In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with Robert Dougherty to discuss his journey as a first property buyer who turned to renovation to enter the property market, motivated by economic factors and the chance to personalise his home.

The duo begins by exploring Robert’s property journey with his wife Megan as they spend a year carefully researching properties before settling in the affordable, spacious Blue Mountains area.

Influenced by a family philosophy to buy the “worst house in the best street” and renovate, the couple has always known that they would renovate their house and embraced the hands-on process despite its difficulties.

Robert stresses the importance of research, thorough inspections, and choosing trustworthy tradies to avoid costly mistakes.

He said the key to renovating is to balance DIY efforts with professional help, learning practical skills along the way while managing unexpected setbacks.

Ultimately, the couple’s renovation has become more than a financial investment – it has created a personalised home that reflects their values.

Robert’s journey reflects the growing renovation trend in Australia and encourages first-time buyers to consider it a fulfilling path to home ownership.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer chats with Melbourne-based auctioneer Andy Reid to break down the auction process, sharing practical strategies for first-time buyers to secure their dream home.

Recognising that auctions can be daunting for newcomers, Andy demystifies the process with a “101” approach that covers everything from preparation to state-specific nuances.

The duo acknowledges the emotional intensity of auctions and recommends reducing stress through thorough preparation, setting a clear budget, visualising the first moments, and plenty of practice.

Given the popularity of auctions in Australia, Andy urges first-time buyers to observe as many auctions as possible to become familiar with the format and atmosphere.

For successful bidding, he highlights the importance of confidence – speed, volume, and tone can intimidate other bidders – and suggests challenging increments to gain an edge.

He also reminds buyers that winning an auction means acting fast, with an immediate deposit and contract signing, so being sure of their decision is crucial.

Andy wraps up by encouraging buyers to ask questions and seek guidance, underscoring the need to enjoy this exciting milestone in their home ownership journey.

In this episode of the First Property Buyer Show, host Emilie Lauer sits down with founder and CEO of InvestorKit, Arjun Paliwal, to discuss how couples can successfully invest in their first property together.

The duo starts the episode by reflecting on Arjun’s journey, who bought his first property at 22 to build a $20 million portfolio with his wife, emphasising the need for the couple to work as a team and invest in building strong careers.

When investing as a couple, Arjun advises clear division of roles and mutual trust are essential to avoid conflict and streamline decisions, with both partners aligned on goals but focused on their respective strengths during the process.

Arjun also advises couples to have clear communication about finances with safeguards like buffers to help them manage risks and build confidence.

He suggests planning for worst-case scenarios to protect assets in the event of a relationship breakdown.

The duo also discusses investment strategy, with Arjun suggesting using data-driven tools, being aware of location, and rentvesting strategies to buy their first property.