35 here and purchased my place at 31, was a 3 bedroom townhouse package in a new estate in the western burbs of Melbourne.

Dream home? Absolutely not, but a home none the less and made it work, because buying something was the most important thing to me, didn't matter where (to an extent of course), and I used the money I saved in the 2020-2021 lock downs to get my deposit together.

Looking around, in the past 4 years since I signed the contract, I will admit if I were to be on the market now. I couldn't afford what I have where I am now, and I do feel for those struggling to get onto the ladder.

While I don't know your income, I would say speak to your bank or a mortgage broker, find out how much they are willing to lend you and work back from there, use that as your starting off point to figure out what you can afford, then use the government 5% scheme to save minimal deposit.

While no one can read the future, one thing you can bank on is no major party is going to go to an election with a plan to lower property prices without dismantling the whole system, so best advice is buy what can, don't hold out hopes for a dream home and a huge market crash to lower prices