From low deposit or even no deposit to the keys in your hand
One of the most common questions we get is a simple one: “If I don’t have a large deposit saved, how can I possibly buy a home?”
It’s a fair question—and an important one. The traditional home-buying path asks you to save 20% of a property’s value before a bank will even look at you.
For most renters, that means years of waiting while property prices keep climbing. Darren Walters built No1 Property Guide specifically to change that.
Our system allows eligible buyers to enter the property market from a low deposit—and in some cases, from as little as no deposit at all—by structuring your purchase differently to a standard home loan.
Why the traditional deposit requirement isn’t the only way
Most lenders ask for a 20% deposit to reduce their risk. And they don’t give you any real alternatives outside of paying LMI (Lender’s Mortgage Insurance). But there are legitimate pathways that work differently—and that's the heart of what we do.
Rather than waiting years to save a massive lump sum, our system works by:
The result
Our clients enter the market using a low deposit, some from no deposit at all, depending on the situation.
We assess everyone individually, because no two situations are the same.
The 3 steps to homeownership with No1 Property Guide
STEP 1
Understanding your
borrowing capacity
Before anything else, we need to understand what you can actually afford. Your borrowing capacity is calculated by looking at your gross income, your regular expenses, and any existing debts. We use this to give you a real figure—not a rough guess—so you know exactly what's possible.
It's simply about knowing where you stand. Many of our clients are surprised to discover they can borrow significantly more than they expected.
This step is free, takes around 15 minutes, and requires no commitment from you.
STEP 2
Package your home & secure your mortgage approval
Once we know your borrowing capacity, we work with you to select your land, floorplan, and facade for the estates we build in across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia.
At the same time, our mortgage managers—who are dedicated to finding the best available rates and lending policies for your individual profile—work to secure your formal loan approval. This is where the structure of the no or low deposit arrangement is put in place.
We also assist you with any applicable government grants or schemes at this stage, including the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) and the Federal Government's First Home Guarantee (formerly the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme), which allows eligible first-home buyers to purchase with as little as a 5% deposit without paying LMI.
STEP 3
Build, settle, and move in
Once your mortgage approval is in place and your land is secured, construction begins. All of our homes are full turnkey, meaning everything is included in the contract price. Fencing, flooring, landscaping, window furnishings, letterbox, clothesline, it's all there. You won’t receive a list of extras after signing.
We keep you updated throughout the build and manage the process on your behalf. When construction is complete and settlement occurs, you get the keys. That's it. Welcome home.
First home buyers
If you've never owned property in Australia, you may be eligible for government grants and guarantees that work alongside our system to reduce or eliminate the deposit required.
Previous homeowners
Have you owned before but life circumstances brought you back to renting?
You're not excluded, we assess your situation individually and many previous owners have successfully used our system to get back into homeownership.
Property investors
If you already own a home with equity, or just want to start investing straight away, our system can help you build a property portfolio through rentvesting, SMSF property, or equity investment strategies.
Casual & self-employed workers
We work with specialist lenders who assess income differently, meaning casual or self-employed income doesn't automatically rule you out.
We don't pre-judge anyone's situation. The only way to know whether you qualify is to go through the free pre-qualification — it takes 15 minutes and there's no obligation.
An expert team to answer all your questions
How can
we help?
What are house and land packages?
A simplified and streamlined process where you can secure and purchase your preferred block of land AND the construction of your new home. It includes the design, layout, and build of your home.
What is borrowing capacity/power?
This is simply the amount you can borrow up to buy your new home. This will be subject to final approval.
What is the first step?
Getting started with us is simple and very easy. We assess your financial situation and calculate your borrowing capacity. We then go through all of your factual new home options so you can make an informed decision. Get pre-qualified now.
How much income do I need?
We don’t pre-judge anyone. Income vs debt + rental income from the potential investment property will end up determining what you can and can’t do.
Why choose No1 Property Guide?
Darren’s already helped thousands of renters become homeowners, and then helped them build property portfolios worth millions. Read our amazing 5 star reviews on Facebook and Google to see what our happy clients have to say for yourself.
Where we build
No1 Property Guide operates nationally, building new homes across four states:
New estates and locations are added regularly. If you don't see your preferred area above, get in touch—we may still be able to help.
Real results from real Australians
Since Darren Walters founded No1 Property Guide, more than 1,350 renters have become homeowners using this system — and many have gone on to build property portfolios worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity. With over 460 verified five-star reviews on Google and Facebook, the results speak for themselves.
You can read individual client stories, including the challenges they faced, how the process worked for them, and the outcomes they achieved, on our Testimonials page.
One of the most common questions we get is a simple one: “If I don’t have a large deposit saved, how can I possibly buy a home?” It's a fair question and an important one. The traditional home-buying path asks you to save 20% of a property's value before a bank will even look at you. For most renters, that means years of waiting while property prices keep climbing. Darren Walters built No1 Property Guide specifically to change that.
The 3 steps to homeownership with No1 Property Guide
STEP 1
Understanding your
borrowing capacity
Before anything else, we need to understand what you can actually afford. Your borrowing capacity is calculated by looking at your gross income, your regular expenses, and any existing debts. We use this to give you a real figure—not a rough guess—so you know exactly what's possible.
It's simply about knowing where you stand. Many of our clients are surprised to discover they can borrow significantly more than they expected.
This step is free, takes around 15 minutes, and requires no commitment from you.
STEP 2
Package your home & secure your mortgage approval
Once we know your borrowing capacity, we work with you to select your land, floorplan, and facade for the estates we build in across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia.
At the same time, our mortgage managers—who are dedicated to finding the best available rates and lending policies for your individual profile—work to secure your formal loan approval. This is where the structure of the no or low deposit arrangement is put in place.
We also assist you with any applicable government grants or schemes at this stage, including the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) and the Federal Government's First Home Guarantee (formerly the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme), which allows eligible first-home buyers to purchase with as little as a 5% deposit without paying LMI.
STEP 3
Build, settle, and move in
Once your mortgage approval is in place and your land is secured, construction begins. All of our homes are full turnkey, meaning everything is included in the contract price. Fencing, flooring, landscaping, window furnishings, letterbox, clothesline, it's all there. You won’t receive a list of extras after signing.
We keep you updated throughout the build and manage the process on your behalf. When construction is complete and settlement occurs, you get the keys. That's it. Welcome home.