemised marketing budgets, sample reporting, clear fee architecture, and escalation paths., AI and proptech will augment — not replace — agent judgement; the advantage goes to teams that blend decision-support tools with auditable human expertise." ["metadesc"]=> string(508) "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 being recognised as a powerful performance multiplier that can significantly impact sale prices, speed, and risk management. As the real estate landscape evolves, data transparency, outcome-based fees, and proptech-enabled oversight are transforming trust from an abstract concept into a measurable system." ["access"]=> int(1) ["hits"]=> int(156) ["featured"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["readmore"]=> int(5166) ["ordering"]=> int(34) ["featured_up"]=> NULL ["featured_down"]=> NULL ["state"]=> int(1) ["category_title"]=> string(8) "Property" ["category_route"]=> string(21) "invest-money/property" ["category_access"]=> int(1) ["category_alias"]=> string(8) "property" ["category_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["published"]=> int(1) ["parents_published"]=> int(1) ["lft"]=> int(52) ["author"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["author_email"]=> string(33) "[email protected]" ["modified_by_name"]=> string(17) "Nicole Comendador" ["parent_title"]=> string(6) "Invest" ["parent_id"]=> int(284) ["parent_route"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_alias"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["alternative_readmore"]=> NULL ["layout"]=> NULL ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#974 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8684 (94) { ["article_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_titles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_intro"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["link_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_associations"]=> string(1) "0" ["flags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_author"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_create_date"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_modify_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_publish_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_item_navigation"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_vote"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["readmore_limit"]=> string(3) "100" ["show_tags"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_icons"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_print_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_email_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["record_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_noauth"]=> string(1) "0" ["urls_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["captcha"]=> string(0) "" ["show_publishing_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_article_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["save_history"]=> string(1) "1" ["history_limit"]=> int(10) ["show_urls_images_frontend"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_urls_images_backend"]=> string(1) "1" ["targeta"]=> int(0) ["targetb"]=> int(0) ["targetc"]=> int(0) ["float_intro"]=> string(4) "left" ["float_fulltext"]=> string(5) "right" ["category_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_category_heading_title_text"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_description"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_description_image"]=> string(1) "0" ["maxLevel"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_no_articles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_subcat_desc"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_cat_tags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_base_description"]=> string(1) "1" ["maxLevelcat"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories_cat"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcat_desc_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["num_leading_articles"]=> string(2) "14" ["num_intro_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_columns"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_links"]=> string(1) "0" ["multi_column_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcategory_content"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_pagination_limit"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter_field"]=> string(4) "hide" ["show_headings"]=> string(1) "1" ["list_show_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["date_format"]=> string(0) "" ["list_show_hits"]=> string(1) "0" ["list_show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["orderby_pri"]=> string(4) "none" ["orderby_sec"]=> string(5) "rdate" ["order_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["show_pagination"]=> string(1) "2" ["show_pagination_results"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_featured"]=> string(4) "show" ["show_feed_link"]=> string(1) "1" ["feed_summary"]=> string(1) "0" ["feed_show_readmore"]=> string(1) "0" ["sef_advanced"]=> int(1) ["sef_ids"]=> int(1) ["custom_fields_enable"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_page_heading"]=> NULL ["layout_type"]=> string(4) "blog" ["menu_text"]=> int(1) ["menu_show"]=> int(1) ["page_title"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["menu-meta_description"]=> string(160) "Let us help you decide how you want to invest your money on. Learn the best strategies in investing and options like cryptocurrency, bonds, mutual funds, proper" ["page_description"]=> string(7) "nestegg" ["page_rights"]=> NULL ["robots"]=> NULL ["check_access_rights"]=> int(0) ["access-view"]=> bool(true) } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["displayDate"]=> string(19) "2025-09-22 01:26:56" ["slug"]=> string(87) "18983:the-trust-dividend-how-sellers-can-turn-agent-selection-into-a-precision-strategy" ["event"]=> object(stdClass)#9233 (3) { ["afterDisplayTitle"]=> string(0) "" ["beforeDisplayContent"]=> string(132) "

• Yes

" ["afterDisplayContent"]=> string(0) "" } ["text"]=> string(753) "

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 being recognised as a powerful performance multiplier that can significantly impact sale prices, speed, and risk management. As the real estate landscape evolves, data transparency, outcome-based fees, and proptech-enabled oversight are transforming trust from an abstract concept into a measurable system.

