The First Home Playbook

Jaleesa Paine

Buying your first home in Australia feels harder than ever - priced out, confused by the process, unsure who to trust, and wondering if you’ll ever actually get there. The First Home Playbook is a space where we ditch the shame, remove the overwhelm, and talk about real strategies that help everyday Aussies who want to buy their first place… but don’t know where to start. Hosted by an ex-mortgage broker turned first home buyer’s coach and author, this podcast blends money mindset, finance foundations, property pathways, outside-the-box solutions, industry insight, and real stories that prove home ownership is still possible in 2026 and beyond - when you know how. You’ll learn how to navigate first home buyer grants and schemes - including the 5% Deposit Scheme (First Home Guarantee), First Home Super Saver Scheme, and Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme - plus the checklists, saving strategies and borrowing confidence you need to buy your first place. These episodes give you practical, actionable steps, plus the clarity, confidence, and courage you need to move forward - without sacrificing your lifestyle. If you want first home buyer tips, guidance you can trust, and a mentor who feels like a calm big-sis to support you through the whole home buying journey, you’re in the right place. Hit subscribe so you don't miss an episode, follow along on socials @jaleesapaine, and head to www.jaleesapaine.com for tools, guides, and support to help you buy your first home with clarity and confidence.

  1. 3d ago

    Why Do Money Conversations Always End in a Fight?

    Ever tried to talk about money with your partner (or anyone for that matter) and somehow ended up in a full blown argument twenty minutes later? Or maybe you avoid the conversation altogether because it never seems to go anywhere good anyway?If you can relate to either of those, you're not alone. Talking about money is tricky territory and can feel really hard.  In this episode, I share the exact tool I've used with her husband for the past 16+ years to turn heated, chaotic money conversations into productive ones. From listening to this podcast episode, you'll learn: Why we run money meetings How you can use this simple, repeatable 6 step process with a partner, your kids, on your own, or even with your boss How to structure a money meeting so it never spirals into a fight The exact framework to talk through any money topic How to close every money conversation feeling like a team, not opponents Plus why booking your next money meeting is the step most people skip - and why it matters If you're ready to stop avoiding the "money talk" and start building real financial confidence with the people in your life, this episode is for you. 👉🏽 Want more support? If you’d like support with your journey into home owership, you'll find so much support, resources and practical guidence inside my online education course The First Home Finance Formula.Inside the program I walk you through both the finance and the feelings - giving you tools and strategies to powerfully navigate the finance process and emotional rollercoaster that many first home buyers find themselves in. You also get access to live monthly coaching - it's amazing! Learn more here➡️ Let's Connect! Follow me on Instagram: @jaleesapaineGet tools, guides & support: www.jaleesapaine.com 🎧 If you enjoyed this episode Hit Subscribe so you don’t miss next Tuesday’s episode!And feel free to share it with someone else on the path to their first home.

    Why Do Money Conversations Always End in a Fight?
  2. Jul 20

    You're Not Bad With Money. Here's Why

    Have you ever looked at your bank account and thought, Why do I keep doing this? Maybe you spend money as soon as it lands in your account, avoid checking your bank balance, or save every dollar you can because spending doesn't feel safe... Whatever behaviours you repeat, if you do it for long enough, they can feel like they're just part of who we are. But what if they're not? In this episode, we're exploring: the money patterns you repeat on autopilot  why you do it, and where your patterns came from plus how you can begin to change the ones that are no longer serving you. I'll also share a personal money belief I uncovered recently, and how using the Money Pattern Interrupter tool helped me shift it.     👉🏽 Want more support? If you’d like support with your journey into home owership, you'll find so much support, resources and practical guidence inside my online education course The First Home Finance Formula.Inside the program I walk you through both the finance and the feelings - giving you tools and strategies to powerfully navigate the finance process and emotional rollercoaster that many first home buyers find themselves in. You also get access to live monthly coaching - it's amazing! Learn more here➡️ Let's Connect! Follow me on Instagram: @jaleesapaineGet tools, guides & support: www.jaleesapaine.com 🎧 If you enjoyed this episode Hit Subscribe so you don’t miss next Tuesday’s episode!And feel free to share it with someone else on the path to their first home.

