Buying with a 5% deposit may help people enter the market sooner, but it can also leave buyers vulnerable if prices fall or interest rates rise. We examine the risks facing first home buyers.

Not every property market is created equal. Learn the key warning signs of mortgage stress, oversupply and weakening demand that may affect some Victorian suburbs and what smart buyers should look for before committing to a purchase.

The Budget may push investors towards new builds, but once that property becomes second-hand, the next investor may not receive the same tax benefits. That could reduce the resale buyer pool and affect future profit.

Affordable homes and units have been popular with buyers, but Federal Budget changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax may change the market. For Victorian buyers, the question is no longer just whether a property is cheap. It is who will want to buy it from you later.

That backyard studio, converted garage, deck, pergola or small second dwelling may look like a bonus, but if it was built without the right approvals, it may become the buyer’s problem after settlement.

A falling property market does not automatically mean falling council rates. Councils can adjust the rate in the dollar, keep spending, and still collect the revenue they say they need.

Rezoning can increase land value overnight, but it may also trigger Windfall Gains Tax. Here’s what Victorian buyers and sellers need to understand before it becomes an expensive surprise.

Nomination clauses can look simple, but the timing can expose buyers to double duty. Here is what can go wrong and how to structure it properly from the start.