how much money do you actually need beyond the deposit before buying

Yeah this is a really good question. A lot of people get to their deposit and then realise there are a few extra costs on top. Your deposit is the big one, but you’ll want a bit of a buffer for the pre-purchase and upfront costs as well. I generally recommend around $5,000 additional funds. Things to allow for are stuff like your lawyer, building report, and sometimes a valuation, depending on the property or...