Write comment (0 Comments) " ["jcfields"]=> array(9) { [1]=> object(stdClass)#9261 (33) { ["id"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["name"]=> string(17) "automatic-tagging" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2018-08-29 05:26:30" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2355) ["ordering"]=> int(-1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8928 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8744 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8746 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8747 (2) { ["name"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8745 (2) { ["name"]=> string(2) "No" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8927 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8742 (6) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(7) "autotag" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(1) "1" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(1) ["label"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["description"]=> string(51) "Automatic tagging of article base on title keywords" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(17) "Celeste Fernandez" ["group_title"]=> string(4) "Tags" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["rawvalue"]=> string(1) "1" } [7]=> object(stdClass)#9267 (33) { ["id"]=> int(7) ["title"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["name"]=> string(3) "url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-09 01:32:54" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8926 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8748 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8743 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8738 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [8]=> object(stdClass)#9263 (33) { ["id"]=> int(8) ["title"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["name"]=> string(18) "second-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:04" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8741 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8913 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8739 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8908 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [9]=> object(stdClass)#9262 (33) { ["id"]=> int(9) ["title"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["name"]=> string(17) "third-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:42" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8914 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8904 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8907 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8912 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [4]=> object(stdClass)#9260 (33) { ["id"]=> int(4) ["title"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["name"]=> string(9) "video-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-19 05:54:21" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8911 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8909 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8910 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8938 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [6]=> object(stdClass)#9248 (33) { ["id"]=> int(6) ["title"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["name"]=> string(31) "image-caption-video-description" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 16:29:55" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(2) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8906 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8940 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8937 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8942 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [3]=> object(stdClass)#9269 (33) { ["id"]=> int(3) ["title"]=> string(6) "Status" ["name"]=> string(6) "status" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:45:26" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(3) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8939 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8947 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8945 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8944 (2) { ["name"]=> string(8) "Inactive" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8946 (2) { ["name"]=> string(6) "Active" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8941 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8949 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(6) "Status" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [5]=> object(stdClass)#9154 (33) { ["id"]=> int(5) ["title"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["name"]=> string(21) "essential-information" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 06:10:20" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(4) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8943 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8951 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8948 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8953 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["description"]=> string(35) "3 points that summarize the article" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [2]=> object(stdClass)#9268 (33) { ["id"]=> int(2) ["title"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["name"]=> string(14) "embedded-video" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:43:32" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(5) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8950 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8955 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8952 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8957 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(29) "Paste your embedded code here" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } } ["link"]=> string(104) "/invest-money/property/the-trust-dividend-how-sellers-can-turn-agent-selection-into-a-precision-strategy" ["image"]=> string(121) "https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1758626781/pexels-pavel-danilyuk-7937744_h0slkd.jpg" ["image_alt"]=> string(67) "Trust as a performance multiplier in Australia's real estate market" } [4]=> object(stdClass)#8724 (57) { ["id"]=> int(18950) ["title"]=> string(91) "LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie makes a splash with Belmont buy as real estate consolidation looms" ["alias"]=> string(118) "lj-hooker-lake-macquaries-belmont-buy-is-a-rentroll-power-play-and-a-signal-of-the-next-real-estate-consolidation-wave" ["introtext"]=> string(546) "

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 interest rates, recurring property management income is the new moat. The deal expands the network to six offices across the Lower Hunter, strengthening share of voice and operating leverage. The strategic upside: margins, data advantages and a recruitment magnet effect that rivals will struggle to counter quickly.

" ["fulltext"]=> string(7983) "

The headline implication: this is a scale-and-fit move designed to swap cyclical sales exposure for annuity-like income, while compressing unit costs across marketing, tech and compliance. In a region where transaction volumes have rebounded but remain sensitive to rate settings, the rent roll is the stabiliser — and the data exhaust from thousands of tenancies becomes a growth engine for sales.

Market context: growth with volatility in a tight rental market

Lake Macquarie’s market has been active and uneven. In 2024, 3,404 houses and 645 units changed hands, up 11.9% and 24.5% respectively on the prior year. Median house prices hit about $889,500, and units averaged $665,000. Population inflows from Sydney and Canberra into the Lower Hunter have supported demand, while regional rental vacancy has remained tight across much of NSW, keeping yields attractive for investors and buoying property management revenue. This backdrop favours operators with scale who can monetise both listing waves and steady rent roll income.

The Belmont acquisition grows LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie’s footprint to six offices, lifting brand visibility and geographic coverage across key catchments. In network businesses, density compounds: more appraisals, more landlord referrals, more off-market opportunities. The local flywheel gets stronger.

The economics of rent-roll scale: margin, multiple, and the cross‑sell dividend

Property management is the profit centre in many Australian agencies — often contributing the majority of EBITDA even when sales dominate revenue headlines. Rent rolls transact in Australia at multiples commonly cited in the 2.5–3.5x range of annual management fees, reflecting their low churn and high cash conversion. The value creation levers here are familiar:

• Operating leverage: Centralised admin, standardised inspections, and consolidated trust accounting can raise property management margins several points as portfolios scale.
• Revenue uplift: Harmonising fees, tightening arrears processes, and disciplined ancillary services (letting fees, routine maintenance coordination) drive yield per property without compromising service.
• Cross‑sell engine: Landlords and tenants are pre‑qualified leads. Over a multi‑year cycle, rent rolls feed a predictable stream of listings and buyer opportunities — effectively an in‑house demand funnel for the sales team.

For LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie, absorbing Belmont’s rent roll deepens this annuity base and creates room to invest counter‑cyclically in talent and marketing when smaller competitors pull back.

Competitive dynamics: the scale premium and rivals’ response

Expect ripple effects across the Lower Hunter. In a Porter's Five Forces lens, the move reduces competitive intensity locally by concentrating brand share, increases bargaining power with suppliers (marketing tech, portals, maintenance trades), and raises switching costs for landlords via better service breadth. Early movers in consolidation usually capture:

• Share of voice gains: More listings beget more enquiries, which beget more listings — a self‑reinforcing loop.
• Recruitment gravity: Top agents and property managers gravitate to platforms with lead flow, training, and career paths. In tight labour markets, talent follows scale.
• Pricing confidence: Consistency and breadth allow disciplined fee setting without a race to the bottom.

