Property Home Base

Melbourne’s property market is shifting, and for first home buyers, that could create a real window of opportunity.

Recent data shows the top end of the market has been hit hardest, with values falling across the upper quartile in Melbourne and Sydney. At the same time, many investors are choosing to pause while they wait to see how proposed policy changes around capital gains tax and negative gearing play out.

For first home buyers, that matters.

Less investor competition can mean more breathing room, more choice, and a better chance to secure the right property without being pushed out by aggressive bidding.

As our Director Julie DeBondt-Barker shared in Domain, for Melbourne first home buyers, “it might be as good as it gets.”

Of course, buying in a changing market still requires strategy. It’s not about rushing in. It’s about understanding where the opportunities are, knowing what a property is really worth, and having the confidence to act when the right one comes along.

At Property Home Base, we help buyers make informed, considered decisions so they can move forward with clarity, not pressure.

If you’re thinking about buying your first home, now could be the time to start the conversation.



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The question we get more than almost any other: which suburbs are next?

After helping thousands of buyers across Victoria, the pattern is pretty clear. The suburbs that grow are the ones sitting just below a pricier neighbour, with infrastructure dollars nearby and real people competing to buy.

Here is where that will play out this year 👉

We're so glad we could be a part of your journey, Jonathan! Your words are truly why we love what we do!

Before you get to taking your celebratory photo in front of a big 'SOLD' sign, there are 4️⃣ tips first home buyers should keep in mind - straight from our buyer's agents with decades of experience 👉

A lowball offer can feel like smart negotiating. But in a competitive market, it usually just gets you ignored.

So, this is why lowballing isn't always the way to go 👉

A significant tax change is coming for investors in 2027, and it is worth everyone, including first home buyers, paying attention.

From 1 July 2027, the capital gains tax rules on investment properties are changing. Investors who sell after that date will pay more tax on their profits than they would today. The current 50% discount is being replaced with a system tied to inflation, plus a minimum 30% tax rate on real gains.

This means some investors who were already planning to sell in the next few years may bring those plans forward to beat the deadline. That could add a small amount of extra stock to the market in 2026 and early 2027, particularly in the inner suburbs.

Investors with grandfathered negative gearing arrangements have a strong reason to hold, not sell. However, if you are looking in suburbs with a high investor presence, it is worth knowing this is a factor that could shift supply over the coming year.

What does the latest budget really mean for first home buyers? Let's take a look 👉

Melbourne’s west is growing so fast it is on track to outsize the CBD populations of Milan, Prague and Birmingham.

Named Australia’s fastest-growing region, Melbourne's West added 245,230 residents over the past decade, with the population forecast to reach 1.46 million by 2046, according to PropTrack and Stockland.

The pull is clear: the west’s median house price is $729,000, compared with Greater Melbourne’s $1.012 million.

Would you consider buying in Melbourne's West?

With higher living costs, tighter borrowing conditions and bigger deposits to save, many buyers are looking at alternative ways into the property market.

Rent to buy is one option that can sound appealing. You rent the home now, agree on a future purchase price, then aim to buy it later.

There can be benefits, but the risks are significant 👉

Today is Walk Safely to School Day, and there is a property lesson hidden in this: a short school walk can increase the value of your property!

In Victoria, REIV analysis found homes inside popular public school zones sold for premiums of up to 35%, or around $500,000, compared with similar homes outside the zone.