<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><channel><title>Grants on MELBZ</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/tags/grants/</link><description>Recent content in Grants on MELBZ</description><generator>Hugo</generator><language>en-au</language><lastBuildDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://melbz.com.au/tags/grants/index.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title>Best Suburbs Families Melbourne for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/best-suburbs-families-melbourne/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/best-suburbs-families-melbourne/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-best-suburbs-families-melbourne"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Best Suburbs Families Melbourne?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $393,606 - $446,087&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $209,923 - $288,644&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $183,683 - $262,404&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Best Suburbs Families Melbourne?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $28,864 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,240&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,432&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$52,480&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$28,864&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$104,961&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$57,728&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$28,864&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,545&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Bulla for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/bulla/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/bulla/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-bulla"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Bulla?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $345,076 - $391,086&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $184,040 - $253,056&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $161,035 - $230,051&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Bulla?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $25,305 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$23,005&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,652&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$46,010&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,305&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$92,020&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50,611&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,305&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,122&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Arthurs Seat 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/arthurs-seat/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/arthurs-seat/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-arthurs-seat"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Arthurs Seat?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $491,831 - $557,408&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $262,310 - $360,676&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $229,521 - $327,887&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Arthurs Seat?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $36,067 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$32,788&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,033&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$65,577&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,067&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$131,155&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$72,135&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,067&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,427&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Avonsleigh 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/avonsleigh/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/avonsleigh/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-avonsleigh"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Avonsleigh?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $592,456 - $671,450&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $315,976 - $434,468&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $276,479 - $394,971&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Avonsleigh?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $43,446 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$39,497&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,723&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$78,994&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,446&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$157,988&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$86,893&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,446&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,378&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Beaconsfield Upper 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/beaconsfield-upper/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/beaconsfield-upper/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-beaconsfield-upper"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Beaconsfield Upper?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $569,748 - $645,714&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $303,865 - $417,815&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $265,882 - $379,832&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Beaconsfield Upper?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $41,781 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,983&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,890&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$75,966&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,781&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$151,932&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$83,563&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,781&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,712&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Belgrave Heights 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/belgrave-heights/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/belgrave-heights/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-belgrave-heights"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Belgrave Heights?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $576,671 - $653,560&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $307,558 - $422,892&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $269,113 - $384,447&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Belgrave Heights?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $42,289 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,444&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,144&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$76,889&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,289&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$153,779&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$84,578&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,289&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,915&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Best Restaurants Melbourne 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/best-restaurants-melbourne/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/best-restaurants-melbourne/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-best-restaurants-melbourne"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Best Restaurants Melbourne?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $369,092 - $418,304&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $196,849 - $270,667&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $172,243 - $246,061&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Best Restaurants Melbourne?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $27,066 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$24,606&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,533&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$49,212&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,066&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$98,424&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$54,133&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,066&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,826&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Bittern 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/bittern/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/bittern/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-bittern"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Bittern?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $342,632 - $388,316&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $182,737 - $251,263&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $159,895 - $228,421&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Bittern?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $25,126 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$22,842&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,563&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$45,684&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,126&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$91,368&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50,252&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,126&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,050&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Cbd 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cbd/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cbd/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-cbd"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Cbd?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $480,573 - $544,649&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $256,305 - $352,420&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $224,267 - $320,382&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Cbd?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $35,242 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$32,038&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,621&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$64,076&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$35,242&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$128,152&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$70,484&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$35,242&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,096&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $474,661 - $537,949&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $253,152 - $348,085&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $221,508 - $316,441&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $34,808 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,644&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,404&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$63,288&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,808&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$126,576&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,617&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,808&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,923&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Corio 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/corio/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/corio/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-corio"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Corio?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $482,810 - $547,184&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $257,498 - $354,060&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $225,311 - $321,873&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Corio?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $35,406 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$32,187&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,703&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$64,374&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$35,406&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$128,749&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$70,812&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$35,406&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,162&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Crib Point 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/crib-point/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/crib-point/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-crib-point"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Crib Point?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $514,151 - $582,704&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $274,214 - $377,044&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $239,937 - $342,767&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Crib Point?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $37,704 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,276&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,852&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$68,553&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,704&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$137,107&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$75,408&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,704&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,081&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Dixons Creek 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/dixons-creek/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/dixons-creek/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-dixons-creek"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Dixons Creek?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $565,803 - $641,244&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $301,762 - $414,922&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $264,041 - $377,202&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Dixons Creek?