First Home Buyers

Your Journey, Your Trusted Melbourne Buyer’s Advocates

How a buyer’s agent help you as a first home buyer

The journey of purchasing a property, as many first home buyers can attest, is very time-consuming. Prior to engaging a buyer’s agent, a significant portion of our clients share that they have spent over six months attending property opens and participating in unsuccessful auctions. Some of the key areas that help you are:

A buyer’s agent streamlines the buying process

They save you time by presenting only the most suitable properties based on your preferences,

Reduces information overload, stress and burnout

Manage all the property due diligence on your behalf giving you confidence on a sound property to purchase

Manage the auction day and negotiations

The use of a buyer’s agent can condense this process to just a few months.

Why use Elite

We specialise as a Melbourne buyers agent for first home buyers

A buyer’s agent streamlines the buying process by presenting only the most suitable properties based on your preferences, eliminating information overload and saving you time.

We are Melbourne property market specialists
We are reputable, trusted and experienced
We buy properties with capital growth
We predominately buy houses for clients
We use specialised data and research to help make decisions
We are connected to all major real estate partners
We can provide unprecedented off-market property options
We have the testimonials and experience to help you
We use our ‘buy side’ process to help find the right property
We are above all ‘we’re on your side’ leading property purchase strategy

Our process is simple

Elite Buyer Agents are here to help you in the often overwhelming experience of buying your first home.

Need a property?

We will listen in details about your property requirements and goals you are trying to achieve. After learning about your needs, we create a plan/strategy for your property success.

Search for properties

Many properties are publicly advertised for sale, many are not. Approximately 20% of the properties that we purchase are Off Market. Our Buyer Agents have extensive Real Estate Networks to give you access to more properties than those simply advertised on the internet.

Research & value

Once a suitable property has beed identified, we will conduct due diligence and ax extensive report which includes an appraisal of the property’s market value. A property negotiation should never commence without this step being completed thoroughly.

Negotiate & deliver

Our team implements tough negotiation strategies, putting you in the “Box Seat” to secure the property. Whether it’s at Auction, negotiated before Auction or Private Sale, we strive to get you best possible price.

What our clients say

    
 
 
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   Dafna Kronental 
 
 
 
  It was an absolute pleasure working with Kim. She and her team supported me every step of the way in purchasing my ideal home. Kim's expertise and industry relationships were invaluable throughout the process. Her up-to-date understanding of the market, strong negotiation skills, and active involvement from start to finish ultimately saved me significant time and money. I felt supported and informed at every stage. Thank you, Kim!
  
 
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   Kameliya Marinkova 
 
 
 
  We had absolutely the best experience recently using Elite Buyer Agents for our purchase in VIC from interstate. Lisa was very approachable, professional and thorough throughout the whole process. Her advice was very valuable and she was always available to answer all of our questions and we had many of them. Tia was also super prompt and kept us updated the whole time. We believe we managed to secure a quality property thanks to Lisa's extensive knowledge of the market and her real estate experience. We would recommend Elite Buyer Agents 100%. Many thanks!
  
 
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   Harvey Ng 
 
 
 
  I recently engaged Kim to assist with purchasing a property at auction, and the experience was outstanding. Hermarket knowledge, calm strategy, and confident bidding made the entire process smooth and stress‑free. She took the time to understand exactly what I wanted, provided clear guidance throughout, and ultimately secured the property at a price I was very happy with. I couldn’t be more pleased with the result and highly recommend her services to anyone navigating the competitive Melbourne auction scene.
  
 
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   Nicholas Serafini 
 
 
 
  Kim was excellent - it took a couple of months and then she came through with the goods. A house that ticked all our boxes, right before it went online and launched into its campaign. It's a long term house for us, fantastic result. Kim's communication was great, she viewed properties on our behalf when we couldn't make it and helped through the whole process once offer was accepted. Trust the process and enjoy the ride!
  
 
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   E T 
 
 
 
  Very happy with my experience working with Elite Buyer Agents. They were very experienced, responsive and also just great and trustworthy people. I’ve already recommended Elite Buyer Agents to others based on my experience!
  
 
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   Desira H 
 
 
 
  We couldn’t imagine going through this journey without Dave and the EBA team. We were introduced to Dave through a friend he had previously helped secure their property, and now we completely understand why he came so highly recommended. As first-home buyers, his guidance and experience were invaluable. Our journey took about a year because it included a four-month pause due to a government regulation change affecting PR buyers. Dave was incredibly understanding during this time and didn’t impose any additional fees despite the delay. Throughout the process we were also deciding between buying a ready-to-move-in home or an older property for a knockdown rebuild. Dave was patient while we worked through our options and shared insights that we simply wouldn’t have known ourselves, which likely saved us from costly mistakes. He also handled the auction bidding with a clear strategy that only an experienced professional would know. We’re so grateful for his help in securing our first home in Mount Waverley. If we ever buy again in the future, we would absolutely work with Dave again — worth every dollar.
  
