Buying your first home on Brisbane's south side is roughly a 6 to 12 month journey from serious saving to key handover. This is the step-by-step version I walk first home buyers through, with real local numbers and where the traps usually sit.
Step 1: How do I know if I am actually ready to buy?
Three quick tests. First, have you got at least a 5% deposit plus buying costs saved and sitting untouched for three months. Second, is your income stable enough that you would keep it through a job change. Third, are you planning to stay in the area for at least three years. If yes to all three, you are ready to see a broker.
Step 2: What order do the steps go in?
1. Talk to a mortgage broker and get a written pre-approval. 2. Confirm which grants and concessions you qualify for (see Queensland grants and stamp duty). 3. Choose two or three suburbs based on lifestyle and budget. 4. Inspect 20 to 30 properties before you offer on anything. 5. Get building and pest done, and legal review, before signing. 6. Make an offer or bid at auction. 7. Sign contract, satisfy conditions, settle.
Step 3: Which south side suburbs suit first home buyers?
Depends on budget and priorities.
Under $900,000
- /suburbs/logan-reserve: newer builds, family friendly, median $935,000. - /suburbs/marsden: entry-level established homes, median $920,000. - Yarrabilba: brand new estates, median $860,000, eligible for the FHOG on new builds.
$900,000 to $1.3m
- /suburbs/rochedale-south: schools, transport, median $1,200,000. - /suburbs/springwood: mature suburb, median $1,185,000. - /suburbs/daisy-hill: bushland lifestyle, median $1,196,000.
Over $1.3m
- /suburbs/runcorn: strong Sunnybank State High catchment demand, median $1,280,000. - /suburbs/underwood: median $1,331,000.
Step 4: What do I need to check before I offer?
Building and pest, always. Read the contract carefully, especially the special conditions. Check flood mapping on the Brisbane City or Logan Council site. Drive past at different times of day. If it is a body corporate title, read the last two years of minutes. Detail on inspections is in Building and pest inspections.
Step 5: How do I actually make the offer?
Either private treaty (you sign a written offer, often over the price advertised) or auction (registered on the day, no cooling off). The mechanics differ. If it is private treaty, the make an offer guide walks through what agents actually look for. If it is auction, read how to bid at auction first.
You can also submit an offer online through /offer.
Step 6: How long from signed contract to keys?
Standard QLD contract is 30 days, but 21 and 45 days are common. During this period your conveyancer handles the legal side, your bank does formal approval and property valuation, and you organise insurance and settlement funds. Read the /faq for the settlement-day mechanics.
Step 7: What are the most common first home buyer mistakes?
- Falling in love with the first house they see and offering too high. - Waiving building and pest to look competitive. Never do this on an established home. - Underestimating buying costs. Budget 5 to 7% of purchase price on top of deposit. - Buying in a suburb they do not actually want to live in because the numbers work.
If you want a second opinion on a specific property or suburb before you offer, that is exactly what I do all day. Not a sales pitch, just a straight read of the local market.
What should you do next?
Have a look at what is currently for sale on Brisbane's south side over on /properties, or send me a buying question and I will give you a straight answer.
If you will be selling a home to buy your next one, find out what yours is worth with a free, no-obligation appraisal. That number is often the missing piece that turns a wish list into a real plan.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to have a proper look at the market?
Browse current listings, or ask Junaid a buying question and get a straight answer from someone who works the south side every day.
Know a mate house-hunting on the south side?