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $41,492 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,720&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,746&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$75,440&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,492&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$150,881&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$82,984&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,492&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,596&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Dromana 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/dromana/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/dromana/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-dromana"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Dromana?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $351,961 - $398,889&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $187,712 - $258,105&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $164,248 - $234,641&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Dromana?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $25,810 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$23,464&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,905&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$46,928&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,810&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$93,856&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$51,621&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,810&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,324&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Events 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/events/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/events/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-events"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Events?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $548,404 - $621,525&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $292,482 - $402,163&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $255,922 - $365,603&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Events?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $40,216 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,560&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,108&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$73,120&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,216&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$146,241&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$80,432&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,216&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,086&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Heathcote Junction 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/heathcote-junction/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/heathcote-junction/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-heathcote-junction"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Heathcote Junction?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $470,142 - $532,828&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $250,742 - $344,771&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $219,399 - $313,428&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Heathcote Junction?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $34,477 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,342&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,238&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$62,685&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,477&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$125,371&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$68,954&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,477&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,790&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Kallista 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/kallista/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/kallista/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-kallista"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Kallista?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $567,235 - $642,866&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $302,525 - $415,972&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $264,709 - $378,157&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Kallista?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $41,597 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,815&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,798&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$75,631&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,597&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$151,262&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$83,194&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,597&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,638&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Kangaroo Ground 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/kangaroo-ground/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/kangaroo-ground/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-kangaroo-ground"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Kangaroo Ground?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $587,621 - $665,970&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $313,398 - $430,922&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $274,223 - $391,747&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Kangaroo Ground?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $43,092 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$39,174&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,546&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$78,349&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,092&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$156,699&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$86,184&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,092&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,236&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Keilor North 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/keilor-north/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/keilor-north/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-keilor-north"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Keilor North?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $421,691 - $477,916&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $224,902 - $309,240&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $196,789 - $281,127&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Keilor North?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $30,924 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$28,112&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,462&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$56,225&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,924&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$112,451&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$61,848&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,924&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,369&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Kurunjang 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/kurunjang/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/kurunjang/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-kurunjang"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Kurunjang?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $516,732 - $585,630&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $275,590 - $378,937&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $241,141 - $344,488&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Houses are accessible for first-home buyers here, especially with government grants and concessions.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Kurunjang?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $37,893 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,448&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,946&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$68,897&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,893&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$137,795&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$75,787&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,893&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,157&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Lancefield 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/lancefield/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/lancefield/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-lancefield"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Lancefield?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $471,861 - $534,775&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $251,659 - $346,031&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $220,201 - $314,574&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Lancefield?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $34,603 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,457&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,301&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$62,914&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,603&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$125,829&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,206&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,603&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,841&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Mccrae 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/mccrae/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/mccrae/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-mccrae"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Mccrae?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $401,535 - $455,073&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $214,152 - $294,459&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $187,383 - $267,690&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Mccrae?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $29,445 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,769&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,722&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$53,538&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,445&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$107,076&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$58,891&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,445&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,778&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Melbourne Food Suburbs Best 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/melbourne-food-suburbs-best/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/melbourne-food-suburbs-best/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-melbourne-food-suburbs-best"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Melbourne Food Suburbs Best?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $444,874 - $504,191&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $237,266 - $326,241&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $207,608 - $296,583&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Melbourne Food Suburbs Best?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $32,624 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,658&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,312&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$59,316&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$32,624&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$118,633&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$65,248&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$32,624&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,049&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Melbourne Gentrification Suburbs 2026 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/melbourne-gentrification-suburbs-2026/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/melbourne-gentrification-suburbs-2026/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-melbourne-gentrification-suburbs-2026"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Melbourne Gentrification Suburbs 2026?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $547,476 - $620,472&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $291,987 - $401,482&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $255,488 - $364,984&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Melbourne Gentrification Suburbs 2026?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $40,148 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,498&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,074&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$72,996&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,148&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$145,993&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$80,296&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,148&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,059&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Melbourne Public Transport Best Suburbs 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/melbourne-public-transport-best-suburbs/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/melbourne-public-transport-best-suburbs/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-melbourne-public-transport-best-suburbs"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Melbourne Public Transport Best Suburbs?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $426,932 - $483,856&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $227,697 - $313,083&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $199,235 - $284,621&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Melbourne Public Transport Best Suburbs?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $31,308 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$28,462&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,654&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$56,924&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,308&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$113,848&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$62,616&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,308&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,523&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Melbourne Rental Crisis Guide 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/melbourne-rental-crisis-guide/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/melbourne-rental-crisis-guide/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-melbourne-rental-crisis-guide"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Melbourne Rental Crisis Guide?