Parents Swap Cash Gifts for Professional Expertise as Property Market Grows Fiercer

Australian parents are changing how they support their adult children into the property market. Rather than handing over large cash deposits or signing on as loan guarantors, a growing number are choosing to fund professional buyers' agents instead — a quieter but arguably more strategic form of financial backing.

According to Melinda Jennison, president of the Real Estate Buyers Agent Association of Australia (REBAA), there has been a steady uptick in first-home buyers arriving at inspections and auctions backed by parent-funded advocates. As she explained to The Courier Mail, "instead of stepping in with cash or loan guarantees, parents are choosing to invest in expertise that helps their children buy well from day one."

Jennison described the trend as part of a broader evolution in how families think about intergenerational support — one driven by the complexity and competitiveness of today's housing landscape. The shift is particularly noticeable among fathers supporting daughters entering the market, who want someone experienced in their corner during negotiations and at auction.

The appeal of a buyers' agent goes beyond just bidding. Professional negotiators can sometimes achieve lower purchase prices and better contract terms, and can also unlock off-market and pre-market listings that never appear on the major property portals — meaning the agent's fee may, in some cases, be partially offset by the outcome.

The trend reflects a wider picture painted by recent data. Finder's First Home Buyer Report 2025 found that nearly one in five first-home buyers relied on family financial support to save their deposit, up from 11 per cent in 2022 — with around 20,000 Australians a year receiving funds from the so-called "Bank of Mum and Dad."

For those families who do provide support, the benefits can be substantial. Buyers who received parental assistance were typically two years younger when they entered the market and had significantly more savings left over after purchase than those who bought without help.

What's shifting now is the form that support takes. Rather than simply transferring money, parents appear to be investing in outcomes — paying for expert guidance that navigates a market where competition, pricing pressure, and access to good stock remain formidable challenges for the uninitiated.

Based on reporting originally published in The Courier Mail / realestate.com.au (February 20, 2026) Additional data: Finder's First Home Buyer Report 2025, via realestatebusiness.com.au.

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