The Property Couch
The Property Couch
Ben Kingsley, Opti & The Couch Crew
593 | Borrowing, Deposits & Pre-Approval (Buying a Home | Part 1)
1 hour 6 minutes Posted Apr 16, 2026 at 4:00 am.
593 | How to Buy a Home (The Right Way) - Part 1
Market Shift: Critical Property Outlook Webinar Incoming (28 April, 7:30pm AEST)
Cash Flow Crunch: Finding Surplus in Your Budget
2026 Surplus Challenge: Why Wealth Starts with Surplus
The “What If” Moment: When Buying Becomes Real
Borrowing Power Trap: What the Bank Says vs Reality
How Banks Assess You: Income, Expenses & the 3% Buffer
LMI & Schemes: The Trade-Off to Get In Sooner
Bank of Mum & Dad: Gifts, Guarantors & Risks
Broker vs Bank: Why Lender Choice Changes Everything
Pre-Approval Pitfalls: Expiry, Rate Changes & Risk
The Smart Process: Finance First, Property Second
Budget Creep: Why Buyers Keep Stretching Too Far
Property Grading: A-Grade vs B-Grade vs C-Grade
Inspecting Like a Pro: What to Look For First
Found “The One”? What To Do Before You Offer
Negotiation Truths: Why Price Isn’t Everything
Final Advice: Build Your Team & Play the Long Game
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Show notes
What if the best time to buy your first home… is when everyone else is hesitating? With rising interest rates, higher living costs and shifting market sentiment, many would assume it’s the worst time to enter the property market. But here’s the twist: It might actually be one of the most important times to get your strategy right. Welcome to Part 1 of our 3-part mini-series on how to buy a home, where we break down the foundations every first-time buyer needs before they even start looking at...