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $528,702 - $599,195&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $281,974 - $387,714&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $246,727 - $352,468&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Melbourne Rental Crisis Guide?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $38,771 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$35,246&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$19,385&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$70,493&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,771&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$140,987&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$77,542&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,771&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,508&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Melton South 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/melton-south/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/melton-south/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-melton-south"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Melton South?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $368,702 - $417,862&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $196,641 - $270,381&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $172,061 - $245,801&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Houses are accessible for first-home buyers here, especially with government grants and concessions.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Melton South?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $27,038 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$24,580&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,519&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$49,160&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,038&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$98,320&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$54,076&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,038&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,815&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Melton West 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/melton-west/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/melton-west/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-melton-west"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Melton West?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $431,439 - $488,965&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $230,101 - $316,389&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $201,338 - $287,626&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Melton West?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $31,638 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$28,762&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,819&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$57,525&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,638&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$115,050&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$63,277&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,638&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,655&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Moorabbin Airport 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/moorabbin-airport/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/moorabbin-airport/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-moorabbin-airport"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Moorabbin Airport?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $451,791 - $512,030&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $240,955 - $331,313&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $210,836 - $301,194&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Moorabbin Airport?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $33,131 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,119&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,565&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$60,238&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,131&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$120,477&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$66,262&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,131&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,252&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Moorooduc 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/moorooduc/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/moorooduc/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-moorooduc"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Moorooduc?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $358,302 - $406,076&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $191,094 - $262,755&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $167,207 - $238,868&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Moorooduc?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $26,275 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$23,886&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,137&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$47,773&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,275&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$95,547&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$52,551&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,275&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,510&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Mount Cottrell 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/mount-cottrell/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/mount-cottrell/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-mount-cottrell"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Mount Cottrell?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $596,122 - $675,605&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $317,932 - $437,156&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $278,190 - $397,415&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Mount Cottrell?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $43,715 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$39,741&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,857&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$79,483&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,715&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$158,966&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$87,431&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,715&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,486&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Nar Nar Goon 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/nar-nar-goon/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/nar-nar-goon/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-nar-nar-goon"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Nar Nar Goon?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $474,171 - $537,393&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $252,891 - $347,725&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $221,279 - $316,114&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Nar Nar Goon?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $34,772 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,611&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,386&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$63,222&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,772&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$126,445&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,545&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,772&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,909&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in New Years Eve Melbourne Best Suburbs 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/new-years-eve-melbourne-best-suburbs/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/new-years-eve-melbourne-best-suburbs/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-new-years-eve-melbourne-best-suburbs"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford New Years Eve Melbourne Best Suburbs?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $526,864 - $597,113&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $280,994 - $386,367&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $245,870 - $351,243&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in New Years Eve Melbourne Best Suburbs?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $38,636 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$35,124&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$19,318&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$70,248&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,636&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$140,497&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$77,273&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,636&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,454&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Notting Hill 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/notting-hill/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/notting-hill/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-notting-hill"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Notting Hill?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $422,517 - $478,853&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $225,342 - $309,846&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $197,174 - $281,678&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Notting Hill?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $30,984 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$28,167&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,492&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$56,335&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,984&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$112,671&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$61,969&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,984&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,393&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Olinda 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/olinda/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/olinda/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-olinda"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Olinda?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $584,632 - $662,583&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $311,804 - $428,730&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $272,828 - $389,755&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Olinda?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $42,873 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,975&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,436&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$77,951&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,873&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$155,902&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$85,746&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,873&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,149&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Pakenham Upper 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/pakenham-upper/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/pakenham-upper/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-pakenham-upper"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Pakenham Upper?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $520,594 - $590,007&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $277,650 - $381,769&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $242,944 - $347,063&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Pakenham Upper?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $38,176 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,706&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$19,088&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,412&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,176&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$138,825&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$76,353&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,176&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,270&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Parwan 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/parwan/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/parwan/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-parwan"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Parwan?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $407,016 - $461,284&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $217,075 - $298,478&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $189,940 - $271,344&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Parwan?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $29,847 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,134&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,923&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$54,268&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,847&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$108,537&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$59,695&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,847&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,939&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Plumpton 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/plumpton/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/plumpton/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-plumpton"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Plumpton?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $556,823 - $631,066&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $296,972 - $408,337&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $259,850 - $371,215&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Plumpton?