How should I plan my first home if my parents will come to stay?

Two months in Melbourne

In November 2025 I dropped Dad off after two months with us in Melbourne. He's in his late 70s and uses a wheelchair. He still chose to travel thousands of kilometres to be with family and the grandkids.

We support family back home and build a life here at the same time. Advice that ignores either side is incomplete.

What a pre-approval can't see

A lender sees your income and your debts. It doesn't see three months of extra people at the dinner table, flights home when someone's unwell, or the room you'll need to keep spare. Those belong in your plan before you choose a home.

Questions to ask about the home

• Is there a bedroom and bathroom they can use without stairs?
• Can they get around easily on the days you're at work? Shops, a park, a temple, transport.
• Is there space for everyone to have a little privacy for a few months?
• If they might live with you one day, could the home work for that?

Questions to ask about the money

• Can the budget carry flights, visitor health cover and a few months of extra household costs?
• Does your buffer cover a trip home at short notice?
• If parents may move here permanently one day, what would that need? Visa rules are complex, so talk to a registered migration agent.

Plan for two generations, and the home works for all of you.

Related questions

• How much should I spend on my first home?
• Should my first home be my dream home?
• What do first home buyers miss that costs them later?

This is general information, not personal advice. Rules change, so check what applies to you now.