Buying Your First Home
in WA — Step by Step

Before you start looking

The most important step happens before you set foot in a single open home. Work out your budget first. This means understanding your borrowing capacity, how much deposit you have saved, which grants and schemes you qualify for, and what additional costs to expect beyond the purchase price. A broker can help you with all of this in a single free consultation.

Getting pre-approved is the next essential step. Pre-approval tells you exactly how much you can borrow, gives you confidence when making offers, and signals to sellers and agents that you are a serious buyer. Most pre-approvals are valid for 90 days.

Finding the right property

Once you have pre-approval, you can search with confidence within your price range. Attend open homes, research suburbs, and consider both your immediate needs and your plans for the next 5 to 10 years. Take your time — buying the right property at the right price is more important than buying quickly.

Making an offer and going to settlement

In WA, most property offers are made in writing through the real estate agent. Your offer can include conditions such as finance approval, building and pest inspection, and a satisfactory valuation. Once your offer is accepted, your broker submits the formal loan application. The lender arranges a property valuation and assesses your application. If everything is approved and your inspections are satisfactory, you go unconditional — meaning the contract is binding. Settlement typically takes 30 to 60 days from the date of the contract.

On settlement day, your solicitor or settlement agent handles the transfer of ownership. You collect the keys and move in. Your broker and settlement agent coordinate the process — you should not need to manage this yourself.

Read our comprehensive Perth first home buyer guide for the full picture, including grants, stamp duty concessions, and suburb recommendations.

Frequently asked questions