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First Home Unlocked

First Home Unlocked

By: Jack Elliott
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Summary

Buying your first home is a huge milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming, confusing, and full of pressure. First Home Unlocked is here to change that, and to help you reach your first home with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Jack Elliott, National First Home Buyer Specialist at Alcove, and Chris Bates, one of Australia’s top-ranked mortgage brokers, this podcast simplifies the home buying journey and empowers you with the keys to unlock your first home. Each episode is practical, clear, and designed specifically for first home buyers. From understanding the buying process to choosing a property that fits your long-term vision, Jack and Chris will guide you through every step with real conversations and expert support. You’re not in this alone. Hit subscribe and let’s unlock your first home together.Copyright 2026 Jack Elliott Economics Personal Finance Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 37 - Unlocking the 2026 Federal Budget & What It Means for First Home Buyers
    May 14 2026

    The Federal Budget just changed the property market overnight, and the government is calling it a win for first home buyers. If you're a first home buyer, you're probably seeing a lot of headlines and wondering what it actually means for you and your plans.

    In this episode, Jack Elliott and Chris Bates break down the major budget announcements and what they mean for the property market. We talk through the changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, how investors are likely to respond, what this means for house prices and competition, and most importantly what it all means for you as a first home buyer.

    Whether you're actively looking at properties right now, still in the planning stage, or you've recently purchased, this episode covers what you need to know and how to think about moving forward.

    In this episode:

    🔑 The major budget changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax

    🔑 How investors are likely to respond and what that means for competition

    🔑 Which types of properties and markets will feel these changes the most

    🔑 The tools and data you can use to check if an area is investor-heavy

    🔑 What first home buyers should be doing right now whether actively looking or still planning

    Timestamps

    00:00 - What the Federal Budget Means for First Home Buyers

    04:00 - What Was Actually Announced and Initial Thoughts

    08:11 - How Investors Will Respond

    11:31 - What It Means for First Home Buyers

    14:39 - Tools to Check Investor vs Owner Occupier Markets

    19:01 - What Happens to House Prices

    22:03 - Should Active Buyers Wait or Keep Going?

    24:09 - What Happens to Competition in the Market

    26:05 - Asset Quality and Property Selection Right Now

    33:10 - What It Means for the Rental Market

    38:12 - If You're Planning to Buy in the Future

    40:36 - The 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy

    43:09 - If You've Already Purchased

    43:41 - Interest Rates and What Happens Next

    Free Resources

    Open Stats Tool - Property Data

    Census - Property Data

    Download Your Federal Budget 20206 Resource

    Mentioned Episodes:

    Episode 6 | Unlocking Asset Quality: How to Choose the Right Property as a First Home Buyer

    Episode 26 | Unlocking the Federal Government ‘Help to Buy’ Shared Equity Scheme

    Want to keep the conversation going?

    👉 Join the First Home Unlocked Facebook Community

    📅 Book a chat with Jack for tailored support

    📱Follow Us on social media: Instagram, TikTok, Youtube

    firsthomeunlocked.com.au

    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • 36 - Unlocking How Banks Assess Casual & Contract Income
    May 12 2026

    Casual and contract workers make up more than a quarter of the Australian workforce. If you're a casual or contract worker, there are absolutely ways to borrow. It just comes down to understanding how banks look at your income and making sure you're with the right lender for your situation.

    In this episode, Jack Elliott and Chris Bates break down how banks assess casual and contract income. We talk through what lenders are actually looking for, why the same weekly pay can mean very different borrowing capacity at different lenders, and how you can protect yourself financially once you take on a mortgage.

    We also share a real example where choosing the right lender added $35,000 in borrowing capacity just by using a different annualisation method, showing why lender selection matters so much for casual and contract workers.

    In this episode:

    🔑 How banks assess casual income and what they're looking for

    🔑 Why the same weekly pay can mean different borrowing capacity at different lenders

    🔑 How banks assess contract income and the difference between dependent and independent contractors

    🔑 How to protect yourself financially once you take on a mortgage

    🔑 What casual and contract workers should be doing right now to put themselves in the strongest position

    Timestamps

    00:00 - Casual and Contract Income Explained

    03:11 - How Banks Assess Casual Income

    04:48 - Strengthening Your Position as a Casual Worker

    06:53 - Annualisation Differences Between Lenders

    07:49 - Protecting Yourself as a Casual Borrower

    09:49 - Dependent vs Independent Contractor

    10:32 - Contract History, Renewals and Gaps

    13:30 - Key Takeaways

    Unlock your Free Resources

    Download Your How Banks Assess Casual & Contract Income Resource

    Want to keep the conversation going?

    👉 Join the First Home Unlocked Facebook Community

    📅 Book a chat with Jack for tailored support

    📱Follow Us on social media: Instagram, TikTok, Youtube

    firsthomeunlocked.com.au

    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • 35 - Unlocking How Banks Assess PAYG, Overtime, Bonus & Allowance Income
    Apr 28 2026

    Income is one of the biggest drivers of your borrowing capacity, but banks don't just look at how much you earn. They look at how you earn it and depending on your situation, the same salary can produce very different results at different lenders.

    In this episode, Jack Elliott and Chris Bates go deeper into how banks assess different types of PAYG income. They break down what happens if you've recently changed jobs or you're still on probation, why overtime and allowances are treated differently depending on your industry, how commission and bonus income gets shaded by lenders, and what banks look for when you're working a second job or planning to go on parental leave.

    They also share a real example where choosing the right lender policy added $65,000 to a first home buyer's borrowing capacity, showing just how important lender choice can be.

    In this episode:

    🔑 PAYG income and what happens if you've recently changed jobs or you're on probation

    🔑 Overtime and allowances and why the lender you choose can make a big difference

    🔑 Commission and bonus income and why the bank doesn't take the full amount

    🔑 Second job income and what the banks are really looking for

    🔑 Parental leave and what you need to have in place to move forward

    Timestamps

    00:00 - PAYG Income - How Banks Assess it

    01:50 - PAYG Requirements, Job Changes & Probation

    06:50 - Overtime and Allowances

    10:39 - Commission and Bonus Income

    12:52 - Second Job Income

    14:34 - Parental Leave: Can You Still Borrow?

    15:51 - Wrap Up and Final Thoughts

    Unlock your Free Resources

    Download Your How Banks Assess PAYG, Overtime, Bonus & Allowance Income Resource

    Want to keep the conversation going?

    👉 Join the First Home Unlocked Facebook Community

    📅 Book a chat with Jack for tailored support

    📱Follow Us on social media: Instagram, TikTok, Youtube

    firsthomeunlocked.com.au

    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
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