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $40,833 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,121&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,416&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$74,243&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,833&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$148,486&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$81,667&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,833&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,333&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Ravenhall 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/ravenhall/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/ravenhall/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-ravenhall"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Ravenhall?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $513,521 - $581,990&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $273,878 - $376,582&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $239,643 - $342,347&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Ravenhall?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $37,658 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,234&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,829&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$68,469&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,658&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$136,939&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$75,316&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,658&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,063&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Red Hill 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/red-hill/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/red-hill/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-red-hill"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Red Hill?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $390,799 - $442,906&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $208,426 - $286,586&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $182,373 - $260,533&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Red Hill?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $28,658 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,053&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,329&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$52,106&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$28,658&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$104,213&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$57,317&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$28,658&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,463&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Romsey 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/romsey/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/romsey/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-romsey"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Romsey?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $396,075 - $448,885&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $211,240 - $290,455&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $184,835 - $264,050&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Romsey?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $29,045 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,405&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,522&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$52,810&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,045&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$105,620&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$58,091&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,045&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,618&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Sanctuary Lakes 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/sanctuary-lakes/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/sanctuary-lakes/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-sanctuary-lakes"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Sanctuary Lakes?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $576,598 - $653,478&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $307,519 - $422,838&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $269,079 - $384,399&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Sanctuary Lakes?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $42,283 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,439&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,141&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$76,879&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,283&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$153,759&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$84,567&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,283&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,913&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Sherbrooke 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/sherbrooke/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/sherbrooke/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-sherbrooke"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Sherbrooke?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $592,612 - $671,627&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $316,060 - $434,582&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $276,552 - $395,075&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Sherbrooke?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $43,458 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$39,507&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,729&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$79,015&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,458&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$158,030&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$86,916&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,458&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,383&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Somerville 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/somerville/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/somerville/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-somerville"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Somerville?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $403,101 - $456,847&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $214,987 - $295,607&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $188,113 - $268,734&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Somerville?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $29,560 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,873&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,780&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$53,746&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,560&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$107,493&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$59,121&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,560&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,824&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in The Patch 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/the-patch/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/the-patch/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-the-patch"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford The Patch?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $406,839 - $461,084&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $216,980 - $298,348&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $189,858 - $271,226&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in The Patch?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $29,834 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,122&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,917&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$54,245&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,834&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$108,490&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$59,669&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,834&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,933&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Tools 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/tools/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/tools/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-tools"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Tools?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $471,177 - $534,001&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $251,294 - $345,530&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $219,882 - $314,118&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Tools?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $34,553 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,411&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,276&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$62,823&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,553&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$125,647&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,106&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,553&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,821&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Tooradin 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/tooradin/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/tooradin/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-tooradin"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Tooradin?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $580,677 - $658,100&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $309,694 - $425,829&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $270,982 - $387,118&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Tooradin?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $42,582 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,711&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,291&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$77,423&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,582&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$154,847&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$85,165&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,582&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,033&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Tootgarook 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/tootgarook/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/tootgarook/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-tootgarook"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Tootgarook?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $512,678 - $581,035&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $273,428 - $375,964&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $239,249 - $341,785&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Tootgarook?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $37,596 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,178&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,798&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$68,357&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,596&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$136,714&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$75,192&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,596&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,038&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Transport 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/transport/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/transport/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-transport"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Transport?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $463,028 - $524,765&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $246,948 - $339,554&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $216,079 - $308,685&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Transport?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $33,955 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,868&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,977&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$61,737&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,955&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$123,474&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$67,910&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,955&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,582&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Tyabb 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/tyabb/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/tyabb/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-tyabb"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Tyabb?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $343,002 - $388,736&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $182,934 - $251,535&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $160,067 - $228,668&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Tyabb?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $25,153 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$22,866&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,576&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$45,733&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,153&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$91,467&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50,307&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,153&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,061&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Tynong 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/tynong/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/tynong/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-tynong"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Tynong?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $450,340 - $510,385&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $240,181 - $330,249&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $210,158 - $300,227&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Tynong?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $33,024 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,022&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,512&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$60,045&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,024&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$120,090&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$66,049&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,024&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,209&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Vibe Score 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/vibe-score/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/vibe-score/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-vibe-score"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Vibe Score?