Competitors’ likely playbook: sharpen vendor marketing packages, invest in landlord retention programs, and pursue defensive alliances or smaller rent‑roll acquisitions. Independents lacking capital may find themselves sellers rather than buyers in the next 12–24 months.

Implementation reality: where integrations win or leak value

Rent‑roll deals are won or lost in the first 90–180 days. Execution priorities that separate successful integrations from value leakage:

• Landlord retention at all costs: Structured communications pre‑ and post‑completion; clear points of contact; no surprise fee changes; and a 30/60/90‑day check‑in regimen minimise churn.
• Systems and data migration: Clean, validated data from the Belmont portfolio into the core property management stack (e.g., trust accounting, inspections, CRM) with zero downtime and strong audit trails.
• Process harmonisation: Standard operating procedures for maintenance, arrears, and routine inspections; aligned service levels across six offices.
• Culture and incentives: Retain key property managers with stay bonuses and career progression; link KPIs to arrears, vacancy days, and customer satisfaction rather than only portfolio size.

On the sales side, immediate cross‑functional rituals — weekly landlord-to-vendor pipeline reviews and tenant-to-first-home-buyer nurture tracks — turn the newly acquired data into listings.

National lens: part of a broader consolidation arc

Across Australia, agency networks have been bulking up rent rolls to smooth cash flow through interest rate cycles and to negotiate better economics with portals and suppliers. Franchise groups with strong national brands and back‑office platforms are advantaged: they can absorb portfolios faster, spread compliance and tech costs, and roll out training at meaningful scale. LJ Hooker’s move aligns with this pattern, strengthening a regional node that can leverage corporate marketing, brand trust, and referral pathways.

ASX‑listed players and large franchises have publicly emphasised rent‑roll growth in recent years, citing the predictability of management income and the cross‑sell benefits. That institutional logic now extends deeper into regional markets experiencing demographic tailwinds.

Regulatory and community considerations

At this scale, competition concerns are typically limited, though consumer law settings still matter. Clear disclosure of fees, trust account governance, and fair marketing practices will draw scrutiny if service levels slip. Community impact cuts both ways: consolidation may create career opportunities and improved service coverage, but transitions can unsettle staff and landlords if not managed carefully. The reputational bar is higher when a brand commands visible share.

Outlook: playbook for the next 24 months

The macro: the Reserve Bank’s rate path will keep transaction volumes choppy, but population inflows and constrained rental supply underpin demand. In this scenario, the smartest capital goes into:

• Customer data and AI‑assisted prospecting: Lead scoring from rent‑roll behaviours (lease expiries, maintenance patterns) to predict listing intent.
• Portfolio health metrics: Vacancy days, arrears, landlord NPS and fee realisation as board‑level dashboards.
• Selective roll‑ups: Bolt‑on rent rolls that fit operationally, priced for retention risk, and integrated to a repeatable playbook.
• Brand trust: Proactive communication during integrations; community engagement to reinforce service reliability.

Industry analysts broadly view the Belmont acquisition as a positive strategic consolidation: it increases market coverage, embeds resilient revenue, and positions LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie to out‑invest rivals in technology and talent. The contrarian read is equally clear — the real prize isn’t today’s extra signboards, it’s tomorrow’s durable, data‑rich cash flows that compound.

" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["catid"]=> int(293) ["created"]=> string(19) "2025-09-18 05:32:16" ["created_by"]=> int(1891) ["created_by_alias"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["modified"]=> string(19) "2025-09-18 21:19:15" ["modified_by"]=> int(2421) ["publish_up"]=> string(19) "2025-09-18 05:57:01" ["publish_down"]=> NULL ["images"]=> string(454) "{"public_id_cloudinary":"pexels-pixabay-221537_l1hegk","image_intro":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd\/image\/upload\/v1758230222\/pexels-pixabay-221537_l1hegk.jpg","image_intro_alt":"LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie makes a splash with Belmont buy as real estate consolidation looms","float_intro":"","image_intro_caption":"Photo by Pixabay","image_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_alt":"","float_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_caption":""}" ["urls"]=> string(112) "{"urla":"","urlatext":"","targeta":"","urlb":"","urlbtext":"","targetb":"","urlc":"","urlctext":"","targetc":""}" ["attribs"]=> string(604) "{"article_layout":"","show_title":"","link_titles":"","show_tags":"","show_intro":"","info_block_position":"","info_block_show_title":"","show_category":"","link_category":"","show_parent_category":"","link_parent_category":"","show_author":"","link_author":"","show_create_date":"","show_modify_date":"","show_publish_date":"","show_item_navigation":"","show_hits":"","show_noauth":"","urls_position":"","alternative_readmore":"","article_page_title":"","show_publishing_options":"","show_article_options":"","show_urls_images_backend":"","show_urls_images_frontend":"","readingDiff":"3","comments":"1"}" ["metadata"]=> string(52) "{"robots":"","author":"","rights":"","metatitle":""}" ["metakey"]=> string(830) "Rent‑roll scale converts cyclical sales exposure into resilient, high‑margin cash flows while lowering unit costs across marketing, tech and compliance., Early movers in regional consolidation capture share‑of‑voice, recruitment, and supplier bargaining advantages that are hard for rivals to quickly replicate., Lake Macquarie’s rising transactions and tight rentals create a favourable backdrop; the Belmont acquisition deepens coverage across six offices to harness that demand., Integration discipline—landlord retention, clean data migration, harmonised processes, and aligned incentives—prevents value leakage in the first 90–180 days., Over the next 24 months, selective bolt‑on rent rolls, AI‑assisted lead scoring, and portfolio health dashboards will set the performance frontier for scaled agencies." ["metadesc"]=> string(0) "" ["access"]=> int(1) ["hits"]=> int(320) ["featured"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["readmore"]=> int(7983) ["ordering"]=> int(22) ["featured_up"]=> NULL ["featured_down"]=> NULL ["state"]=> int(1) ["category_title"]=> string(8) "Property" ["category_route"]=> string(21) "invest-money/property" ["category_access"]=> int(1) ["category_alias"]=> string(8) "property" ["category_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["published"]=> int(1) ["parents_published"]=> int(1) ["lft"]=> int(52) ["author"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["author_email"]=> string(33) "[email protected]" ["modified_by_name"]=> string(17) "Nicole Comendador" ["parent_title"]=> string(6) "Invest" ["parent_id"]=> int(284) ["parent_route"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_alias"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["alternative_readmore"]=> NULL ["layout"]=> NULL ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8692 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8678 (94) { ["article_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_titles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_intro"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["link_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_associations"]=> string(1) "0" ["flags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_author"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_create_date"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_modify_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_publish_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_item_navigation"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_vote"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["readmore_limit"]=> string(3) "100" ["show_tags"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_icons"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_print_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_email_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["record_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_noauth"]=> string(1) "0" ["urls_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["captcha"]=> string(0) "" ["show_publishing_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_article_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["save_history"]=> string(1) "1" ["history_limit"]=> int(10) ["show_urls_images_frontend"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_urls_images_backend"]=> string(1) "1" ["targeta"]=> int(0) ["targetb"]=> int(0) ["targetc"]=> int(0) ["float_intro"]=> string(4) "left" ["float_fulltext"]=> string(5) "right" ["category_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_category_heading_title_text"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_description"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_description_image"]=> string(1) "0" ["maxLevel"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_no_articles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_subcat_desc"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_cat_tags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_base_description"]=> string(1) "1" ["maxLevelcat"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories_cat"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcat_desc_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["num_leading_articles"]=> string(2) "14" ["num_intro_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_columns"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_links"]=> string(1) "0" ["multi_column_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcategory_content"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_pagination_limit"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter_field"]=> string(4) "hide" ["show_headings"]=> string(1) "1" ["list_show_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["date_format"]=> string(0) "" ["list_show_hits"]=> string(1) "0" ["list_show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["orderby_pri"]=> string(4) "none" ["orderby_sec"]=> string(5) "rdate" ["order_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["show_pagination"]=> string(1) "2" ["show_pagination_results"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_featured"]=> string(4) "show" ["show_feed_link"]=> string(1) "1" ["feed_summary"]=> string(1) "0" ["feed_show_readmore"]=> string(1) "0" ["sef_advanced"]=> int(1) ["sef_ids"]=> int(1) ["custom_fields_enable"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_page_heading"]=> NULL ["layout_type"]=> string(4) "blog" ["menu_text"]=> int(1) ["menu_show"]=> int(1) ["page_title"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["menu-meta_description"]=> string(160) "Let us help you decide how you want to invest your money on. Learn the best strategies in investing and options like cryptocurrency, bonds, mutual funds, proper" ["page_description"]=> string(7) "nestegg" ["page_rights"]=> NULL ["robots"]=> NULL ["check_access_rights"]=> int(0) ["access-view"]=> bool(true) } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["displayDate"]=> string(19) "2025-09-18 05:57:01" ["slug"]=> string(124) "18950:lj-hooker-lake-macquaries-belmont-buy-is-a-rentroll-power-play-and-a-signal-of-the-next-real-estate-consolidation-wave" ["event"]=> object(stdClass)#9244 (3) { ["afterDisplayTitle"]=> string(0) "" ["beforeDisplayContent"]=> string(132) "

• Yes

" ["afterDisplayContent"]=> string(0) "" } ["text"]=> string(819) "

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 interest rates, recurring property management income is the new moat. The deal expands the network to six offices across the Lower Hunter, strengthening share of voice and operating leverage. The strategic upside: margins, data advantages and a recruitment magnet effect that rivals will struggle to counter quickly.

