First Home Buyer Checklist (Australia): What to Do Before You Apply

Getting prepared before you apply can improve your approval odds and help you buy with confidence. Use this checklist to get loan-ready.

Before you apply: the essentials

• Check your credit file and fix errors

• Calculate your deposit and genuine savings

• Estimate your borrowing power and repayments

• List your living expenses realistically

• Reduce short-term debts and BNPL where possible

• Gather payslips, ID, and bank statements

Understand your costs

• Stamp duty (and first home buyer concessions)

• LMI if your deposit is under 20%

• Conveyancing, building/pest, and moving costs

How a broker helps

A broker can compare lenders, explain policy differences, and structure your application to suit your situation — especially if you’re self-employed or have complex income.

Next step

If you want, we can run a no-obligation assessment and outline a clear plan to purchase.