Hi Louise,
I see your dilemma of buying it outright and having to wait for a few years. The question you have to ask is:
1. How long will it take you to save it up ?
2. How much interest are you getting in your savings?
If you buy an investment property now:
Scenario 1. Basic Example of current Investment property Available
You pay a deposit of 10% for a property worth $300000.
Initial outlay : $30k + Stamp duty + Legal Costs = $35k, if you are a FHB.
Rental Return : $340/week = $17680
Capital Growth: 6%, which is currently for this investment. : $18000/yr
Interest Expense : 5% = 15000/yr

In simple words : by investing $35k now, based on above assumptions(which can be verified)
over the period of next 5 years:
Property growth : $390000
Cash flow : it is positively geared.
Depreciation : Not to mention the benefit you gain out of this.
Therefore, either you can keep the money in the bank yielding you interest rates or invest in property every year, finding the investment property like above and make the most of your equity.
In nutshell : $35k in a year invested = gives you $90k over 5 years.
You can always argue on figures above, but they can be verified too. It is the type of Investment products we provide to our clients.
Hopefully you can see the picture and make an informed decision. If you need more information, please ask.
Thanks
Ron

I'd suggest you purchase your home as quickly as possible. When properly evaluating your options, you need to take into account the capital growth of homes over the next couple of years. Whilst you might be earning a small amount of interest you could in fact be earning growth in the form of equity in your first property, simply by owning something appreciating in value because of where you have purchased.
Theres nothing wrong with having a mortgage, especially if you purchase strategically, in a growth corridor and in an appealing area.

Hi Louise,

You may have already decided how to proceed, since my reply is quite late to the party! and if so, good luck with your choice.

Your post has several different aspects to it.

My first observation would be this: You need to be comfortable putting your money (whether its borrowed money or not) wherever you decide to invest or save. If you are not comfortable, and a mortgage is not for you, then don't let anyone tell you it's the only way! It's simply not the case.

Many many Australians are comfortable and happy with one major investment in property (their own home paid for with cash or a mortgage) and their savings invested in superannuation for the long term (retirement) and other investments which they can watch grow to build their wealth and security for the future. Having savings in the bank is a very good thing.

Your first goals in life financially, ought to be to have a financial buffer put aside for rainy days - or when the unexpected happens and you need the cash in a hurry. Mortgages can help you buy property, but they won't provide cash in an emergency if you need it. Typically an adviser would suggest you keep around 6 months of your ordinary living expenses saved away, for those future rainy days, before starting to plan for further investments.

You mention salary sacrifice as an option, but sacrifice to where or what? If I assume you mean superannuation, then its something to consider, however at your age you have plenty of years before you can access any of the money you salary-sacrifice away until age 60 or 65. You just may want those savings before then for your house.

It could be that your answer lies somewhere in between the options you mentioned, depending on your attitude to mortgages. That is, save up a really good, extra-large deposit amount for your own home (not just the minimum) and then obtain a mortgage for the balance required to buy your home. At least when the day comes you are sick of working fly-in and fly-out, you will have an asset to show for your hard work.

Potentially you will be in a situation where you have more flexibility to consider a second property as investment or even something else.

Property prices do rise and they do fall. Interest rates rise and fall. Your income can rise and also fall, depending on mining projects, the economy and personal factors (like starting a family!). property is not a get-rich-quick-scheme and should be looked at from an 8-10 year perspective, at least. Plenty of things can go not-as-expected in that time, and you should be aware of that,

Of course none of this is specific financial advice, but general advice.
Kind Regards
Daniel