If you've been feeling overwhelmed by headlines insisting young Australians are "locked out of the property market," you're not alone. But the truth — uncovered by new research — tells a very different story. Today's first home buyers aren't giving up; many are exploring how to buy their first home as an investment property, embracing property investment for beginners, and learning how to build wealth through property in smarter, more strategic ways.
In this episode, we speak with Ray White economists Nerida and Atom, whose deep dive into TikTok property and finance content reveals exactly what first home buyers are searching for, learning, and acting on. Instead of doomscrolling, they're using social media for first home buyer education, researching topics like rentvesting, buying an investment property as a first home, first-time buyers home loan options, government incentives for first-time home buyers, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme. This shift is reshaping how young Australians enter the market — not through luck or timing, but through education and strategy.
📱 Young buyers are turning to social media for education — not dream-home inspo
Forget the idea that first home buyers are helpless or uninformed. The top TikTok hashtags show young Australians want practical guidance: budgets, borrowing, property investing for beginners, and long-term strategy. They're seeking creators who break down concepts like capital growth, negative gearing, how equity works, and how to structure your first home as an investment property.
Social platforms aren't "telling" buyers to be optimistic — they're answering the questions people are actively searching for. This makes the content more relevant, more personal, and far more empowering than the broad, outdated narratives often found in traditional media. Instead of feeling defeated, buyers are learning the steps they can take — and that shift in mindset matters.
🏡 Rentvesting is rising — and for good reason
For many young Australians, buying where they live isn't the first step. Instead, they're using rentvesting as a pathway into the market — purchasing in affordable growth areas, building equity, and later upgrading into a home they actually want to live in.
This strategy has become especially appealing as more buyers realise that waiting for the perfect home in the perfect suburb can delay their entry for years. By starting with an investment property, buyers can leverage growth, improve their borrowing power, and move forward even in challenging markets. It's not a compromise — it's a smart approach that recognises the difference between your first home and your forever home.
💰 Financial literacy is accelerating (fast)
Younger buyers aren't waiting for formal education to teach them about money. They're learning through short-form content that breaks down building wealth through property investment, how interest rates work, what lenders really want to see, and whether a first-time home buyer can buy an investment property (spoiler: yes, they can).
This self-driven education helps them make informed decisions long before they speak to a broker. It also means they're entering conversations more prepared, more confident, and more aware of the options available to them — from low-deposit schemes to lender policies to government incentives for first-time home buyers.
🏛 Why mainstream media is missing the real story
While headlines push crisis narratives, the data shows first home buyers are active, curious, and ready to take action. Loan approval increases — driven partly by incentives like the 5% deposit schemes and the accessibility of first-time buyers home loans — contradict the idea that young Australians are giving up.
What's really happening is a mindset shift: buyers are entering the market quietly and strategically, not loudly and traditionally. They're exploring more pathways, taking more ownership of their learning, and focusing on long-term outcomes instead of short-term fear.
📈 A mindset shift: property as a stepping stone, not a finish line
Many first home buyers now see property as part of a broader wealth-building journey. Whether they're buying their first home as an investment property, trying rentvesting, or considering locations outside expensive capitals, they're expanding their options and reducing pressure.
This mindset — combining property investment for beginners education with flexible strategies — is helping them take action earlier and more confidently, regardless of the noise around them.
Why This Episode Is Essential for First Home Buyers
If you've been feeling stuck, comparing yourself to friends who've already bought, or wondering whether it's still possible to get into the market, this episode will help you reset. You'll learn how other first home buyers are navigating the same challenges, what strategies (like rentvesting, government incentives, and first home buyer education programs) are helping them get ahead, and how you can apply these insights to move forward with clarity and confidence.
