This year brought good news for first home buyers with reforms to the first home buyers grant that came into effect in January removing one of the biggest upfront costs making it easier to get a foothold on the property ladder. The new First Home Buyer Choice means buyers can choose between an annual land tax fee or an upfront stamp duty payment for the purchase of property up to $1.5m. First home buyers who chose to pay the property tax would avoid a lumpsum stamp duty payment which they could redirect to their deposit. More good news is there are plenty of top opportunities in the east for those looking to own their own place, so we’ve rounded up six of the best.

We have a great selection in Randwick, one of the most connected suburbs in the east and Daniel Cachia’s listing at 13/27 Prince Street, Randwick is perfect for lovers of Art Deco architecture. The sunny two-bedroom top floor apartment is on the edge of Centennial Park and just 350m to the light rail and comes with a guide of $750,000. Around the corner from Frenchmans Road village, 9/32 Dutruc Street Randwick is a fully renovated two-bedroom apartment in Belvedere Gardens with a northerly outlook over a sunny pool and a lock-up garage and a guide of $925,000.

A beach pad isn’t out of reach either with Charlie Beaumont’s listing at 4/1A Edward Street, Bondi Beach a standout opportunity just 400m to the sand and surf. With a guide of $850,000 the oversized one-bedroom apartment opens to a huge entertainer’s terrace and comes with parking and access to a common rooftop where you can kick back and soak up the panoramic views that sweep across one of the world’s most famous beaches all the way to the harbour.

Design savvy buyers looking to buy a contemporary apartment should check out Tristan Oddi’s new listing at 933/1 Studio Drive, Eastgardens in Meriton’s acclaimed Pagewood Green. Opposite the landscaped Central Park, the high-spec two-bedroom apartment comes with parking and superb hotel-style facilities with Westfield’s retail hub right next door and a guide of $870,000 – $930,000.

A rare affordable entry into the exclusive Double Bay market is Sean Poche’s listing at 18/20 Ocean Avenue, Double Bay. Unique in a boutique Art Deco block, the bright and airy ground floor apartment features its own private entry and comes with a guide of $500,000 making it one of the best entries into this cosmopolitan harbour village we’ve seen in years.

On the edge of Rose Bay harbour, Vince Licata’s listing at 9/859 New South Head Road, Rose Bay is perfect for those seeking a relaxed harbour village lifestyle. With a guide of $900,000, the stylishly renovated two-bedroom apartment holds a peaceful setting to the rear of a boutique block of just 10 and is in a ready to move straight in.

We have plenty more opportunities across the east that will tempt first home buyers so check our website or call one of our agents to help you find the perfect place to call your own.

This week the sales team secured 16 sales with an average price of $3.2m and listed 18 new properties and the management team secure 14 tenancies and listed 6 new properties for lease.