Perth’s fast-moving property market: what it means for first home buyers right now
- Andy Vann
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Buying your first home in Perth can feel overwhelming at the moment. Prices have moved quickly, competition is strong in many suburbs, and headlines often make it sound like first home buyers are being left behind altogether.
It’s no surprise many people feel stuck between wanting to get started and not knowing where to begin. The reality is this market does create challenges for first home buyers, but it also rewards preparation more than ever. Understanding what’s actually happening and how to approach it makes a far bigger difference than simply watching listings and hoping for the right moment. As Perth property prices continue pushing higher across many suburbs, these decisions can start to feel more urgent.
Why first home buyers feel like they’re falling behind
For many first home buyers, the frustration isn’t just about price. It’s the feeling that the goalposts keep moving, you save a deposit, then values rise, you feel ready, then competition increases, you start looking, then hear another story about multiple offers.
This can create the sense that you’re constantly chasing the market rather than moving with it. That feeling is very real, and it’s not because you’re doing anything wrong.
What’s actually making it harder right now
There are a few factors combining to put pressure on first home buyers in Perth. Limited housing supply means fewer options at any given time. More buyers are competing in similar price ranges. Stamp duty concessions have encouraged activity under certain thresholds. Construction delays have pushed many buyers back into established homes.
All of this links back to the broader housing shortage currently affecting Perth. Another example of how tight the market has become can be seen in recent local property listings where a home priced at what appeared to be a “low” price attracted overwhelming attention online.
View the PerthNow Facebook post.
While we’re not here to debate social media commentary, this kind of response highlights how competitive and emotionally charged the market has become — even before a property is open for inspection.
What first home buyers can still control
While buyers can’t control the market, they can control their preparation. This is where many people unknowingly put themselves at a disadvantage, they look online first, they attend home opens, they fall in love with properties. Only later do they discover their borrowing power doesn’t quite align.
What to focus on next
Before spending weekends at home opens, it’s worth understanding your borrowing range and structure first. Clarity here removes a huge amount of stress later, this is often a good time to speak with your home loan guy about what your numbers actually look like, before emotion gets involved.
Common mistakes first home buyers are making right now
A few patterns are showing up regularly.
Waiting for the “perfect time” to buy.
Trying to predict where prices will go next.
Assuming grants automatically make things affordable.
Looking at properties above realistic limits.
Underestimating how important finance readiness is.
None of these mistakes come from carelessness. They come from uncertainty, and lack of education
What to focus on next
Most mistakes happen when buyers try to solve everything at once, breaking the process into clear steps often makes the path forward feel far less overwhelming.
Why preparation matters more than speed
In competitive markets, speed can help, but preparation matters more. Buyers who move forward confidently are rarely the ones offering the most, they’re the ones who understand their position clearly before the right property appears.
That confidence comes from knowing:
your realistic price ceiling.
your deposit structure.
your likely repayments.
your limits before emotion takes over.
What to focus on next
You don’t need to rush decisions. Preparation gives you the flexibility to move when the right opportunity appears, rather than reacting under pressure. If you’re unsure how all of this fits together, having a chat with your home loan guy can help map things out calmly before you actively start searching.
First home buying isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing things in the right order
Most first home buyers don’t struggle because they lack income or discipline, they struggle because the process feels unclear.
The buyers who move forward with confidence usually follow a simple order:
understand their financial position
clarify realistic price ranges
prepare finance early
then start property hunting
This approach removes much of the emotional pressure that buyers feel in fast-moving markets.
Final thoughts
The Perth market has changed, and it’s completely understandable if buying your first home feels harder than it used to, but harder does not mean impossible. In many cases, it simply means the strategy needs to adapt to the market rather than waiting for the market to adapt back.
What to focus on next
Clarity almost always comes from understanding your position first. from there, everything else becomes far easier to plan, if you’re feeling unsure about where to start, having a chat with your home loan guy can help you understand what’s possible and what your next step should be.
Comments