September Property Update 2025: The 5% Deposit Scheme, First Home vs Investment, and Finding Growth Locations with Arjun Paliwal

 The rules of the property game just changed and you need to know how.

In this Get Rich episode, Molly is joined by Arjun Paliwal, CEO of InvestorKit, to unpack the big news: the 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers. What does it mean for property prices? Should you buy your first home to live in, or start with an investment property? And where are the growth hotspots in 2025?

We also cover:

• The impact of the 5% deposit scheme and new price caps
  
• When buying to live in isn’t the best move
  
• Mortgage vs investment: what should you prioritise?
  
• Why you don’t actually need 8–10 properties to retire comfortably
  
• Key data points to spot growth locations
  
• How kids (yes, really) impact your borrowing power
  
  

This is your September, straight-talking property market update to help you make smarter moves in 2025.

This episode is brought to you by InvestorKit, Australia’s #1 Buyers Agency for 2023 and 2024. They specialise in helping investors find high-growth properties utilising industry leading AI and data driven research process across Australia. 70%+ of the properties they purchase are off-market and they have consistently outperformed national average capital growth rates by over 49%. Whether you’re looking to build your property portfolio or secure your first investment. Check them out here.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome to Get Rich & Molly’s Money Mission
00:31 – The New 5% Deposit Scheme Explained
03:01 – Will the 5% Scheme Push Prices Up?
05:07 – What Women Should Do Before Jumping In
06:53 – Why Investor Demand is Surging Again
09:10 – First Home vs Investment Property: Arjun’s Checklist
12:01 – Mortgage vs Investment: Which Builds Wealth Faster?
15:13 – Case Study: Why 3 Properties Could Be Enough for Retirement
17:57 – The Secret to Spotting Growth Markets
19:42 – Do Kids Affect Your Borrowing Power?
21:23 – Is Buying in Melbourne Worth It Right Now?
23:03 – Where to Connect with Arjun

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

Arjun’s Property Podcast – The Property Nerds: https://www.investorkit.com.au/podcasts/

CONNECT WITH ARJUN PALIWAL

Website: https://www.investorkit.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arjpaliwal/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertybuyersagent/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@investorkit

CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB

Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat
Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/

TAKEAWAYS

• The new 5% deposit scheme lets first home buyers enter the market with as little as ~$42k saved.

• Government incentives almost always push property prices higher over time.

• The right first home should also stack up as a strong investment, not just a place close to your favourite café.

• Paying down your mortgage isn’t always the best move, debt recycling can free up equity while still reducing debt.

• You don’t need 10 properties to retire, three well-chosen ones plus super can be enough.

• Competition signals growth: strong auction clearance rates and low supply are your best friends.

• Children, credit cards, and student loans all reduce borrowing capacity.
  Melbourne is in recovery, but buyers need to be prepared for negative cash flow.

SOUND BITES

“Think you need $160k to buy an $800k property? Think again, with the new 5% deposit scheme, it could be just $42k.”
“The longer you wait, the harder it gets. Incentives like this push prices up, timing matters.”
“Don’t assume you need 10 properties to retire. For one couple, three well-chosen properties plus super was enough.”
“If you’re buying just because it’s close to your favourite coffee shop, you’re not investing, you’re gambling.”
“Competition is your best friend in property. Where there’s competition, there’s growth.”
“Yes, kids affect your borrowing power, banks count them as dependents, and it can reduce what you can borrow.”
“Melbourne hasn’t grown much in six years. That means opportunity but you’ll need to stomach negative cash flow.”

TRANSCRIPT

KEYWORDS

property market, first home buyers, investment strategies, mortgage advice, property trends, real estate, market update, financial planning, home buying tips, investment properties