"Be greedy when others are fearful". Is it finally going to be a buyer’s market? Changes to the Help to Buy Scheme.

“Be Greedy When Others Are Fearful”

Warren Buffett’s famous quote, “Be greedy when others are fearful,” reflects a powerful contrarian investment philosophy: when markets become uncertain and others panic, opportunities often appear for those who are prepared.

With global uncertainty increasing — including tensions surrounding the Iran conflict — some people are understandably feeling nervous about what may come next. Historically, periods of uncertainty can create opportunities in the property market.

For buyers who are organised and financially prepared, this may be the time to consider:

• Purchasing your first home
• Upgrading to a better property
• Purchasing from sellers who may be feeling nervous about the future or under financial pressure

The key is having a clear goal and strategy.

At Best Foot Forward Mortgage Solutions, we help our clients position themselves to be ready to act when the right opportunity arises.

Get Organised with Pre-Approval

One of the smartest things you can do right now is secure a loan pre-approval. This allows you to understand your borrowing capacity and be ready to purchase when the right property comes onto the market.

We are currently working with a number of clients using bridging finance, allowing them to secure their next home in their dream suburb before selling their current property.

Changes to Government First Home Buyer Schemes

There have also been recent changes and updates to federal government housing support schemes, which are helping more Australians enter the property market with lower deposits.

The Family Home Guarantee allows eligible applicants — particularly single parents — to purchase a home with as little as a 2% deposit, without needing to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

The First Home Guarantee Scheme also allows eligible buyers to purchase with just a 5% deposit, again without LMI.

In addition, the Help to Buy shared equity scheme is expected to expand access for many Australians, where the government contributes up to 30–40% of the property value, reducing the size of the loan required.

These schemes can significantly reduce the upfront savings required to purchase a home, however eligibility criteria and property price caps apply.

If you're unsure whether you might qualify, it's worth having a conversation to explore your options.

What About Interest Rates?

There is speculation that we may see two potential interest rate increases in 2026, with the Reserve Bank of Australia potentially increasing rates by 0.25% at the March meeting and again in May.

While this may sound concerning, there is an important point many buyers overlook.

When demand for loans slows, lenders often become more competitive. This means brokers can sometimes negotiate larger discounts for clients.

For example, in May 2025 interest rates were at their highest in 14 years, yet lenders were offering strong discounts to attract business. Many of my clients who secured loans during that time actually received better lifetime discounts than borrowers who applied later when rates were reduced.

Why? Because when lenders want business, they are often willing to negotiate more aggressively.

These discounts are important because the discount percentage can last for the lifetime of your loan, meaning the timing of when you secure your pre-approval can have long-term benefits.

It is time to be smart and strategic, and not scared.

Refinance Opportunities Right Now

Lenders are also currently offering cash rebates and cashback offers for fast refinances, making it a very good time to review your home loan.

Recently, I’ve been securing rates as low as 5.51% with some of the Big Four lenders for eligible borrowers.

If you are currently paying more than around 5.59%, there is a strong chance you may be paying too much, and it could be worth reviewing your loan. Many borrowers simply stay on their existing rate without realising how competitive the market has become.

A quick refinance check could potentially reduce your repayments while also taking advantage of current lender incentives.

The Value of Having a Strategy

The most successful property buyers aren’t always those who move first — they are the ones who prepare early and understand their options.

Having a clear strategy, knowing your borrowing capacity, and securing the right loan structure can make all the difference when opportunities arise.

If you'd like to understand what might be possible for you, I'm always happy to help guide you through the process.

Feel free to reach out for a chat anytime. You can book a 15-30 minute discovery call or video call, or an online here.

Shona Stephenson
Principal Mortgage Broker
Best Foot Forward Mortgage Solutions

The information contained is general information only and does not consider your objectives, financial situation and needs. Please talk to us if you need a fast-tracked home loan, and we can help you find a lender that has the processes in place to process the application quickly. We strongly recommend that you do not act on any information provided on this website without individual advice from your trusted advisor. You should also obtain a copy of and consider the Product Disclosure Statement for all financial products before making any decision.

Best Foot Forward always tries to make sure all information is accurate. However, when reading our website, please always consider our Disclaimer policy.