With house prices finally plateauing and dropping in some areas, research company Canstar has outlined what would-be first home buyers should consider before putting a foot on the elusive property ladder.
The retail and business finance research company is urging first home buyers to make sure they are properly prepared before they try to enter the market.
"The obvious place for people to start is looking is at mortgage providers, the rates they offer and the services they provide," said Canstar general manager Jose George.
"It's worth putting the time and effort into familiarising yourself with terminology as well as researching current lending rates as getting the best deal can save thousands of dollars in the long run."
While acronyms like LVR (loan-to-value ratio) , DTI (debt-to-income ratio), QV (quotable value), CV (capital value) and LIM (land information memorandum) could seem overwhelming, they are important to come to terms with.