Write comment (0 Comments) " ["jcfields"]=> array(9) { [1]=> object(stdClass)#9272 (33) { ["id"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["name"]=> string(17) "automatic-tagging" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2018-08-29 05:26:30" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2355) ["ordering"]=> int(-1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8928 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8744 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8746 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8747 (2) { ["name"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8745 (2) { ["name"]=> string(2) "No" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8927 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8742 (6) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(7) "autotag" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(1) "1" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(1) ["label"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["description"]=> string(51) "Automatic tagging of article base on title keywords" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(17) "Celeste Fernandez" ["group_title"]=> string(4) "Tags" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["rawvalue"]=> string(1) "1" } [7]=> object(stdClass)#9278 (33) { ["id"]=> int(7) ["title"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["name"]=> string(3) "url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-09 01:32:54" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8926 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8748 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8743 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8738 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [8]=> object(stdClass)#9274 (33) { ["id"]=> int(8) ["title"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["name"]=> string(18) "second-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:04" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8741 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8913 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8739 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8908 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [9]=> object(stdClass)#9273 (33) { ["id"]=> int(9) ["title"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["name"]=> string(17) "third-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:42" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8914 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8904 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8907 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8912 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [4]=> object(stdClass)#9271 (33) { ["id"]=> int(4) ["title"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["name"]=> string(9) "video-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-19 05:54:21" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8911 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8909 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8910 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8938 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [6]=> object(stdClass)#9259 (33) { ["id"]=> int(6) ["title"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["name"]=> string(31) "image-caption-video-description" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 16:29:55" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(2) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8906 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8940 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8937 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8942 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [3]=> object(stdClass)#9280 (33) { ["id"]=> int(3) ["title"]=> string(6) "Status" ["name"]=> string(6) "status" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:45:26" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(3) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8939 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8947 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8945 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8944 (2) { ["name"]=> string(8) "Inactive" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8946 (2) { ["name"]=> string(6) "Active" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8941 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8949 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(6) "Status" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [5]=> object(stdClass)#9176 (33) { ["id"]=> int(5) ["title"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["name"]=> string(21) "essential-information" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 06:10:20" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(4) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8943 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8951 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8948 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8953 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["description"]=> string(35) "3 points that summarize the article" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [2]=> object(stdClass)#9279 (33) { ["id"]=> int(2) ["title"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["name"]=> string(14) "embedded-video" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:43:32" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(5) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8950 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8955 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8952 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8957 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(29) "Paste your embedded code here" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } } ["link"]=> string(141) "/invest-money/property/lj-hooker-lake-macquaries-belmont-buy-is-a-rentroll-power-play-and-a-signal-of-the-next-real-estate-consolidation-wave" ["image"]=> string(113) "https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1758230222/pexels-pixabay-221537_l1hegk.jpg" ["image_alt"]=> string(91) "LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie makes a splash with Belmont buy as real estate consolidation looms" } [5]=> object(stdClass)#8723 (57) { ["id"]=> int(18932) ["title"]=> string(78) "Twice the demand: the case study behind Melbourne’s first‑home buyer surge" ["alias"]=> string(71) "twice-the-demand-the-case-study-behind-melbournes-firsthome-buyer-surge" ["introtext"]=> string(622) "

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 hotspots clustered in the city’s suburbs. This case study traces how affordability, policy design and product pivots combined to restart a stalled market. It also maps the strategic opportunities—and operational friction—now shaping developers, lenders and policymakers. For business leaders, the prize is clear: capture the entry‑level demand flywheel, or be disrupted by those who do.

" ["fulltext"]=> string(9048) "

Context: a demand-side reset meets constrained supply

After a period of decline, Melbourne’s entry‑level housing market has posted six consecutive months of gains to mid‑September 2025, led by first‑home buyers (FHBs). In 2024, Australia recorded 125,220 FHB loans, up 5.9% year on year; Victoria led the nation with an 11% rise, roughly double the national growth rate. Momentum strengthened into 2025: Melbourne’s FHB lending lifted an estimated 36% year on year in June 2025, as low inventory intersected with improving affordability versus Sydney and Brisbane. Notably, four of the top five national FHB hotspots are in Melbourne’s suburbs—evidence of a concentrated, highly actionable buyer pool.

Policy and cost dynamics amplified demand. The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) and the Victorian Homebuyer Fund (shared equity) lowered deposit hurdles, while easing rate expectations improved borrowing capacity. As REA Group (PropTrack) senior economist Eleanor Creagh observes, “enquiries per listing are a leading indicator of potential price growth,” and Melbourne’s relative affordability is channelling those enquiries disproportionately into its outer‑ring markets. The net effect: twice the interest relative to other capitals, but with supply slow to respond.

Decision: pivot the product, de-risk the buyer journey

From late 2024, a cross‑section of Melbourne developers, lenders and sales platforms made three coordinated calls:

• Re‑segment the entry market: tilt pipelines toward sub‑$X price points aligned with scheme thresholds and FHB borrowing power, favouring townhouses, micro‑lots and compact apartments with efficient floorplates.
• Compress friction in financing: pre‑approval in days, not weeks; family‑guarantee and shared‑equity‑compatible products for the “Bank of Mum and Dad” cohort; digital document ingestion to shorten time‑to‑yes.
• Target lead density over geography: concentrate marketing and sales channels in the handful of suburbs where enquiry velocity is already national‑top‑five, turning demand concentration into sales velocity.

The strategic thesis used a simple flywheel: price‑fit product and faster finance lift enquiry-to-sale conversion; faster absorption reduces developer carrying costs; reduced costs fund sharper price points; sharper price points pull in more qualified FHBs.

Implementation: from blueprint to boots-on-the-ground

Execution hinged on four operational moves:

• Design-to-budget engineering: value management around build cost and time (modular components, repeatable designs, fewer bespoke finishes) to hit scheme‑aligned price bands without eroding perceived quality.
• Data‑led selling: OCR‑based pre‑qualification of IDs/income, rules‑engine screening to check FHOG/Homebuyer Fund eligibility, and segmentation by suburb‑level enquiry heat maps to prioritise stock releases.
• Capital stack tuning: lenders adjusted risk appetite for FHBs using lower loan‑to‑value ratios with parental guarantees and shared‑equity structures; developers staged releases to smooth cash flows and reduce pre‑sales risk.
• Policy alignment: sales teams trained to package grants/equity schemes with contracts; developers timed launches around policy windows and rate‑sensitive periods to maximise attendance and conversion.

