A mortgage broker helps you work out what you can realistically borrow, compares loans from a panel of lenders, lodges the application and stays with you until settlement. We do that for first home buyers across Melbourne, from our base in Footscray.
First home buyer mortgage broker in Footscray and across Melbourne
Access to over 30 lenders
Victorian and federal schemes explained
Part of our commission goes to a charity you choose
Who this is for
- You're renting or living with family and you'd like to buy your first place, in the next few months or the next couple of years.
- You've saved a deposit, part of one, or a plan for one.
- You're not sure what you can borrow, what "pre-approval" really means, or which government help applies to you.
- You'd rather have it explained in plain English than guess your way through it.
- You don't need your full deposit yet. Talking early shows you what you're working towards.
- You want options that fit your circumstances, not a rate quoted over the phone.
How we help, step by step
01
A first conversation
↻ Tap or hover
A 15 to 30 minute video call about your timing, deposit, income and commitments. Ask us anything. You don't pay us a fee, and we'll show you upfront how we're paid.
02
Your numbers
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Income, regular spending, debts (including credit card limits and buy-now-pay-later), your deposit and where it's from, plus the costs beyond the deposit.
03
Your options
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We explain the loan types and lenders that could suit your situation, why, and what each trade-off means.
04
Pre-approval
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When you're close to looking seriously, we prepare and lodge the application. The lender assesses it and may attach conditions.
05
Finding the place
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Keep us posted. Have a conveyancer or solicitor check the contract and arrange a building inspection. Consumer Affairs Victoria's due diligence checklist is a good start.
06
Approval, settlement and after
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Once you have a contract, the lender assesses the property and makes its final decision. We stay involved through to settlement, and check in with you afterwards, for example when rates move.
How the government can help
Two governments, six kinds of help. Pick a folder, then open a card for the details.
Three ways Victoria can help
$0
stamp duty on a home up to $600,000
First home buyer duty exemption or concession
For a home you'll live in. Reduced duty from $600,001 to $750,000.
- Reduced duty from $600,001 to $750,000
- Live in the home for 12 continuous months, starting within 12 months of settlement
- You can only claim it once
$10,000
one-off grant for a new home
First Home Owner Grant
For newly built or never-occupied homes valued up to $750,000.
- For a newly built or never-occupied home valued up to $750,000
- Live in it for at least 12 months, starting within 12 months of settlement or of construction finishing
21 Apr 2027
off-the-plan contracts signed before this date
Off-the-plan duty concession
Off-the-plan apartments, units and townhouses. Open to all buyers.
- A temporary concession for off-the-plan apartments, units and townhouses in a strata subdivision
- Open to all buyers, not just first home buyers
- A separate standard concession applies to some buyers who'll live in the home
Three ways the Australian Government can help
5%
minimum deposit
5% Deposit Scheme
Price caps apply: $950,000 in Melbourne and Geelong.
- 2% for eligible single parents and legal guardians
- Since 1 October 2025: no income caps, no waitlists, no Lenders Mortgage Insurance
- Price cap $950,000 in Melbourne and Geelong, $650,000 in the rest of Victoria
- Apply through a participating lender; once pre-approved, you have 90 days to find a home and sign a contract
2%
minimum deposit
Help to Buy
The government owns a share of your home. Income and price caps apply.
- A shared equity scheme: the government contributes up to 30% of the price of an existing home, or 40% of a new one, and holds that share of the home
- It shares in any gain or loss when you sell, and you can buy back some or all of its share over time
- Income caps: $103,000 for individuals, $165,000 for joint applicants and single parents
- Price cap $950,000 in Melbourne and Geelong, $650,000 in the rest of Victoria
- 10,000 places a year, through a participating lender
$50,000
in total, up to $15,000 a year
First Home Super Saver Scheme
Saved through eligible contributions into your super.
- Save part of your deposit inside super through eligible contributions
- We don't give tax advice, so check the rules on the official page
From the official pages, October 2026.
Getting ready for pre-approval
Pre-approval, in plain English
Pre-approval is a lender's early, conditional view of what it may lend you. It helps you set a price range and shows sellers you're serious. It typically lasts 3 to 6 months and doesn't guarantee you the loan: the lender still assesses you and the property before final approval. The exact validity depends on the lender, so check the letter.
A chat with us isn't the same as an application. You can talk through your budget and timing well before you're ready to apply. Our pre-approval guide covers when to apply and what can change before final approval.
What to prepare
You don't need every answer. A clear outline is plenty. Hover or tap each one.
