Most renters assume buying a home is years away. The standard thinking is to save the 20% deposit first, then start looking. So they wait. And while they wait, prices move, rent goes up, and the goalposts shift again.
But here’s the kicker; most renters will spend years trying to save a larger deposit without ever determining what they may already qualify for.
That’s the biggest mistake we see renters making, and it’s a completely avoidable one.
New builds are not the only pathway anymore
For more than a decade, Darren Walters’ system has helped thousands of Australians transition from renting to homeownership through his proven low deposit new home system. For the majority of renters, that’s meant a new house and land package, which still works brilliantly for thousands of buyers.
But, it’s no longer the only option on the table.
With a changing property market, Darren has expanded his low deposit system to include existing homes as well. Creating greater flexibility and making the pathway available to eligible renters nationwide.
Why an existing home might suit you better
Building a new home has its advantages, but established properties have a range of benefits that can make them more suitable for many buyers. Unlike building, existing homes may allow you to:
- Purchase Australia wide
- Move into your own home in as little as 8 weeks
- Negotiate with motivated sellers
- Potentially save tens of thousands on the purchase price
- Buy in established suburbs
- Avoid construction delays
- Purchase opportunities from as low as $300,000 in selected locations
These advantages are often the deciding factor for many of our clients, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, speed. A new build runs on a construction timeline (typically 6-12 months); an established home doesn’t. Once your finance approval is complete and all requirements have been met, settlement is typically completed in 14 to 28 days, then you can move in. If your lease is ending, or you simply want to stop renting sooner rather than later, speed matters.
The second is negotiation. You can’t haggle with a build contract the way you can with a seller who needs to move. That’s where the potential to save tens of thousands on the purchase price comes from.
What kinds of properties are we talking about?
This is one of the most common questions we get, and the answer is simple: all of them. In fact, the only limiting factors for properties using our low deposit existing home system are your purchasing capacity and what is actually available for sale in your area.
Whether it’s a unit, a townhouse, a standard four-bedroom home, or an acreage block, if you qualify through our system and there is something available, we can help you secure it.
How the No1 Property Guide existing homes pathway works
1. Suitability
You complete the online assessment and upload your supporting documents. Using a combination of technology, automation, and human review, our platform assesses your indicative borrowing and purchase capacity. From there, if your indicative borrowing capacity is high enough, we will finalise your borrowing capacity and move to qualify you to one of our lending policies.
Once you have been qualified, our team will find what pathways are suitable for your situation.
If there isn’t a suitable pathway available, we’ll show you what may need to change and provide guidance on the most appropriate next steps. Either way, you finish the stage knowing where you stand.
2. Strategy
Applicants who complete the assessment and qualify are invited to a private Strategy and Structure Session with Darren Walters. During that session you will:
- Gain a clear understanding of your borrowing & purchase capacity
- See your proposed structure & indicative repayment estimates
- Understand the property pathways available to you
- Receive a personalised property pathway strategy & finalise your plan
3. Secure
Once your pathway is confirmed, you can begin searching for the right property. You can search independently or use our buyer’s agent network to identify, negotiate and secure a property on your behalf. The goal is not simply to buy a property; the goal is to secure the right property.
Once a property has been secured, our finance team guides your application through to formal approval.
4. Settle
Solicitors coordinate the settlement process, settlement is completed, keys become available, and you move into your new home.
Is buying a home actually right for you?
We aren’t here to convince you to buy a home. We’re here for renters who have already decided they want one.
This pathway suits you if:
- You’re currently renting
- You have a stable income
- You want to own a home
- You’re prepared to take action if a suitable pathway exists
- You’re prepared to follow a proven process
It’s probably not for you if:
- You’re simply curious
- You’re not ready to buy
- You’re looking for free advice
Our Strategy and Structure Session is reserved for applicants who are serious about homeownership, and it works best when everyone involved is heading in the same direction.
The first step is easier than you think
Here at No1 Property Guide, we take the guesswork out of homeownership. The first step is understanding your position and what may actually be possible based on your current circumstances.
People don’t buy houses. They buy certainty, security, and a place to call their own.
More than 1,300 renters have already achieved homeownership with us, including Karyn and Jerry in Yarrabilba, Queensland, and Matt and Sarah in Andergrove, Queensland, who didn’t know what options were available before they started.
If that sounds like you, complete the assessment and we’ll show you exactly what your factual low deposit homeownership options are.