    You're Not Bad With Money. Here's Why
  3. Jul 6

    Who's Pulling You Back From Buying?

    Have you ever shared your dream of buying your first home with someone, only to walk away wishing that you hadn't? In today's episode, I'm sharing one of the most important life lessons my dad has ever taught me,  and how it can help you on your journey to buying your first home. It's a story about a remote village in Papua New Guinea, woven baskets, land crabs, and this lesson that has stayed with me for nearly two decades. In this episode, you'll learn: Why not everyone has to understand your dream How other people's fears and opinions can unintentionally hold you back Plus why it's so important to protect your dream, especially when you're just getting started.   👉🏽 Want more support? If you’d like support with your journey into home owership, you'll find so much support, resources and practical guidence inside my online education course The First Home Finance Formula.Inside the program I walk you through both the finance and the feelings - giving you tools and strategies to powerfully navigate the finance process and emotional rollercoaster that many first home buyers find themselves in. You also get access to live monthly coaching - it's amazing! Learn more here➡️ Let's Connect! Follow me on Instagram: @jaleesapaineGet tools, guides & support: www.jaleesapaine.com 🎧 If you enjoyed this episode Hit Subscribe so you don’t miss next Tuesday’s episode!And feel free to share it with someone else on the path to their first home.

    Who's Pulling You Back From Buying?
  4. Jun 29

    Six Months In... Are You Still on Track to Buy?

    We are officially halfway through the year, and if buying your first home is a goal you've set for this year, this episode is your permission slip to pause, take stock, and make sure the second half  counts. In this episode, I'll walk you through five powerful questions to guide your mid-year check-in, so you can see exactly where you're at, celebrate how far you've come, and know what actions to take in the next six months. Here's what you'll get in this episode: A simple framework to review your home buying goals and see how you're tracking Permission to reassess and make adjustments if your goals have shifted Clarity on what's holding you back and what you can do about it Plus how to create a practical action plan - with deadlines and accountability built in - so the second half of your year is intentional, not accidental 👉🏽 Want more support? If you’d like support with your journey into home owership, you'll find so much support, resources and practical guidence inside my online education course The First Home Finance Formula.Inside the program I walk you through both the finance and the feelings - giving you tools and strategies to powerfully navigate the finance process and emotional rollercoaster that many first home buyers find themselves in. You also get access to live monthly coaching - it's amazing! Learn more here➡️ Let's Connect! Follow me on Instagram: @jaleesapaineGet tools, guides & support: www.jaleesapaine.com 🎧 If you enjoyed this episode Hit Subscribe so you don’t miss next Tuesday’s episode! And feel free to share it with someone else on the path to their first home.

    Six Months In... Are You Still on Track to Buy?
  5. Jun 22

    Setbacks Don't Stop You. Stories Do.

    If you're on your first home buying journey and you've just been knocked back - lost at auction, had an offer rejected, found out your borrowing capacity isn't what you hoped - this one's for you.In this episode, I'm sharing three simple but powerful lessons to help you deal with the emotional rollercoaster of buying your first property, so that when the hard moments come (and they will), you'll know exactly how to deal with them. What you'll walk away with: Why the people who eventually become homeowners aren't always the richest or the smartest  A three-step framework to move through setbacks without letting them take you out of the game  How to spot the difference between the facts and the stories you're telling yourself The kinds of questions to ask yourself after a setback that create momentum instead of staying stuck Plus permission to feel the hard feelings - and a practical way to make sure you don't stay there too long  👉🏽 Want more support?If you’d like support with your journey into home owership, you'll find so much support, resources and practical guidence inside my online education course The First Home Finance Formula.Inside the program I walk you through both the finance and the feelings - giving you tools and strategies to powerfully navigate the finance process and emotional rollercoaster that many first home buyers find themselves in. You also get access to live monthly coaching - it's amazing! Learn more here ➡️ Let's Connect!Follow me on Instagram: @jaleesapaine Get tools, guides & support: www.jaleesapaine.com 🎧 If you enjoyed this episode Hit Subscribe so you don’t miss next Tuesday’s episode! And feel free to share it with someone else on the path to their first home.

