The guide to get you into your first home

THE number of first-home buyers cracking into the market has hit a six-year high, thanks to slowing property prices.

Housing figures show the proportion of first-time buyers rose from 17.6 per cent to 18.1 per cent in June.

But despite this, obtaining finance is getting harder for many borrowers as the banks tighten their lending practices.

Getting a foot on the property ladder for the first time is stressful. The complex jargon used within the housing and mortgage industry can be confusing and, at times, overwhelming.

The MoneysaverHQ team, together with a group of experienced money and property experts, has compiled a comprehensive guide to help every first-home buyer and existing homeowner.

The Home Buyer’s Handbook is a 108-page guide that allows entry-level buyers to get on top of their finances and be armed with all the information they need before making their property dreams come true.

The guide includes everything from starting out, negotiating a better deal on your existing mortgage, boosting your property empire and making your home stylish without spending a fortune.

It gives a step-by-step plan on how to successfully tuck away a deposit. Filled with practical information, it answers all those questions many first-home buyers and existing homeowners are afraid to ask.

The handbook includes where you need to get started, the complete guide to mortgages, things to avoid and why borrowers use guarantors.

It also looks at unexpected ways to crack into the property market and will help you whether you’re buying, refinancing or investing. The Home Buyer’s Handbook is available from August 27 at major supermarkets or newsagents, for $9.95