Download The Guide
First Home Buyer Guide
Everything you need to know
First Home Buyer Guide
Buying your first home can feel overwhelming
Rising property prices, changing lending rules, government schemes and plenty of bank jargon can make it hard to know where to start. That’s exactly why we’ve created the First Home Buyer Guide.
This practical, easy-to-follow guide is designed specifically for Australian first home buyers. It helps you understand how home loans really work, what banks look for, and how to put yourself in the strongest possible position before you buy.
Whether you are just starting to save or already thinking about pre-approval, this guide walks you through each step with clarity and confidence.
What’s inside the guide
- How banks assess first home buyers
- What counts as genuine savings
- How much deposit you really need
- First home buyer schemes and guarantor options explained
- The paperwork lenders will ask for
- Lending rules that can impact your approval
- Common banking terms made simple
- Understanding your options and what suits you
- What pre-approval means and how to get it right
Download the guide
Get the practical guidance you need to navigate the first home buying process. This guide will help you understand the process, make informed decisions, and move forward with certainty.
People Are Talking About SUM+
We’ve helped hundreds of homeowners and investors. Here’s what some of them say about their experience working with us.
★★★★★
“
Thank you John and Chrissy for all your help during our mortgage process. You both were so efficient, always ready to offer your advice to any questions we may have had and always left us feeling reassured that we're in the best hands. Could not recommend you both highly enough - Thank you again”
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Caterina C
★★★★★
“
We were referred to Adrian and the Sum + team from a friend as they had an exceptional experience with them. Our experience was just the same. Adrian is thoughtful and patient with his advice and was invaluable in guiding us through the loan process when we purchased our first home. If you want to get technical on organising your loans he will, or if you want it plain and simple then he'll work that way too. He tailors his approach to your experience and the level you're after. We have since used Adrian again for refinancing and he and the team made the whole process feel effortless. We've referred three other friends and will continue to shout from the rooftops whenever we here someone mention they're looking for a broker. They're just damn good at what they do and are also lovely and kind people too.”
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Chris Gordon
★★★★★
“
John and Chrissy were a pleasure to deal with - always on top of what needed to be done. Their help made the process so much easier & would definitely recommended them to anyone going for a loan.”
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Jai E
★★★★★
“
Chrissy and John are very safe hands! They were so informative including what we needed to know at a certain point in time and what was coming up next so that we could prepare. They were also very responsive to all our questions. Thank you so much Chrissy and John!!”
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Aymie Kaf
★★★★★
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Adrian has years of experience and has all loans options covered. With Christina support they make a great team SUM+ AAA+”
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Sonia Kang
★★★★★
“
Adrian is 'The Man' when it comes to arranging finance for anything you require. He and the team at Sum+ have helped us with a number of projects and each time with better results that we could have hoped for. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these guys for any financing needs, they are outstanding at what they do”
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Jonathan Bristow
★★★★★
“
Navigating the mortgage loan process can be quite daunting, especially as young siblings trying to break into the property market for the first time. However, from the pre-approval process to post-approval / settlement and beyond, John and Christina at Sum+ have been nothing short of amazing! John and Christina’s extensive knowledge in this field ensured the right option was available, allowing us to secure our very first home loan. Their openness, care and flexibility meant no question was ever off limits. They always took the time to explain parts of the process whenever needed and we never felt rushed or a burden at any time. We cannot recommend John and Christina highly enough and look forward to working with them in the future. Thank you both so much! Roxana and Maroun”
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Maroun Ateyeh
★★★★★
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We were introduced to Adrian and his team to process our refinance and organise a loan for another property. The SUM+ team was very responsive with our queries and was very thorough in analysing our needs in order to get a loan that suits us. The service we got was top notch.”
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Mark Dy
★★★★★
“
Would highly recommend Adrian and his team, especially Christina who was always there to answer any of our questions(dumb as some of them were) We honestly couldn’t be happier with the results and will be dealing with them again in the future.”
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Suzie McKenzie
★★★★★
“
We highly recommend SUM+! Adrian in particular has been beyond helpful for us over the past few years. Always available to give advice and he goes above and beyond in responding to our requests at all hours. He has helped us to refinance several times and we are now in the process of purchasing an investment property - something that we never expected we could do. Adrian is personable, professional and most importantly highly trustworthy. We have recommended him to friends and family and we are confident he will take good care of them.”
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Cath Thompson
★★★★★
“
Thanks for all your hard work and support throughout our mortgage process. Your expertise, patience, and dedication made everything so much smoother. You and the team took the time to explain our options and guide us every step of the way which made the process easy. Your turn around time and attention to detail gave us confidence in every decision we made. We’ll definitely be recommending you to anyone needing a broker. Thanks again Ben for everything—you’ve been a pleasure to work with.”
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Teena and Manuel
★★★★★
“
It was an absolute pleasure working with you on my home loan Ben. Your expertise and dedication truly made the entire process smooth and stress-free. I am delighted with the outcome and can't thank you enough for your assistance. You were incredibly knowledgeable and always made sure to explain every step clearly. Your prompt responses and attention to detail were greatly appreciated. The way you handled all the paperwork and coordinated with different parties was impressive, and it made a significant difference in getting the home loan approved quickly and efficiently. I felt supported and confident throughout the entire process. Thanks again for everything, Ben!”
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Danielle
★★★★★
“
We had an amazing experience working with Ben Gebran from SUM+ to secure our home loan. From start to finish, he made the entire process smooth and stress-free. He was incredibly knowledgeable, always available to answer our questions, and guided us through every step with patience and professionalism. Ben went above and beyond to find us the best deal, and we truly appreciate his dedication and hard work. If you’re looking for a broker who is honest, reliable, and genuinely cares about his clients, we highly recommend Ben!”
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Jhony and Gabrielle
★★★★★
“
Ben pulled us from a first home fantasy land into reality. His skills with NFP salary packaging and experience within property outside of Sydney was exactly what we needed - delivered with kindness and professionalism!”
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Simone and Barry
★★★★★
“
I would highly recommend Ben – he was efficient, transparent and responsive. He assisted in a refinance of our home and investment property. If you are unsure if you are getting the best rate on your current loan, contact Ben. One phone call could save you. Thank you Ben!”
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Rania
About The Author
Adrian Bryers
Adrian has been in Lending since early 2005 covering Client Services and Credit Assessment before moving into Client Strategy and Structure with a key focus on Investment and Client Planning. Adrian’s approach to understanding a client’s situation is drawn largely from own personal experience and looking at what he would do in the same situation. His understanding of how the information at hand tells different stories is one of the many ways he helps clients find the right path for them.
