First home buyers

Fund your first home, without the second-guessing

Buying your first home is the biggest decision you've made, and the process can feel scarier than it should. A licensed broker maps your options and guides the process while the tech handles the admin and keeps you posted.

Book a Free Strategy Session

15 to 30 minutes · no obligation · 30+ lenders

CBAWestpacNABANZMacquarieING Compared across 30+ lenders

The hard part isn't getting in. It's knowing you've made the right move.

Plenty of schemes can help you buy with a smaller deposit. But getting in is only half of it. What's easy to underestimate is the experience itself: understanding your options, getting answers quickly, and coming out the other side confident you made a good call.

How it usually goes

  • You get pointed at whatever the bank in front of you offers
  • Working out which scheme fits is left to you
  • You hand over the same documents two or three times
  • You hear about a better option after you've already signed
  • You're left quietly wondering if you paid too much

How it works here

  • We compare 30+ lenders to find the one that fits
  • Our broker helps you navigate first home buyer schemes
  • You share your details once, and you're never asked twice
  • You get a shortlist of suitable options, before you decide
  • You move forward knowing it was the right call

Saving a deposit takes years, around seven for an entry-level house in Sydney, less in many other parts of the country, and nearly one in two Australians doubt they'll ever own a home. When you've waited that long, it's easy to fixate on just getting approved, rather than getting the structure right.

That's where we come in. We start with the right structure for your situation, then find the lender to match. The aim isn't just to get you in. It's to get you in well.

Source: KPMG and Australian Broker News, 2026.

The schemes, in plain English

Which first home buyer schemes apply to you?

Not every first home buyer needs a scheme, but many qualify for one, and the rules are easy to trip over. Here's the short version, and where we come in.

5% Deposit Scheme

Buy sooner, skip LMI

Buy with a 5% deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance. Since October 2025 there are no income caps and higher price limits.

Help to Buy scheme

A smaller loan to service

The government takes up to a 40% stake, so your loan is smaller and easier to manage. Eligibility and income caps apply.

State grants & concessions

Thousands off the cost

First home owner grants and stamp duty discounts vary by state and can save you thousands. The rules change often and are easy to trip over.

We'll help you navigate the schemes you qualify for and the lenders that suit your situation, and flag the trade-offs before you commit. No jargon, no pressure.

The experience

What it's like to buy your first home with Approov

Know what you can really borrow, early

Before you fall for a place you can't get, you'll know what you can actually borrow and what the repayments look like. No guessing, no awkward surprises at the worst moment.

Mistakes caught before they cost you

Small errors cause big delays and worse deals. Approov checks your details and your documents, so problems get fixed before a lender ever sees them.

Stay in the loop without chasing

Check exactly where things stand at 10pm on a Sunday. You're kept posted at every step, so you're never the one left wondering what's happening.

Beyond your first loan

Your first home shouldn't box in your second.

Most first home buyers are sold a loan. We help you build a position. The way your first loan is structured affects how easily you can refinance or buy again later, so we set it up with your next move in mind. Then we keep an eye on your rate, so you're never overpaying as the market changes.

From real first home buyers

You won't be our first. You'll get the care of someone who's done this hundreds of times.

First home, every question answered

As a first home buyer I asked a lot of questions, and my broker made me feel at ease with every one. My home purchase was super easy.

Olenka, first home buyer

Approved when we'd been told no

We were told a loan wasn't possible for us. My broker got us approved when we'd been told it couldn't be done, and kept us updated the whole way.

Komal

From first home to what's next

My broker has supported us from our first home all the way to an investment property, with renovations and an upgrade in between. They make sure we understand the ins and outs of every option.

Clare & Nicolas

Faster than we expected

My broker takes the stress out of it. Our loan went through quicker than friends who'd started a week earlier, and they stay in touch over the years to make sure all's well.

Todd & Kate

Better than going straight to the bank

My broker got us a better rate and structure than we'd had dealing directly with the bank, and was far more responsive than brokers we'd used before.

Dan & Lisa

Still looking out for us years later

Over a decade on, the advice is still clear, with a road map going forward. There's ongoing service after settlement to make sure we keep getting the best rate available.

Stuart, 10+ year client

Real customer reviews from MAP Home Loans, the mortgage brokerage behind Approov.

About our service

Human first

The AI never decides

Approov's AI runs the process, the updates and the monitoring. A licensed broker makes every call and signs off on the advice.

Costs you nothing

Our service is free to you

Approov is paid by the lender when your loan settles, for work the bank would otherwise do itself. You don't pay us a cent.

In your corner

We work for you, not the bank

Under the Best Interests Duty we're legally bound to recommend what's right for you, not what pays us most.

Let's make your first move a smart one.

Book a Lending Strategy Session. A licensed broker walks you through what you can borrow, which scheme fits, and how to structure your first loan so it sets you up rather than holds you back. There's nothing to prepare and no obligation.

15 to 30 minutes · no obligation · 30+ lenders