No deposit? No worries!
Non-conforming lenders are helping many into the housing market without a deposit, reports Peter Weekes.

Split decisions
Watch out if you're contemplating one of these home loans. The taxman doesn't like them, reports Christine Long.

Warning over mortgage brokers' hidden traps
First casualty of war: fixed-term home loans set to rise
Why property won't go bust
People power

Get that property

Budget - the easiest way, set up an account with a financial institution that automatically deducts a certain amount from your bank account. Income insurance - because even young people get sick or hurt. And it's tax deductible. Lose the credit card - Even if you have nothing on your card, financial institutions count your credit limit as a debt. Look at property - Learning how to translate agents' quotes into real sales prices takes homework. Research the loans - All mortgages are not born equal. First-home owners grants - There are a couple of first-home owner benefit schemes worth looking at. First-home parental bludge scheme - Your olds are a font of knowledge, wisdom and (with any luck), money. Don't procrastinate - Since the arrival of the First Fleet, industry experts have been predicting a drop in real estate prices, but it never seems to happen. Don't get left behind. Tim Elliott, SMH

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Don't do it

Believe property values always increase This is especially important if you fall for a buy-off-the-plan-and-sell-before-you-settle deal. A favourite of get-rich-quick advisers, you buy a yet-to-be-built apartment at a modest deposit. Nothing wrong with this if you plan to buy the joint. But it's sometimes recommended as a way to make money fast - you "buy" off the plan but pay nothing, then you sell a year later when the property has increased in value. But if the property doesn't go up in value? Or decreases in value? Or you can't sell at all? You're left with a massive financial commitment, and no way to pay. Don't do it. Melinda Houston, Sun-Herald

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