Realty bites: First home buyers face $5K in hidden fees
First home buyers are facing significant expenses even before they receive their keys, according to a new report from Finder.
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Finder's First Home Buyer Report 2025 – based on a survey of 1,006 first home buyers in Australia – revealed 2 in 5 (40%) had to pay for unexpected fees when buying a home.
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From stamp duty to lender's mortgage insurance to conveyancing fees, the average first-time buyer had to fork out $5,290 in unforeseen costs.
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Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, said the total costs of buying a property for the first time can be incredibly overwhelming.
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"Many are stretched to breaking point and hidden costs can quickly create a financial nightmare.
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"We're seeing people drain their savings just to get over the line, which leaves no buffer for hidden fees."
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The report found 1 in 3 (33%) who bought their home in the past 12 months have less than $10,000 remaining in savings.
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A whopping 14% of Australians have no savings left whatsoever.
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Cooke said the deposit is only the beginning.
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"Too often, first home buyers focus solely on the deposit and forget about the thousands in upfront extras.
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"Stamp duty, solicitor fees, insurances, building and pest inspections – they all add up fast. If you don't factor them in, you'll be scrambling."
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Cooke urged prospective buyers to take the time to understand all the costs involved in a property purchase.
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"When you're fully informed, unexpected expenses become expected – and nothing takes you by surprise."
In the purchase process, did you pay any fees that you did not expect or were not informed about?
| Yes | 40% |
| No | 60% |
| Source: Finder's First Home Buyer Report of 1,006 first home buyers, May 2025 |  |
How much money did you have left in your savings (or offset account) after buying your first home?
| $0 | 14% |
| $1–$999 | 2% |
| $1,000–$9,999 | 17% |
| $10,000+ | 67% |
| Source: Finder's First Home Buyer Report of 1,006 first home buyers, 252 of whom have bought their first home in the last 12 months, May 2025 | |
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