First home buyer mortgage broker · Sydney & Australia-wide
Your first home, from first question to front door.
Buying your first place has six big moments. Here's each one, what you'll need, and where we do the heavy lifting. No fees for our service, ever.
Deposit snapshot
On a $900,000 purchase, the deposit you'd usually need versus with the 5% Deposit Scheme (if eligible):
Excludes stamp duty and costs. Scheme eligibility and property price caps apply.
For First Home Buyers in Sydney and All Over Australia
Most people only buy their first home once. You deserve to get it right.
The process is more confusing than it needs to be. Between deposit requirements, lender policies, government grants, and loan structures, most first home buyers spend months second-guessing every decision before they've even made an offer.
We cut through that. We explain your options in plain English, match you with the right lender from a panel of 75, and stay with you from the first conversation until the day you get your keys.
And because we're paid by the lender after your loan settles, our service costs you nothing.
We're based in Sydney, but we work with first home buyers all over Australia. Wherever you're buying, we'll identify the grants and schemes that apply in your state and run the same process for you, mostly by phone, video call and email.
What We Do For You
More than just finding a rate.
A good broker does a lot more than compare interest rates. Here's what you actually get when you work with Echidna Equity.
Borrowing Power Assessment
We work out exactly how much you can borrow before you start looking, so you're not wasting time on properties outside your range or missing ones within it.
Lender Matching
Different lenders suit different buyers. We match you based on your income type, deposit size, property type, and timeline, not just whoever has the lowest headline rate today, including green and ethical lenders if buying an energy-efficient home is part of your plan.
Grants and Scheme Navigation
We identify every grant and government scheme you're eligible for, including the 5% Deposit Scheme, stamp duty concessions, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme, and fold them into your application.
Full Application Management
We prepare and submit your application, manage the lender on your behalf, and keep you updated at every stage. You don't have to chase anyone.
Government Support
There's more help available than most people realise.
First home buyers across Australia have access to a range of federal schemes, plus state-based grants and stamp duty concessions on top. Below are the federal schemes and some NSW examples. Wherever you're buying, we'll confirm what you're eligible for and make sure you don't leave any of it on the table.
5% Deposit Scheme
Buy with as little as a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance. Since 1 October 2025 there are no place limits and no income caps, and property price caps are higher, up to $1.5 million in Sydney and NSW regional centres.
First Home Super Saver Scheme
Save your deposit inside your super fund and benefit from concessional tax rates, then withdraw it when you're ready to buy.
First Home Buyer Assistance
Stamp duty exemptions or concessions for eligible first home buyers in NSW, depending on the purchase price of the property.
First Home Owner Grant
A $10,000 grant for eligible buyers purchasing or building a new home in NSW valued under the threshold.
Single Parent 2% Deposit
Under the same government scheme, eligible single parents and legal guardians can buy with as little as a 2% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
Buying in Regional Australia
The Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee closed to new applications on 1 October 2025. Regional buyers now use the 5% Deposit Scheme instead, which has no place limits.
Eligibility criteria apply to all schemes, and state-based grants and concessions vary. If you're buying outside NSW, we'll identify the equivalent grants and concessions in your state and confirm what you qualify for before lodging any application.
Your route home
Six steps from first chat to front door, and who looks after each one.
- 1
Work out what you can borrow
Free chatWe look at your income, expenses and savings to give you a realistic price range before you start looking.
You'll need: payslips, savings balance, a rough budget
- 2
Check your schemes
TomWe check the 5% Deposit Scheme and your state grants and stamp duty relief, and how they change your numbers.
You'll need: ID, where you want to buy, and your 5% Deposit Scheme form
- 3
Get pre-approval
Tom & LorenzoTom picks the lender that suits you. Lorenzo collects your documents and submits, so you can make offers with confidence.
You'll need: 3 months of bank statements, recent payslips
- 4
Find the place and make an offer
YouGo to inspections and auctions knowing your limit. Send us the listing and we sense-check it with the lender.
You'll need: the contract of sale
- 5
Formal approval and exchange
LorenzoWe order the valuation, push the lender for formal approval and keep your conveyancer in the loop.
You'll need: your conveyancer's details
- 6
Settlement day
EveryoneYou get the keys. And every year we donate 1% of our profits to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, so your home helps protect somewhere wild.
You'll need: just the champagne
Client Story
A first home buyer who almost gave up.
Sometimes the difference between getting into your first home and staying stuck is having someone who knows which doors are still open.
First Home, New Job, No Problem
Illustrative example.
Mia had saved a solid deposit and found a property she loved, but had recently changed jobs and was three months into a new role. Every bank she approached directly told her to come back in six months. We found a lender that assessed her application on her overall financial position rather than her employment tenure, secured pre-approval within five days, and she settled on her first home the following month.
"As a first home buyer in Sydney I was really inexperienced, but I didn't feel that way after working with these guys. Kudos as well for helping with the environment!"
The Team
You'll always know who's working on your file.
We keep our client load manageable by design. Every file is advised on by Tom, our broker, and managed day to day by Lorenzo, not passed to a junior processor or lost in a queue.
Lorenzo Suarez
Lorenzo is your main point of contact from first call to settlement. He keeps your paperwork moving, follows up the lender and makes sure you always know what happens next.
Clients regularly mention how quickly he replies, even after hours.
Cert IV Finance & Mortgage Broking
Tom Williams
Tom co-founded Echidna Equity with a clear brief: personal service, genuine lender access, and a business that gives back. As our mortgage broker, Tom assesses every application and recommends the lender and loan structure that suit you.
When he says the job is not done until clients start defying gravity, he means it literally.
Cert IV Finance & Mortgage Broking
Why This Matters To Us Too
We put a portion of our own profit behind conservation, not just your first home.
Buying your first home is a big enough milestone without a sales pitch attached to it. But it's worth knowing: a portion of Echidna Equity's profit goes to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, which protects native species and manages land across the country.
We don't think a mortgage broker can solve conservation on its own. But we can make sure some of what we earn from every settlement, including yours, goes toward looking after the country you're about to put down roots in.
A share of our profits is donated to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, supporting the protection of native species and habitat across Australia.
It's a small, ongoing commitment built into how we do business, the same one we made long before you found this page.
Common Questions
Things first home buyers ask us most.
If your question isn't here, just call us. There's no such thing as a question that's too basic.
Get in Touch
Speak to a broker today.
Fill in the form and Lorenzo or Tom will be in touch within one business day. No obligation, no sales pitch, just a straight answer on what's possible, wherever in Australia you're buying.
Book a free first home buyer chat
We'll get back to you within one business day.
By submitting this form you consent to Echidna Equity contacting you regarding your enquiry. We do not share your details with third parties. General information only. This does not constitute financial or legal advice.
Message received.
Lorenzo or Tom will be in touch within one business day.
Ready to take the first step?
Book a free, no-obligation chat with Lorenzo or Tom. We'll tell you exactly where you stand and what's possible, wherever in Australia you're buying.
Echidna Equity Pty Ltd ACN 678 592 713. Credit Representative Number 562940 of Australian Credit Licence 384704. Suite 302, 13/15 Wentworth Ave, Sydney NSW 2000. Echidna Equity is based in Sydney and provides mortgage broking services to clients all over Australia. General information only. This does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Credit criteria, terms and conditions apply. Government schemes and grants are subject to eligibility criteria and availability, vary by state and territory, and may change without notice. Interest rates, fees and product features are subject to change without notice.