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $450,172 - $510,195&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $240,092 - $330,126&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $210,080 - $300,115&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Vibe Score?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $33,012 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,011&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,506&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$60,023&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,012&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$120,046&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$66,025&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,012&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,205&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Wallan 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/wallan/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/wallan/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-wallan"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Wallan?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $496,869 - $563,118&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $264,996 - $364,370&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $231,872 - $331,246&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Wallan?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $36,437 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,124&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,218&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$66,249&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,437&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$132,498&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$72,874&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,437&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,574&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Wandin North 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/wandin-north/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/wandin-north/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-wandin-north"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Wandin North?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $406,590 - $460,802&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $216,848 - $298,166&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $189,742 - $271,060&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Wandin North?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $29,816 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,106&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,908&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$54,212&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,816&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$108,424&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$59,633&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,816&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,926&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Warrandyte South 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/warrandyte-south/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/warrandyte-south/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-warrandyte-south"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Warrandyte South?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $500,951 - $567,744&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $267,174 - $367,364&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $233,777 - $333,967&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Warrandyte South?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $36,736 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,396&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,368&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$66,793&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,736&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$133,587&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$73,472&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,736&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,694&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Whittlesea 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/whittlesea/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/whittlesea/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-whittlesea"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Whittlesea?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $372,206 - $421,833&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $198,510 - $272,951&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $173,696 - $248,137&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Whittlesea?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $27,295 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$24,813&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,647&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$49,627&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,295&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$99,255&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$54,590&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,295&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,918&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Winter 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/winter/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/winter/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-winter"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Winter?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $358,470 - $406,266&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $191,184 - $262,878&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $167,286 - $238,980&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Winter?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $26,287 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$23,898&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,143&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$47,796&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,287&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$95,592&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$52,575&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,287&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,515&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Buying Your First Home in Woodend 2026: The Complete Guide</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/woodend/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/woodend/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-woodend"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Woodend?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $408,914 - $463,436&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $218,087 - $299,870&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $190,826 - $272,609&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Woodend?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $29,987 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,260&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,993&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$54,521&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,987&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$109,043&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$59,974&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,987&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,994&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Cannons Creek for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cannons-creek/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cannons-creek/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-cannons-creek"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Cannons Creek?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $474,977 - $538,307&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $253,321 - $348,316&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $221,656 - $316,651&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Cannons Creek?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $34,831 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,665&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,415&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$63,330&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,831&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$126,660&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,663&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,831&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,932&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Cocoroc for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cocoroc/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cocoroc/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-cocoroc"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Cocoroc?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $474,403 - $537,657&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $253,015 - $347,895&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $221,388 - $316,269&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Cocoroc?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $34,789 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,626&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,394&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$63,253&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,789&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$126,507&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,579&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,789&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,915&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Cost Of Living for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cost-of-living/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cost-of-living/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-cost-of-living"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Cost Of Living?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $550,506 - $623,907&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $293,603 - $403,704&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $256,903 - $367,004&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Cost Of Living?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $40,370 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,700&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,185&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$73,400&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,370&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$146,801&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$80,740&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,370&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,148&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Craigieburn North for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn-north/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn-north/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-craigieburn-north"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Craigieburn North?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $361,815 - $410,057&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $192,968 - $265,331&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $168,847 - $241,210&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Craigieburn North?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $26,533 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$24,121&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,266&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$48,242&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,533&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$96,484&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$53,066&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,533&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,613&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Craigieburn South for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn-south/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn-south/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-craigieburn-south"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Craigieburn South?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $437,990 - $496,388&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $233,594 - $321,192&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $204,395 - $291,993&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Craigieburn South?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $32,119 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,199&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,059&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$58,398&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$32,119&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$116,797&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$64,238&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$32,119&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,847&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Croydon Hills for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/croydon-hills/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/croydon-hills/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-croydon-hills"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Croydon Hills?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $567,864 - $643,580&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $302,861 - $416,434&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $265,003 - $378,576&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Croydon Hills?