Life Decision Hub

🏠Buying a Home

From saving a deposit to settlement day

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make. This hub pulls together every calculator, guide, and comparison you need — from working out what you can borrow and comparing lenders, to modelling your deposit savings and understanding the true cost of ownership.

Your decision journey

1
Calculate what you can borrow
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2
Plan your deposit savings
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3
Estimate stamp duty costs
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4
Check the full upfront cash required
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5
Model your mortgage repayments
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6
Model ongoing ownership costs
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7
Compare renting vs buying
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8
Estimate commute costs
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9
Understand your take-home pay
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1
Calculate what you can borrow
Open →
2
Plan your deposit savings
Open →
3
Estimate stamp duty costs
Open →
4
Check the full upfront cash required
Open →
5
Model your mortgage repayments
Open →
6
Model ongoing ownership costs
Open →
7
Compare renting vs buying
Open →
8
Estimate commute costs
Open →
9
Understand your take-home pay
Open →

Supporting resources

Work out the numbers

Total Upfront Cost Calculator

True cash required beyond the deposit

Ongoing Ownership Cost Calculator

Monthly costs beyond your mortgage repayment

Rent vs Buy Calculator

Compare renting and buying over your time horizon

Mortgage Repayment Calculator

Model repayments at different rates and terms

Hidden Costs Guide

Every cost buyers forget to budget for

True Cost of Owning a Home

10-year ownership cost model

Inspect and assess the property

Property Inspection Checklist

Work through this at every inspection

Property Red Flags Guide

Three-tier severity framework for defects

Building & Pest Inspection Guide

How to interpret findings and negotiate

Property Comparison Sheet

Score and compare multiple properties

Make an offer and do due diligence

Offer Planning Worksheet

Set your limit before negotiation or auction

How to Make an Offer

Negotiation mechanics and agent language decoded

Auction vs Private Sale

Worked examples for both sale methods

Section 32 Explained (VIC)

What to check before you sign

Cooling-off Period Guide

State-by-state rules and penalties

Underquoting Explained

Protecting yourself from misleading price guides

Compare locations and property types

House vs Apartment vs Townhouse

Financial comparison at equivalent price points

New vs Established Home

Risk profile and tradeoffs compared

City vs Suburb vs Regional

True cost comparison including commute

Choosing the Right Suburb

Decision matrix framework for suburb selection

Avoid common mistakes

Common Home Buying Mistakes

10 mistakes and what to do instead

Before You Buy Checklist

Final gate before signing the contract

Hidden Costs Guide

What buyers forget to budget for

Owners Corp / Strata Guide

Why a low levy is not always good news

Understand the process

How to Buy a Home in Australia

Complete step-by-step process guide

Interest Rate Risk Guide

Repayment sensitivity table for rate changes

Fixed vs Variable Home Loan

Break costs, tradeoffs, and split loans

How Much Deposit Do You Need?

LMI explained with real cost examples

Average Cost to Buy in Australia (2026)

Three buyer scenarios with full cost breakdown

Easements and Zoning Guide

3 worked examples of how easements affect plans

Start here

Mortgage Affordability

Find out how much you can borrow based on your income and expenses.

Open calculator →

Related calculators

Total Upfront Cost Calculator

Calculate the full cash required to buy a home, including deposit, duty, fees, LMI, moving costs, and buffer.

Home Ownership Cost Calculator

Estimate the real monthly cost of owning a home once rates, insurance, maintenance, strata, utilities, and commute are included.

Mortgage Repayment Calculator

Calculate your monthly repayment, total interest, and how extra payments cut your loan term.

Commute Cost Calculator

Estimate weekly, monthly, and annual commute cost including running costs, parking, tolls, and public transport.

Home Deposit Calculator

See how much deposit you need at 5%, 10%, or 20% and how long it will take to save.

Stamp Duty Calculator

Calculate stamp duty for all 8 Australian states including first home buyer exemptions.

Property Comparison Sheet

Compare up to three properties side by side with weighted and unweighted scoring.

Renovation Cost Estimator

Estimate renovation cost with hidden items like permits, temporary accommodation, project management time, and delay buffer.

Salary After Tax

See exactly what you take home after income tax and Medicare levy.

Savings Goal Calculator

Find out exactly how much to save each month to hit your goal — home deposit, emergency fund, or anything else.

Inflation Calculator

See how inflation has eroded purchasing power using Australian CPI data from 1980 to today.

Personal Loan Calculator

Calculate monthly repayments, total interest, and how personal loan costs compare to credit cards.

Living Expenses Calculator

Break down your monthly living costs by category and compare against Australian averages.

Build your monthly budget by income and expense category. See your surplus or deficit in real time.

Savings Planner

Set multiple savings goals and get a month-by-month allocation plan based on your priorities.

Compound Interest Calculator

See how investments and savings grow over time with compounding and regular contributions.

Credit Card Interest Calculator

Find out how long it takes to pay off your credit card and how much interest you'll pay.

Guides & resources

Buying Your First Home in Australia

From saving a deposit to settlement day — what to expect, what it costs, and what help is available.

Read guide · 12 min →

Home Buying Checklist

Step-by-step tasks from pre-approval to settlement.

Open checklist →

Useful comparisons

Home Loan Lenders Compared

How the major Australian lenders compare on rates, fees, offset accounts, and flexibility.

Rent vs Buy Calculator

Compare renting and buying using monthly ownership cost, upfront cash, time horizon, and break-even years.

Suburb Comparison Tool

Compare up to three suburbs side by side using weighted scoring for housing value, commute, amenities, lifestyle, and growth outlook.

Cost of Living by City

Compare rent, groceries, transport, and lifestyle costs across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

Related life decisions

Costs, logistics, and what to sort before you go

Getting Married

Costs, planning, and the finances you need sorted

Moving Out of Home

Your first place — what it costs and how to afford it

Starting a Business

From idea to trading — the financial groundwork

Common questions

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