 
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   James Hamilton 
 
 
 
  Very happy with the level of service and expertise. David had a way of presenting and explaining the information and his thoughts on potential properties that allowed us to move quickly and hassle free from the outset. We would highly recommend Elite Buyer Agents!
  
 
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   Sarah Sun 
 
 
 
  We had a great experience with David and Vicky on our first investment property in VIC. I was referred to this company by a friend, who said they had received a lot of positive feedback across Australia. Vicky was very supportive and professional, and she provided great off-market opportunities. She did a great job and helped us find a very good property within a very short period of time. We look forward to working with them again.
  
 
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   Warren Power-Jones 
 
 
 
  David was excellent. No BS, just expert judgement and guidance which helped us select and close on our investment quickly.
  
 
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   Kate Henson 
 
 
 
  Lisa O'Connor is my fairy godmother. Whilst I was overseas, she gave me all the information I needed to make informed decisions, provided reassurance that everything was covered off and, most importantly, made sure I had peace of mind when I didn't have the time or energy to do any of the necessary work myself. If I had been in the country, I doubt I would have considered engaging Lisa as my agent. However, that would have been a mistake as I would definitely have missed out. It's not just the assistance with the process, it's Lisa's inside knowledge and contacts. Well worth it. Thanks!

Factors to Consider When You Are a First Home Buyer

Can I still use a First Home Owner Grant?

Yes — in Victoria, the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) provides $10,000 toward the purchase of a new home valued up to $750,000. It applies to newly built homes, off-the-plan purchases, and substantially renovated properties. It cannot be used for established homes. Your conveyancer or mortgage broker can confirm your eligibility and apply on your behalf at settlement.

How much do buyer's agents cost?

Fees vary according to the service required and can be either a fixed or percentage based fee. The fee typically varies from 1.1% to 2.2% including GST, with part of that fee paid upfront as an engagement fee and the remainder paid 14 days after a contract of sale is signed.

Preparations before engaging a buyer's agent.

Before you engage a buyer’s agent, it helps to have a clear sense of your budget, preferred suburbs, and what you need in a property — bedrooms, land size, proximity to work or schools. The more specific your brief, the faster and more effectively we can search on your behalf. You should also have your finance at least at pre-approval stage so you’re ready to move when the right property comes up.

Speak to a mortgage broker.

Before you start searching, speak to a mortgage broker to understand how much you can borrow and what your repayments will look like. A broker compares loan products across multiple lenders — not just one bank — and can identify grants or schemes you may be eligible for, such as the First Home Guarantee, which allows eligible buyers to purchase with as little as a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

Choose a qualified legal representative.

You’ll need a conveyancer or property solicitor to review the contract of sale, conduct title searches, and manage the legal transfer of the property. For first home buyers especially, having someone who can explain what you’re signing is essential. We can refer you to trusted professionals we work with regularly across Melbourne and Geelong.

Get your loan pre-approved.

Pre-approval means your lender has assessed your financial position and confirmed in principle how much they’ll lend you. It gives you a clear budget to work within and puts you in a stronger position when it comes to negotiations or auction day. Without pre-approval, you risk missing out on a property or overcommitting financially.

Where should I buy?

Location is the most important factor in long-term property performance. For first home buyers, the right suburb balances affordability, lifestyle, and future capital growth. We use independent data and research — not guesswork — to identify suburbs with strong fundamentals. We’ll also factor in your commute, school zones if relevant, and where the market is heading, not just where it’s been.

Why do I want to buy a property?

It’s worth being clear on this before you start. Are you buying to live in long-term, or as a stepping stone? Do you want to build equity, reduce rent exposure, or establish a base close to family? Your answer shapes everything from the type of property we target to the suburb and price point we focus on. We have this conversation with every first home buyer client before we begin.

How much should I spend?

Spend what your pre-approved finance allows — minus a buffer for unexpected costs like stamp duty, legal fees, building inspections, and moving costs. In Victoria, first home buyers purchasing under $600,000 pay no stamp duty; properties between $600,000 and $750,000 receive a concession. Factor these into your planning from the start so there are no surprises at settlement.

How long do I want to retain the property?

Property is a long-term investment. As a general rule, holding for a minimum of seven to ten years gives the market time to move through its cycle and for your equity to grow. If your circumstances may change — job, family, location — we’ll help you choose a property with broad appeal and resale flexibility, so you’re not locked in if your plans shift.

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Meet our team

Specialists in the Melbourne Property Market, Elite Buyer Agents are the leading Buyers Agent in Melbourne (otherwise known as Buyers Advocate) and have fostered trusting and professional relationships across multiple locations in Australia.