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As competition heats up for properties in the River City, client education will be essential to navigating the tight first home buyer market, according to a buyer’s agent.
With property prices surging to record highs across the country, buyer’s agents who can convince clients to consider options outside high-growth areas can secure strong returns and drive repeat business.
Tailored Buyers Agents co-founder Amelia Reddiex said buyer’s agents should educate clients and ensure they take the time to consider all their options before making a property purchase.
“When markets run hot, it’s easy to make the wrong compromises in order to secure a property at what feels like a bargain price, but a bargain property is rarely cheap,” Reddiex said.
“Buying a small low-quality unit in a poor location, such as on a main road or in an area with limited amenities, will come back to bite you.”
“Now more than ever is the time to focus on the fundamentals.”
She said that those who were able to secure properties in suburbs near the region’s most sought-after areas would likely benefit from continued price growth.
“Location remains paramount, but buyers need not pay a premium for the most desirable addresses.”
“Suburbs adjacent or very close to Brisbane’s most sought-after postcodes offer excellent amenity and infrastructure for considerably less.”
According to Reddiex, the suburbs most likely to provide a strong starting point for first-time buyers in Brisbane were Gaythorne, Nundah, Everton Park, Kedron, and Morningside.
While they may offer an easier path to property ownership due to their lower prices, she said buyer’s agents should ensure clients avoid one-bedroom properties.
She said that, particularly in Brisbane, the resale of one-bedroom units was “notoriously challenging”.
“With more Australians working from home and demanding storage and flexibility, one-bedders are volatile assets that tend to underperform, especially in softer market conditions,” Reddiex said.
To help buyers achieve strong returns, she said their buyer’s agent should encourage clients to consider properties that could appreciate through a cosmetic renovation.
“Units requiring a freshen up, like a new kitchen, bathroom, paint or flooring, can deliver outstanding gains.”
“Manufacturing equity through upgrades is one of the most effective strategies for first-time buyers in a high-priced market.”
Additionally, Reddiex said buyers should consider “walk-up complexes” as a property type whose value could benefit from renovation works, whilst potentially having lower strata fees, providing lower ongoing costs to owners.
“Smaller walk-up complexes typically have fewer body corporate facilities, keeping levies low and running costs manageable.”
“Always, however, have a solicitor review body corporate meeting minutes and commission a thorough building inspection before proceeding.”
For those who were unable to purchase a property in the area they wanted to live, Reddiex said rentvesting was a viable strategy to begin building a property portfolio.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but for many buyers it is the smarter path to building long-term wealth.”
“Your first home doesn’t need to be your dream home, but it should be a smart first step on the way to it,” Reddiex concluded.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mathew Williams
Born in the rural town of Griffith NSW, Mathew Williams is a graduate journalist who has always had a passion for storytelling. Having graduated from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Sports Media in 2023, Mathew recently made the move to Sydney from Canberra to pursue a career in journalism and has joined the Momentum Media team, writing for their real estate brands. Outside of journalism, Mathew is an avid fan of all things sports and regularly attends sporting events across Sydney. Get in touch at
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