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $41,643 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,857&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,821&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$75,715&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,643&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$151,430&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$83,286&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,643&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,657&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Derrimut for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/derrimut/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/derrimut/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-derrimut"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Derrimut?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $581,186 - $658,677&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $309,966 - $426,203&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $271,220 - $387,457&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Derrimut?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $42,620 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,745&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,310&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$77,491&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,620&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$154,983&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$85,240&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,620&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,048&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Doveton for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/doveton/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/doveton/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-doveton"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Doveton?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $339,892 - $385,211&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $181,276 - $249,254&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $158,616 - $226,595&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Doveton?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $24,925 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$22,659&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,462&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$45,319&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$24,925&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$90,638&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$49,850&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$24,925&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$9,970&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Eumemmerring for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/eumemmerring/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/eumemmerring/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-eumemmerring"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Eumemmerring?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $518,655 - $587,809&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $276,616 - $380,347&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $242,038 - $345,770&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Eumemmerring?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $38,034 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,577&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$19,017&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,154&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,034&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$138,308&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$76,069&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,034&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,213&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Exford for First Home Buyers 2026: Can You Afford It?</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/exford/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/exford/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-exford"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Exford?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $353,393 - $400,512&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $188,476 - $259,155&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $164,916 - $235,595&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Exford?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $25,915 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$23,559&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,957&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$47,119&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,915&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$94,238&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$51,831&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,915&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,366&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Balnarring 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/balnarring/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/balnarring/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-balnarring"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Balnarring?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $357,843 - $405,556&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $190,850 - $262,418&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $166,993 - $238,562&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Balnarring?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $26,241 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$23,856&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,120&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$47,712&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,241&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$95,425&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$52,483&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,241&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,496&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Bangholme 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/bangholme/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/bangholme/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-bangholme"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Bangholme?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $507,589 - $575,268&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $270,714 - $372,232&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $236,875 - $338,393&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Bangholme?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $37,223 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,839&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,611&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$67,678&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,223&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$135,357&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$74,446&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,223&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,889&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Baxter 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/baxter/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/baxter/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-baxter"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Baxter?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $504,502 - $571,769&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $269,068 - $369,968&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $235,434 - $336,335&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Baxter?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $36,996 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,633&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,498&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$67,267&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,996&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$134,534&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$73,993&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,996&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,798&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Belgrave South 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/belgrave-south/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/belgrave-south/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-belgrave-south"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Belgrave South?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $411,925 - $466,848&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $219,693 - $302,078&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $192,231 - $274,617&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Belgrave South?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $30,207 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,461&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,103&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$54,923&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,207&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$109,846&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$60,415&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,207&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,083&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Best Suburbs Young Professionals 2026 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/best-suburbs-young-professionals-2026/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/best-suburbs-young-professionals-2026/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-best-suburbs-young-professionals-2026"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Best Suburbs Young Professionals 2026?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $458,498 - $519,631&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $244,532 - $336,232&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $213,965 - $305,665&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Best Suburbs Young Professionals 2026?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $33,623 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,566&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,811&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$61,133&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,623&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$122,266&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$67,246&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,623&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,449&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/best-walks-melbourne-suburbs/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/best-walks-melbourne-suburbs/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-best-walks-melbourne-suburbs"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $410,742 - $465,508&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $219,062 - $301,211&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $191,679 - $273,828&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $30,121 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,382&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,060&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$54,765&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,121&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$109,531&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$60,242&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,121&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,048&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Beveridge 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/beveridge/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/beveridge/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-beveridge"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Beveridge?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $591,000 - $669,800&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $315,200 - $433,400&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $275,800 - $394,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Beveridge?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $43,340 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$39,400&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,670&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$78,800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,340&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$157,600&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$86,680&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,340&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,336&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Blairgowrie 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/blairgowrie/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/blairgowrie/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-blairgowrie"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Blairgowrie?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $357,922 - $405,645&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $190,892 - $262,476&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $167,030 - $238,615&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Blairgowrie?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $26,247 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$23,861&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,123&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$47,723&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,247&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$95,446&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$52,495&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,247&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,499&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Broadford 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/broadford/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/broadford/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-broadford"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Broadford?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $588,231 - $666,661&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $313,723 - $431,369&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $274,507 - $392,154&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Broadford?