    Setbacks Don't Stop You. Stories Do.
  6. Jun 15

    It's Not How Much You Earn - It's What You Do With It

    If you've ever caught yourself thinking "I just don't earn enough to buy a home" - this episode is for you. Because while your income absolutely plays a role, it is not the whole story. And today I'm sharing two real client stories from my mortgage broking days that prove exactly why. In this episode you'll walk away with: Why a higher income doesn't automatically mean you can buy property - and what actually determines whether you can The timeless money principle that changes how you think about your finances A simple 3-question audit you can do right now to get really honest about where your money is going and whether it's aligned with what you actually want 📚 Interested in my children's Money Lesson Books?You can learn more about My Money Lesson From Miss Money Bags (and the other books in the series) here.  👉🏽 Want more support? If you’d like support with your journey into home owership, you'll find so much support, resources and practical guidence inside my online education course The First Home Finance Formula. Inside the program I walk you through both the finance and the feelings - giving you tools and strategies to powerfully navigate the finance process and emotional rollercoaster that many first home buyers find themselves in. You also get access to live monthly coaching - it's amazing! Learn more here ➡️ Let's Connect! Follow me on Instagram: @jaleesapaine Get tools, guides & support: www.jaleesapaine.com 🎧 If you enjoyed this episode Hit Subscribe so you don’t miss next Tuesday’s episode! And feel free to share it with someone else on the path to their first home.

    It's Not How Much You Earn - It's What You Do With It
  7. Jun 8

    Stop Waiting For The Right Time. Pick A Date Instead.

    If you've been asking yourself whether now is the right time to buy - whether you should wait for prices to drop, rates to change, or your savings to grow a little more - this episode is for you. Because the truth is, waiting for the "right time" might be the very thing keeping you stuck. Today we're talking about why picking a date is one of the most powerful moves you can make as a first home buyer, and how to do it even when you have no idea how you're going to get there. What you'll walk away with: Why so many first home buyers avoid picking a date (and what it's actually costing them) Why you don't need to know the "how" before you pick a date My own story of setting an audacious goal at 17 to become a home owner by the time I was 20 (and what happened when I missed that date) Plus 3 practical steps you can take right now to help you create your home buying timeline   👉🏽 Want more support? If you’d like support with your journey into home owership, you'll find so much support, resources and practical guidence inside my online education course The First Home Finance Formula. Inside the program I walk you through both the finance and the feelings - giving you tools and strategies to powerfully navigate the finance process and emotional rollercoaster that many first home buyers find themselves in. You also get access to live monthly coaching - it's amazing! Learn more here➡️ Let's Connect! Follow me on Instagram: @jaleesapaine Get tools, guides & support: www.jaleesapaine.com 🎧 If you enjoyed this episodeHit Subscribe so you don’t miss next Tuesday’s episode! And feel free to share it with someone else on the path to their first home.

    Stop Waiting For The Right Time. Pick A Date Instead.

About

Buying your first home in Australia feels harder than ever - priced out, confused by the process, unsure who to trust, and wondering if you’ll ever actually get there. The First Home Playbook is a space where we ditch the shame, remove the overwhelm, and talk about real strategies that help everyday Aussies who want to buy their first place… but don’t know where to start. Hosted by an ex-mortgage broker turned first home buyer’s coach and author, this podcast blends money mindset, finance foundations, property pathways, outside-the-box solutions, industry insight, and real stories that prove home ownership is still possible in 2026 and beyond - when you know how. You’ll learn how to navigate first home buyer grants and schemes - including the 5% Deposit Scheme (First Home Guarantee), First Home Super Saver Scheme, and Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme - plus the checklists, saving strategies and borrowing confidence you need to buy your first place. These episodes give you practical, actionable steps, plus the clarity, confidence, and courage you need to move forward - without sacrificing your lifestyle. If you want first home buyer tips, guidance you can trust, and a mentor who feels like a calm big-sis to support you through the whole home buying journey, you’re in the right place. Hit subscribe so you don't miss an episode, follow along on socials @jaleesapaine, and head to www.jaleesapaine.com for tools, guides, and support to help you buy your first home with clarity and confidence.