Buy your first home with just a 5% Deposit (and skip the $15,000+ LMI bill)
The Australian Government's expanded First Home Guarantee means you can buy sooner than you think. We'll show you exactly how much you can borrow, which grants you qualify for, and how to get pre-approved.
You're Not Imagining It — Buying Has Never Felt Harder
House prices are up. Rents are brutal. And every time you look at your savings, that 20% deposit feels like a moving target.
Here's what most people don't realise: you don't need 20% anymore.
Since October 2025, the Australian Government removed both the income caps and property price caps on the First Home Guarantee. That means you can buy with just a 5% deposit — and avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance entirely. LMI that would otherwise cost you $10,000–$20,000.
Put it in real numbers:
Property price: $600,000
What you used to need: $120,000 deposit (20%)
What you actually need now: $30,000 deposit (5%) LMI you avoid: ~$17,000
That's the difference between buying in 2026 and waiting until 2030. And that's before you factor in the grants.
Depending on where you're buying in South Australia, you could also access the First Home Owner Grant (up to $15,000 for new builds), full or partial stamp duty relief, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme (withdraw up to $50,000 from your super). Combined, these could put $30,000–$50,000 towards your deposit — money you didn't have to save yourself.
The catch? Knowing which ones you actually qualify for, and how to stack them together, is where most people get stuck. One conversation with us and we'll have that sorted.
This Is For You If...
You're earning good money but saving 20% feels impossible while you're paying someone else's mortgage in rent.
You've got $30,000–$60,000 saved and you're ready to stop throwing it at a landlord.
You've been told "just save more" — by people who bought when houses cost half what they do now.
You're self-employed, on contract, or your credit history isn't perfect — and you've assumed that rules you out.
Someone's told you that you need to earn $150,000+ to buy in Adelaide. (You don't.)
You've looked at the grants and schemes online and ended up more confused than when you started.
You just want someone to tell you the truth about what you can actually afford — not a sales pitch.
If any of these hit close to home, book a free consultation. We'll tell you where you actually stand.
“Lender Edge was able to help me get my first home. They ran through the details, answered all my questions about rebates, stamp duty, etc, and made me confident I had made the right choice. Rather than being an overwhelming experience, it was a breeze in the end. I am now settled in and very, very happy I called Lender Edge.”
How We Get You From "Thinking About It" to "Keys in Hand"
Step 1 — We figure out where you actually stand. One conversation. We look at your income, savings, and goals, and we calculate exactly how much you can borrow and which grants you're eligible for. If buying makes sense right now, we'll show you the numbers. If it doesn't, we'll tell you honestly what needs to change — and when to come back. No guesswork after this meeting.
You'll walk away knowing your maximum borrowing capacity, how much deposit you actually need, which government schemes apply to you, what your monthly repayments would look like, and which lenders will say yes.
Step 2 — We get you pre-approved. We prepare your application, match you to the right lender for your situation, and get you pre-approved. This isn't just a formality — it's your edge at the negotiating table. Sellers and agents take pre-approved buyers seriously. You can bid at auction with confidence. And you'll know your exact budget before you start looking, not after.
Most pre-approvals last 90 days — plenty of time to find the right place.
Step 3 — You hunt. We advise. Finding the property is your job — and it should be. But we're in your corner while you do it. Before you make an offer on anything, run it past us. We'll tell you whether the bank is likely to value it at the purchase price, whether there are any lending red flags with the property type or location, and whether the repayments work comfortably for you. No surprises later.
Step 4 — We handle the formal application. You've found the place. Your offer's accepted. Now the paperwork starts — and this is where most first home buyers feel most lost. We manage all of it: the loan documentation, the bank valuation, the grant applications, any lender queries or conditions. We keep you updated and keep things moving.
Step 5 — Settlement. You get the keys. Your loan settles, you get the keys, and you move in. And we don't disappear after that — we're here for questions, rate reviews, and whenever you're ready to refinance down the track.
From pre-approval to settlement, most first home buyers we work with are in their new home within 6–8 weeks.