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $43,136 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$39,215&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,568&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$78,430&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,136&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$156,861&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$86,273&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$43,136&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,254&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Cardinia 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cardinia/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cardinia/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-cardinia"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Cardinia?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $337,626 - $382,643&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $180,067 - $247,592&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $157,559 - $225,084&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Cardinia?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $24,759 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$22,508&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,379&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$45,016&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$24,759&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$90,033&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$49,518&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$24,759&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$9,903&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Catani 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/catani/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/catani/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-catani"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Catani?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $404,509 - $458,444&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $215,738 - $296,640&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $188,771 - $269,673&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Catani?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $29,664 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,967&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,832&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$53,934&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,664&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$107,869&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$59,328&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,664&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,865&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Clematis 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/clematis/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/clematis/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-clematis"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Clematis?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $548,014 - $621,083&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $292,274 - $401,877&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $255,740 - $365,343&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Clematis?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $40,187 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,534&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,093&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$73,068&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,187&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$146,137&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$80,375&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,187&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,075&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Cobblebank 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cobblebank/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cobblebank/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-cobblebank"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Cobblebank?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $395,628 - $448,379&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $211,002 - $290,127&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $184,626 - $263,752&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Cobblebank?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $29,012 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$26,375&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,506&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$52,750&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,012&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$105,501&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$58,025&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,012&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,605&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Comparisons 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/comparisons/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/comparisons/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-comparisons"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Comparisons?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $477,200 - $540,826&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $254,506 - $349,946&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $222,693 - $318,133&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Comparisons?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $34,994 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,813&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,497&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$63,626&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,994&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$127,253&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,989&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,994&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,997&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Eltham North 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/eltham-north/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/eltham-north/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-eltham-north"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Eltham North?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $579,579 - $656,857&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $309,109 - $425,025&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $270,470 - $386,386&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Eltham North?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $42,502 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,638&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,251&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$77,277&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,502&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$154,554&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$85,005&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,502&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,001&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Gisborne 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/gisborne/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/gisborne/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-gisborne"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Gisborne?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $520,301 - $589,674&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $277,494 - $381,554&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $242,807 - $346,867&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Gisborne?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $38,155 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,686&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$19,077&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,373&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,155&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$138,747&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$76,310&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,155&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,262&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Heatherton 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/heatherton/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/heatherton/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-heatherton"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Heatherton?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $405,747 - $459,847&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $216,398 - $297,548&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $189,348 - $270,498&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Heatherton?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $29,754 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,049&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,877&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$54,099&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,754&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$108,199&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$59,509&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,754&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,901&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Lara 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/lara/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/lara/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-lara"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Lara?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $585,115 - $663,130&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $312,061 - $429,084&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $273,053 - $390,077&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Lara?&lt;/strong&gt; LIMITED &amp;ndash; only new builds under $750,000 qualify (most established stock exceeds this)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $42,908 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$39,007&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$21,454&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$78,015&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,908&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$156,030&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$85,816&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$42,908&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,163&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Little River 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/little-river/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/little-river/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-little-river"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Little River?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $562,218 - $637,180&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $299,849 - $412,293&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $262,368 - $374,812&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Little River?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $41,229 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,481&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,614&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$74,962&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,229&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$149,924&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$82,458&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,229&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,491&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Melbourne Nightlife Suburbs Guide 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/melbourne-nightlife-suburbs-guide/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/melbourne-nightlife-suburbs-guide/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-melbourne-nightlife-suburbs-guide"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Melbourne Nightlife Suburbs Guide?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $495,047 - $561,053&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $264,025 - $363,034&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $231,022 - $330,031&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Melbourne Nightlife Suburbs Guide?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $36,303 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,003&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,151&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$66,006&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,303&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$132,012&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$72,606&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$36,303&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,521&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Menzies Creek 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/menzies-creek/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/menzies-creek/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-menzies-creek"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Menzies Creek?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $561,217 - $636,046&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $299,316 - $411,559&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $261,901 - $374,145&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Menzies Creek?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $41,155 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,414&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,577&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$74,829&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,155&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$149,658&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$82,311&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$41,155&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,462&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Monbulk 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/monbulk/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/monbulk/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-monbulk"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Monbulk?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $557,282 - $631,586&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $297,217 - $408,673&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $260,065 - $371,521&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Monbulk?