With so many first home buyer schemes and lender policies to navigate, having someone in your corner makes the process far less overwhelming.
Meet Mel and the Zest team, who've helped hundreds of first home buyers get the keys to their own place.
Buying your first home means getting across deposit requirements, lender's mortgage insurance and schemes like the First Home Guarantee, and each of these varies between lenders. Not every lender takes part in every scheme, and policies on things like gifted deposits and guarantors differ as well. Knowing where you stand early makes house hunting far less overwhelming.
We explain your options in plain language and compare 60+ lenders to find the right fit for your deposit and budget. We are local brokers based in Springfield, helping first home buyers across Springfield and Ipswich.
At Zest Mortgage Solutions, we believe buying your first home should be just as exciting as it is simple. Here are a few recent Zest Google reviews we think you'll love!
A quick chat with Mel & the team works out your borrowing power and what a repayment could look like on your first home. No cost, no obligation.
Deposit requirements, lender's mortgage insurance and eligibility for schemes like the First Home Guarantee vary between lenders. We compare across 60+ to find the right fit.
Once approved, we guide you through pre-approval and settlement so you know exactly what to expect at each step of buying your first home.
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Our first home loan service suits anyone buying their first home who wants help understanding the process, from deposits and government support to choosing a loan. We explain each step in plain English. Getting a pre-approval early is a good first step.
Every lender is different, so we'll confirm the exact list for your situation before you apply.
Springfield, Redbank Plains, Ripley and Bellbird Park are popular with first home buyers looking for value and newer homes. Some government support is only available for new builds, so the type of property you buy can make a real difference to your costs.
Most of the first home buyers we help in Springfield and Ipswich are weighing up three things: how much deposit they need, whether they will pay lenders mortgage insurance, and which government support they can use. These are the main schemes we check for you.
5% Deposit Scheme (First Home Guarantee). This federal scheme lets eligible first home buyers purchase with a deposit from 5% without paying lenders mortgage insurance, through participating lenders. Since 1 October 2025 there is no cap on places and no income test, but property price caps apply: in Queensland the cap is $1,000,000 in Brisbane and regional centres and $700,000 elsewhere. Our guide to how the 5% Deposit Scheme works covers the details, including the Family Home Guarantee for single parents.
Queensland First Home Owner Grant. The Queensland Revenue Office pays a $30,000 grant to eligible first home buyers who buy or build a new home valued under $750,000. It does not apply to established homes, so the type of property you choose matters. Many first buyers in suburbs such as Ripley, Redbank Plains and Springfield Lakes look at new homes or house and land for this reason.
Rules and caps change, so we confirm the current position with the official sources before you sign anything. We also check which lenders take part in each scheme, how they treat gifted deposits and HECS-HELP, and whether a family guarantee could help. Our guides on saving a house deposit and how much a first home buyer can borrow are a good place to start.
Want to talk it through? Book a free chat with Mel and the Zest team, or call (07) 3461 6499.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for the Queensland First Home Owner Grant on new homes, stamp duty concessions, and federal schemes that let eligible buyers purchase with a smaller deposit without LMI. Eligibility rules change, so we check what applies to you.
You'll need a deposit plus buying costs such as stamp duty (if it applies), legal fees and inspections. Some schemes allow a deposit as low as 5% for eligible buyers.
Yes, lenders factor in your HECS-HELP repayments, which can reduce how much you can borrow.
Some lenders accept gifted funds or a family guarantee, where a family member uses equity in their home as extra security.
Often, yes. They are separate schemes run by different governments, so an eligible buyer of a new home may be able to use both. Each has its own eligibility rules and price limits, so we check them for your purchase.
No. In Queensland the grant is for new homes, including homes you build and homes that have not been lived in before. Buyers of established homes may still use other support, such as the 5% Deposit Scheme.
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"Thank-you! As first home owners we were very unsure of the process. However, from our very first encounter with Mel, we felt comfortable and certain that we had chosen the right broker for us. Ashleigh helped us through the application process and was always prompt with emails/ phone calls and more than willing to answer our questions. You guys truly are amazing 🤩"
"Thanks to the fantastic team at Zest Mortgage Solutions. They made an incredibly complex business investment purchase extremely easy for us and kept us up to date with the process as it moved forward. I would highly recommend them and will be utilising their services in the future."
"Mel and the team have been amazing throughout the entire process. We were constantly informed and nothing was too difficult. It really couldn't have been a better experience. We would highly recommend Zest Mortgage Solutions!"
"Mel and the team at Zest Mortgage Solutions make the process of buying a house easy, there was always someone there to assist or answer questions - even during the festive season 😊 thanks team, 💯 recommend"
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"As a single mother, I never thought in a million years I could own my own home. Melissa and her team made the process so easy and stress free. I can’t thank them enough for making my dreams come true. No question was to dumb and they never made me feel like I was bothering them with all my calls for clarification! Would 10/10 recommend them to anyone looking to purchase a house."