What to prepare
Timing
When you want to start inspecting, and roughly when you hope to buy. Pre-approval usually lasts 3 to 6 months, so it helps to apply when your search is getting serious. If you're further away than that, we'll help you plan what to do in the meantime.
What to prepare
Deposit
How much you have, where it comes from, and whether any of it is still unconfirmed. Tell us about savings, gifts from family, money from the First Home Super Saver Scheme, or funds you're still waiting on. Lenders may ask how the deposit was built up, and some government schemes have their own deposit rules.
What to prepare
Income
How you're paid, and any variable or self-employed income. Overtime, bonuses, commissions, casual work and self-employment are treated differently by different lenders, so tell us about all of it. Recent payslips or tax returns are the usual starting point.
What to prepare
Commitments
Loans, credit card limits, buy-now-pay-later and other regular payments. Lenders usually look at your credit card limits, not just what you owe, so a card you rarely use can still affect what you can borrow. Car loans, personal loans and study (HELP) debts count too.
What to prepare
Spending
Realistic living costs, and a repayment level that leaves room for your life. Lenders compare your spending with their own benchmarks. It's also worth checking what your repayments would be if interest rates rose by 2%.
What to prepare
Documents
The lender decides what it needs. Usually that's ID, recent payslips or tax returns, bank statements that show your savings, and details of any debts. We'll give you the list for your lender and show you how to send it securely.
Our post on first home buyer mistakes to avoid covers the traps we see most often.
Costs, fees and the giving bit
The cash you need beyond the deposit
Costs land at different stages of buying. Tap a stage to see what to budget for.
Building and pest inspection
Book it before an auction, or in the cooling-off period after a conditional offer, so problems turn up in a report, not after you move in.
Conveyancer or solicitor
Reviews the contract and vendor statement before you sign, then finalises settlement with the lender and the seller.
Stamp duty
Land transfer duty, unless you qualify for the first home buyer exemption. Usually paid within 30 days of settlement.
Lenders Mortgage Insurance
If it applies. It usually does when your deposit is under 20%, unless a scheme like the 5% Deposit Scheme removes it.
Home and contents insurance
Cover for the building and your belongings.
Council rates
An ongoing cost of owning, paid to your local council.
Utilities
Power, gas, water and internet.
Maintenance
Repairs and upkeep, plus owners corporation fees if you buy an apartment or unit.
A buffer
Something always costs more than the quote, so keep some cash aside.
How we get paid
You don't pay us a fee. Lenders pay us a commission when your loan settles, and we'll show you upfront how we're paid.
Three questions worth asking any broker. Tap each one:
Lenders pay us an upfront commission when your loan settles and, usually, an ongoing commission while your loan continues. Both are worked out as a percentage of the loan. You don't pay us a fee, and we'll show you upfront how we're paid.
It can. Commission can vary between lenders, which is why brokers must tell you about the commissions they may receive. We'll show you what we'd be paid on the loan we recommend before you decide.
A broker must act in your best interests when recommending a loan. Ask us why a loan suits your goals, your budget and your situation, not just its rate, and what other options we looked at.
The giving bit
- Your home loan settles
- The lender pays Goodlend's commission
- Part of it goes to the charity you choose
It comes out of our commission, so it doesn't add to your loan or change the process. See our charity partners.
Questions first home buyers ask
Do I need a 20% deposit?
No. A 20% deposit is a common goal because it can help you avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance, but a smaller deposit is possible, and some government schemes are built around smaller deposits (see how the government can help, above). What’s available depends on the lender, the property and your circumstances.
How long does pre-approval take?
It depends on the lender and how complete your information is. Ask us for a current estimate for your application.
Can I talk to a broker if I'm self-employed or on casual income?
Yes. Lenders look at income evidence in different ways, and we’ll tell you what they’re likely to ask to see. We can’t tell you what a lender will accept before we’ve looked at your situation, and we won’t guess.
Will it cost me anything to talk to you?
No. You don’t pay us a fee. Lenders pay us a commission when your loan settles, and we’ll show you upfront how we’re paid.
What if I'm not ready to buy yet?
Then it’s a good time to talk. We can help you work out what to save, what to sort out, and what’s worth doing before you start inspecting.
What if my situation changes after pre-approval?
Tell us. A new job, new debt or changed savings can affect what happens at final approval, and pre-approval is conditional. It’s easier to deal with that before you’ve signed a contract.
Talk to a broker.
No pressure, no obligation. Just a conversation about where you're at.
General information only. It doesn’t take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, and it isn’t credit advice. Government schemes, grants and concessions change; check the official pages linked above. Any home loan is subject to lender approval and conditions.