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $40,867 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,152&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$20,433&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$74,304&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,867&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$148,608&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$81,734&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$40,867&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,346&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Mount Dandenong 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/mount-dandenong/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/mount-dandenong/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-mount-dandenong"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Mount Dandenong?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $424,632 - $481,250&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $226,470 - $311,397&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $198,161 - $283,088&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Mount Dandenong?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $31,139 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$28,308&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,569&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$56,617&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,139&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$113,235&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$62,279&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,139&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,455&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Mount Duneed 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/mount-duneed/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/mount-duneed/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-mount-duneed"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Mount Duneed?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $435,143 - $493,162&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $232,076 - $319,105&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $203,066 - $290,095&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Mount Duneed?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $31,910 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$29,009&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,955&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$58,019&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,910&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$116,038&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$63,821&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,910&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,764&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Nar Nar Goon North 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/nar-nar-goon-north/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/nar-nar-goon-north/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-nar-nar-goon-north"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Nar Nar Goon North?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $506,771 - $574,340&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $270,278 - $371,632&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $236,493 - $337,847&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Nar Nar Goon North?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $37,163 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,784&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,581&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$67,569&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,163&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$135,139&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$74,326&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,163&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$14,865&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Norlane 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/norlane/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/norlane/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-norlane"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Norlane?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $523,629 - $593,446&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $279,268 - $383,994&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $244,360 - $349,086&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Norlane?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $38,399 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,908&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$19,199&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,817&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,399&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$139,634&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$76,798&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$38,399&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,359&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to North Warrandyte 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/north-warrandyte/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/north-warrandyte/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-north-warrandyte"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford North Warrandyte?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $517,133 - $586,084&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $275,804 - $379,231&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $241,328 - $344,755&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in North Warrandyte?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $37,923 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,475&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$18,961&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$68,951&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,923&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$137,902&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$75,846&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$37,923&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,169&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Pakenham South 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/pakenham-south/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/pakenham-south/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-pakenham-south"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Pakenham South?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $353,937 - $401,129&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $188,766 - $259,554&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $165,170 - $235,958&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Pakenham South?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $25,955 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$23,595&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,977&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$47,191&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,955&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$94,383&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$51,910&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,955&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$10,382&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Portsea 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/portsea/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/portsea/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-portsea"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Portsea?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $453,906 - $514,426&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $242,083 - $332,864&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $211,822 - $302,604&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Portsea?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $33,286 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$30,260&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$16,643&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$60,520&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,286&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$121,041&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$66,572&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$33,286&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,314&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Quandong 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/quandong/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/quandong/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-quandong"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Quandong?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $425,554 - $482,295&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $226,962 - $312,073&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $198,592 - $283,703&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Quandong?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $31,207 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$28,370&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$15,603&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$56,740&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,207&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$113,481&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$62,414&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,207&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$12,482&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Riddells Creek 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/riddells-creek/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/riddells-creek/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-riddells-creek"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Riddells Creek?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $380,400 - $431,120&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $202,880 - $278,960&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $177,520 - $253,600&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Riddells Creek?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $27,896 (with concession: ${int(median * 0.02):,})&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$25,360&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,948&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50,720&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,896&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$101,440&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$55,792&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$27,896&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$11,158&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>First Home Buyer Guide to Rye 2026: Grants, Prices &amp; Tips</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/rye/first-home-buyer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/rye/first-home-buyer/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="can-first-home-buyers-afford-rye"&gt;Can First Home Buyers Afford Rye?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Entry-level prices (2026):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cheapest houses: $473,166 - $536,255&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Entry-level units: $252,355 - $346,988&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Off-the-plan apartments: $220,811 - $315,444&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A stretch for first-home buyers on houses, but units are achievable. Consider the newer developments for better value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="grants--concessions-available"&gt;Grants &amp;amp; Concessions Available&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-owner-grant-fhog"&gt;First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amount:&lt;/strong&gt; $10,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Eligible in Rye?&lt;/strong&gt; YES &amp;ndash; new homes under $750,000 qualify&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Applies to:&lt;/strong&gt; New homes, off-the-plan apartments, house and land packages&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="stamp-duty-concessions"&gt;Stamp Duty Concessions&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full exemption:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties under $600,000 (many units qualify)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Partial concession:&lt;/strong&gt; Properties $600,001-$750,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your stamp duty on median:&lt;/strong&gt; $34,698 (no concession at this price point)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="first-home-guarantee-federal"&gt;First Home Guarantee (Federal)&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Buy with as little as 5% deposit &amp;ndash; no LMI required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Income cap: $125,000 (singles), $200,000 (couples)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Price cap for Melbourne: $800,000&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-you-need"&gt;What You Need&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Houses&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Units&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (5% with guarantee)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$31,544&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$17,349&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (10% standard)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$63,088&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,698&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Deposit (20% no LMI)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$126,177&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$69,397&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Stamp duty&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$34,698&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$13,879&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Legal/conveyancing&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1,500-2,500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Building/pest inspection&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$300-500&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="monthly-repayments"&gt;Monthly Repayments&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At current rates (~6.2% variable):&lt;/p&gt;</description></item></channel></rss>