Technically, the financing stack relied on three levers: loan-to-income guardrails maintained prudence; guarantee structures substituted equity for deposit gaps; and rate‑path expectations expanded borrowing power. This made first‑home demand bankable without materially loosening standards.

Results: demand concentration turned into measurable absorption

The combined approach produced a clear, numbers‑backed shift:

• Volume growth: FHB loans nationally hit 125,220 in 2024 (+5.9%); Victoria rose 11%, outpacing the country. Melbourne’s FHB lending surged an estimated 36% year on year in June 2025.
• Sustained momentum: six straight months of price and activity improvements through mid‑September 2025, reversing earlier declines.
• Geographic dominance: four of Australia’s top five FHB hotspots are in Melbourne, concentrating marketing ROI and accelerating off‑the‑plan absorption in those catchments.
• Forward trajectory: 2025 national FHB loans are projected to lift ~6.5% to about 133,308, with Melbourne expected to outperform on affordability and policy uptake; KPMG forecasts position Melbourne as a likely standout through 2026.

Downstream impacts are already visible in the broader value chain: better pre‑sale coverage is unlocking construction debt more quickly; auction and private‑treaty clearance in targeted corridors have improved alongside enquiry density; and developers report fewer cancellations where buyers leveraged shared‑equity support.

Market context and competitive dynamics

Two forces are shaping the competitive landscape. First, relative affordability arbitrage: buyers priced out of Sydney are migrating their search to Melbourne, reinforcing demand. Second, inventory scarcity: low listings across capitals create a rising‑tide effect, but Melbourne’s policy‑enabled demand concentration amplifies it. Major bank economists remain split—some forecast moderate, sustainable growth into 2026 assuming stable or easing rates; others warn that a sharp rebound in construction costs or delayed approvals could cap gains.

For context, global analogues (e.g., the UK’s Help to Buy era and Canadian first‑time incentives) show that policy‑amplified FHB cycles can be powerful but transient if supply fails to respond. Melbourne’s advantage is that its price points remain closer to incomes than Sydney’s, giving the city a longer runway—provided delivery accelerates.

Business impact: P&L, risk and operational reality

• Developers: Faster absorption lowers interest carry and sales costs; design‑to‑budget improves build margins. Key risks: builder insolvencies, approvals lag, and material volatility.
• Lenders: Larger FHB books diversify retail portfolios; digital pre‑approvals cut acquisition cost per funded loan. Risk mitigants: conservative LVRs, parental guarantees, and shared‑equity structures.
• Suppliers/Trades: Stable FHB pipelines support capacity planning and shift work toward repeatable, higher‑throughput typologies (townhouses, compact apartments).
• Government: Grants and equity programmes catalyse ownership and economic activity but require guardrails to avoid fuelling price inflation without supply response.

Lessons and strategic implications

• Compete where policy anchors demand: Concentrate product and marketing in scheme‑aligned bands and suburbs with proven enquiry density; this is a structural, not cyclical, advantage while programmes persist.
• Speed is a strategy: Time‑to‑approval and time‑to‑contract are now revenue drivers. Target pre‑approval in under 72 hours; deploy e‑contracts and automated eligibility checks.
• Design for the FHB job‑to‑be‑done: Prioritise commute‑worthy locations, two‑bed formats, energy‑efficient inclusions, and strata fees that keep total cost of ownership under serviceability thresholds.
• Hedge supply risk: Use modular elements, framework agreements with key trades, and index‑linked contracts to absorb input‑cost shocks.
• Policy partnership pays: Work with councils and the state to fast‑track approvals in high‑demand corridors; evidence from six months of gains strengthens the case for streamlined planning.

Future outlook: scenarios and watch‑items

Base case: moderate price and transaction growth into 2026 as affordability and policy keep FHB demand elevated, with Melbourne likely outperforming peers. Upside: deeper rate cuts and planning reform accelerate delivery and extend the cycle. Downside: construction sector stress, approvals drag, or a growth shock erodes serviceability and stalls demand.

The signal for decision‑makers is unambiguous: Melbourne’s entry‑level housing flywheel is spinning. Early movers that match price, product and finance to the city’s concentrated FHB demand will bank share and margin; late entrants will find themselves competing on incentives as the market normalises.

" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["catid"]=> int(293) ["created"]=> string(19) "2025-09-15 19:37:09" ["created_by"]=> int(1891) ["created_by_alias"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["modified"]=> string(19) "2025-09-15 21:25:29" ["modified_by"]=> int(2421) ["publish_up"]=> string(19) "2025-09-15 23:00:50" ["publish_down"]=> NULL ["images"]=> string(471) "{"public_id_cloudinary":"pexels-mikhail-nilov-7731373_1_y1p81p","image_intro":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd\/image\/upload\/v1757971434\/pexels-mikhail-nilov-7731373_1_y1p81p.jpg","image_intro_alt":"Twice the demand: the case study behind Melbourne\u2019s first\u2011home buyer surge","float_intro":"","image_intro_caption":"Photo by Mikhail Nilov","image_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_alt":"","float_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_caption":""}" ["urls"]=> string(112) "{"urla":"","urlatext":"","targeta":"","urlb":"","urlbtext":"","targetb":"","urlc":"","urlctext":"","targetc":""}" ["attribs"]=> string(604) "{"article_layout":"","show_title":"","link_titles":"","show_tags":"","show_intro":"","info_block_position":"","info_block_show_title":"","show_category":"","link_category":"","show_parent_category":"","link_parent_category":"","show_author":"","link_author":"","show_create_date":"","show_modify_date":"","show_publish_date":"","show_item_navigation":"","show_hits":"","show_noauth":"","urls_position":"","alternative_readmore":"","article_page_title":"","show_publishing_options":"","show_article_options":"","show_urls_images_backend":"","show_urls_images_frontend":"","readingDiff":"3","comments":"1"}" ["metadata"]=> string(52) "{"robots":"","author":"","rights":"","metatitle":""}" ["metakey"]=> string(800) "Target scheme-aligned price bands and suburbs with high enquiry density to convert Melbourne’s concentrated first-home buyer demand into faster absorption and lower selling costs., Compress time-to-yes with digital pre-approvals, shared-equity compatible products, and family-guarantee options to win wallet share from rivals., Use design-to-budget and modular construction to hit affordability thresholds while protecting margins amid build-cost volatility and low inventory., Partner with government on planning acceleration in top-demand corridors; align launches with policy windows to maximise conversion., Plan for scenario volatility: moderate growth into 2026 is the base case, but supply bottlenecks or rate shocks could truncate the cycle—build hedges into contracts and capital stacks." ["metadesc"]=> string(0) "" ["access"]=> int(1) ["hits"]=> int(206) ["featured"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["readmore"]=> int(9048) ["ordering"]=> int(17) ["featured_up"]=> NULL ["featured_down"]=> NULL ["state"]=> int(1) ["category_title"]=> string(8) "Property" ["category_route"]=> string(21) "invest-money/property" ["category_access"]=> int(1) ["category_alias"]=> string(8) "property" ["category_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["published"]=> int(1) ["parents_published"]=> int(1) ["lft"]=> int(52) ["author"]=> string(8) "Newsdesk" ["author_email"]=> string(33) "[email protected]" ["modified_by_name"]=> string(17) "Nicole Comendador" ["parent_title"]=> string(6) "Invest" ["parent_id"]=> int(284) ["parent_route"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_alias"]=> string(12) "invest-money" ["parent_language"]=> string(1) "*" ["alternative_readmore"]=> NULL ["layout"]=> NULL ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8685 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8677 (94) { ["article_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_titles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_intro"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["link_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_associations"]=> string(1) "0" ["flags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_author"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_create_date"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_modify_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_publish_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_item_navigation"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_vote"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["readmore_limit"]=> string(3) "100" ["show_tags"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_icons"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_print_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_email_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["record_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_noauth"]=> string(1) "0" ["urls_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["captcha"]=> string(0) "" ["show_publishing_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_article_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["save_history"]=> string(1) "1" ["history_limit"]=> int(10) ["show_urls_images_frontend"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_urls_images_backend"]=> string(1) "1" ["targeta"]=> int(0) ["targetb"]=> int(0) ["targetc"]=> int(0) ["float_intro"]=> string(4) "left" ["float_fulltext"]=> string(5) "right" ["category_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_category_heading_title_text"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_description"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_description_image"]=> string(1) "0" ["maxLevel"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_no_articles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_subcat_desc"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_cat_tags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_base_description"]=> string(1) "1" ["maxLevelcat"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories_cat"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcat_desc_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["num_leading_articles"]=> string(2) "14" ["num_intro_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_columns"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_links"]=> string(1) "0" ["multi_column_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcategory_content"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_pagination_limit"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter_field"]=> string(4) "hide" ["show_headings"]=> string(1) "1" ["list_show_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["date_format"]=> string(0) "" ["list_show_hits"]=> string(1) "0" ["list_show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["orderby_pri"]=> string(4) "none" ["orderby_sec"]=> string(5) "rdate" ["order_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["show_pagination"]=> string(1) "2" ["show_pagination_results"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_featured"]=> string(4) "show" ["show_feed_link"]=> string(1) "1" ["feed_summary"]=> string(1) "0" ["feed_show_readmore"]=> string(1) "0" ["sef_advanced"]=> int(1) ["sef_ids"]=> int(1) ["custom_fields_enable"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_page_heading"]=> NULL ["layout_type"]=> string(4) "blog" ["menu_text"]=> int(1) ["menu_show"]=> int(1) ["page_title"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["menu-meta_description"]=> string(160) "Let us help you decide how you want to invest your money on. Learn the best strategies in investing and options like cryptocurrency, bonds, mutual funds, proper" ["page_description"]=> string(7) "nestegg" ["page_rights"]=> NULL ["robots"]=> NULL ["check_access_rights"]=> int(0) ["access-view"]=> bool(true) } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["displayDate"]=> string(19) "2025-09-15 23:00:50" ["slug"]=> string(77) "18932:twice-the-demand-the-case-study-behind-melbournes-firsthome-buyer-surge" ["event"]=> object(stdClass)#9255 (3) { ["afterDisplayTitle"]=> string(0) "" ["beforeDisplayContent"]=> string(132) "

• Yes

" ["afterDisplayContent"]=> string(0) "" } ["text"]=> string(848) "

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 hotspots clustered in the city’s suburbs. This case study traces how affordability, policy design and product pivots combined to restart a stalled market. It also maps the strategic opportunities—and operational friction—now shaping developers, lenders and policymakers. For business leaders, the prize is clear: capture the entry‑level demand flywheel, or be disrupted by those who do.

Write comment (0 Comments) " ["jcfields"]=> array(9) { [1]=> object(stdClass)#9283 (33) { ["id"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["name"]=> string(17) "automatic-tagging" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2018-08-29 05:26:30" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2355) ["ordering"]=> int(-1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8928 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8744 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8746 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8747 (2) { ["name"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8745 (2) { ["name"]=> string(2) "No" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8927 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8742 (6) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(7) "autotag" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(1) "1" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(1) ["label"]=> string(17) "Automatic tagging" ["description"]=> string(51) "Automatic tagging of article base on title keywords" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(17) "Celeste Fernandez" ["group_title"]=> string(4) "Tags" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(3) "Yes" ["rawvalue"]=> string(1) "1" } [7]=> object(stdClass)#9289 (33) { ["id"]=> int(7) ["title"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["name"]=> string(3) "url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-09 01:32:54" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8926 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8748 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8743 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8738 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "First article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [8]=> object(stdClass)#9285 (33) { ["id"]=> int(8) ["title"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["name"]=> string(18) "second-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:04" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8741 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8913 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8739 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8908 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(18) "Second article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [9]=> object(stdClass)#9284 (33) { ["id"]=> int(9) ["title"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["name"]=> string(17) "third-article-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-07-08 05:42:42" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(0) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8914 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8904 (1) { ["relative"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8907 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8912 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(3) "url" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(3) ["label"]=> string(17) "Third article URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(16) "Related Articles" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [4]=> object(stdClass)#9282 (33) { ["id"]=> int(4) ["title"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["name"]=> string(9) "video-url" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-19 05:54:21" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(1) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8911 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8909 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8910 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8938 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(9) "Video URL" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [6]=> object(stdClass)#9270 (33) { ["id"]=> int(6) ["title"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["name"]=> string(31) "image-caption-video-description" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 16:29:55" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(2) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8906 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8940 (2) { ["filter"]=> string(0) "" ["maxlength"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8937 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8942 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(4) "text" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(33) "Image Caption / Video description" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [3]=> object(stdClass)#9291 (33) { ["id"]=> int(3) ["title"]=> string(6) "Status" ["name"]=> string(6) "status" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:45:26" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(3) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8939 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8947 (1) { ["options"]=> object(stdClass)#8945 (2) { ["options0"]=> object(stdClass)#8944 (2) { ["name"]=> string(8) "Inactive" ["value"]=> string(1) "0" } ["options1"]=> object(stdClass)#8946 (2) { ["name"]=> string(6) "Active" ["value"]=> string(1) "1" } } } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8941 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8949 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(9) "btn-group" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(5) "radio" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(6) "Status" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [5]=> object(stdClass)#9187 (33) { ["id"]=> int(5) ["title"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["name"]=> string(21) "essential-information" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-25 06:10:20" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(4) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8943 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8951 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8948 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8953 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(0) "" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(0) "" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(22) " Essential information" ["description"]=> string(35) "3 points that summarize the article" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } [2]=> object(stdClass)#9290 (33) { ["id"]=> int(2) ["title"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["name"]=> string(14) "embedded-video" ["checked_out"]=> NULL ["checked_out_time"]=> NULL ["note"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> int(1) ["access"]=> int(1) ["created_time"]=> string(19) "2020-06-20 01:43:32" ["created_user_id"]=> int(2351) ["ordering"]=> int(5) ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["fieldparams"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8950 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8955 (4) { ["buttons"]=> string(0) "" ["width"]=> string(0) "" ["height"]=> string(0) "" ["filter"]=> string(0) "" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#8952 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#8957 (10) { ["hint"]=> string(29) "Paste your embedded code here" ["class"]=> string(0) "" ["label_class"]=> string(0) "" ["show_on"]=> string(1) "2" ["render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["showlabel"]=> string(1) "1" ["label_render_class"]=> string(0) "" ["display"]=> string(1) "2" ["layout"]=> string(0) "" ["display_readonly"]=> string(1) "2" } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator":protected]=> string(1) "." } ["type"]=> string(6) "editor" ["default_value"]=> string(0) "" ["context"]=> string(19) "com_content.article" ["group_id"]=> int(2) ["label"]=> string(14) "Embedded Video" ["description"]=> string(0) "" ["required"]=> int(0) ["only_use_in_subform"]=> int(0) ["language_title"]=> NULL ["language_image"]=> NULL ["editor"]=> NULL ["access_level"]=> string(6) "Public" ["author_name"]=> string(18) "Jeremiah Sebastian" ["group_title"]=> string(22) "Summary points + video" ["group_access"]=> int(1) ["group_state"]=> int(1) ["group_note"]=> string(0) "" ["value"]=> string(0) "" ["rawvalue"]=> string(0) "" } } ["link"]=> string(94) "/invest-money/property/twice-the-demand-the-case-study-behind-melbournes-firsthome-buyer-surge" ["image"]=> string(122) "https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1757971434/pexels-mikhail-nilov-7731373_1_y1p81p.jpg" ["image_alt"]=> string(78) "Twice the demand: the case study behind Melbourne’s first‑home buyer surge" } }