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First home buyers · Australia

First home buyer grants and schemes in Australia

Start with the state where you are buying, the type of home and each buyer’s residency. Each scheme checks these separately.

On this page

National schemes

Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme

Previously called the First Home Guarantee, this scheme helps eligible buyers purchase with a deposit from 5% without lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). The government guarantee supports the loan; it does not pay your deposit.

  • Australian citizen or permanent resident, aged 18 or over (tested at the home loan date).
  • First home buyer, or have not owned a property or land in Australia in the last 10 years.
  • Deposit of at least 5% and less than 20%; the Government guarantees up to 15% of the property value, so no LMI is payable.
  • Owner-occupier; principal and interest loan up to 30 years; on your own or jointly with one other person.
  • No income caps and no limit on places since 1 October 2025.
  • Apply through a Participating Lender (or a broker who uses one).
5% Deposit Scheme property price caps
State / territoryCapital / listed centresOther areas
NSW$1,500,000$800,000
VIC$950,000$650,000
QLD$1,000,000$700,000
WA$850,000$600,000
SA$900,000$500,000
TAS$700,000$550,000
ACT$1,000,000$1,000,000
NT$750,000$600,000
Effective 1 July 2026; checked against Housing Australia on 26 October 2026. Official caps.

Capital-city caps also apply in these regional centres — NSW: Central Coast, Coffs Harbour–Grafton, Illawarra, Mid North Coast, Richmond–Tweed, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie; VIC: Geelong; QLD: Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Caps are set by suburb and postcode — confirm with the official postcode tool.

Both the purchase price and the lender's valuation must be at or below the cap. When building on vacant land with separate contracts, land price plus build cost must be under the cap.

Help to Buy

Status: open; opened 5 December 2025. All applicants must be Australian citizens (permanent residents are not eligible), aged 18 or over. The minimum deposit is 2%, with government equity of up to 30% for established homes or 40% for new homes. You must live in the home. This is shared equity, with ongoing obligations.

For 2026-27, income caps are $103,000 for a single applicant and $165,000 for joint applicants or $165,000 for a single parent. Must not own or beneficially own any property in Australia or overseas (exceptions for single parents). Can be combined with state stamp duty concessions and grants, not with state shared-equity schemes.

Help to Buy has separate property caps. Check the Help to Buy postcode tool. Checked against Housing Australia on 26 October 2026.

First Home Super Saver

Eligible voluntary super contributions can count towards a first home deposit, up to $15,000 per financial year and $50,000 overall, plus associated earnings. Check the release rules before relying on these funds. Verified 26 October 2026.

Compare all eight states and territories

This summary covers homes, with separate land rules in each state guide. Grants are separate from duty savings. Residence requirements, ownership history and transaction dates still apply.

First home assistance by property location
State guideFHB duty reliefFHOG / new-home grantForeign surcharge
NSW

New or established: exempt to $800,000; reduced duty below $1,000,000.

$10,000. New homes only. Purchase up to $600,000. Land + build: $750,000. 9%
VIC

New or established: exempt to $600,000; reduced duty below $750,000.

$10,000. New homes only. Purchase up to $750,000. 8%
QLD

Established: exempt to $700,000; reduced duty below $800,000.

New homes only: exempt, no value cap.

$30,000. New homes only. Purchase below $750,000. 8%
WA

New or established: exempt to $600,000; reduced duty to $800,000.

$10,000. New homes only. Purchase up to $800,000. North of the 26th parallel: $1,000,000. 7%
SA

New homes only: exempt, no value cap.

$15,000. New homes only. No price cap. 7%
TASNo current general first home duty concession. See state guide for other relief.$20,000. New homes only. No price cap. Eligible transaction before 1 July 2027.8%
ACT

New or established: exempt, no value cap.

No current FHOG.None on duty
NTNo current general first home duty concession. See state guide for other relief.$50,000. New homes only. No price cap. Eligible transaction before 1 October 2027.None on duty
Checked against state revenue sources on 26 October 2026; sources below. Surcharges apply to foreign interests under each state’s definition, subject to exemptions.

Who is eligible

Citizens still need to meet ownership, occupancy and property tests. Permanent residents can meet the federal deposit scheme’s residency requirement, but Help to Buy requires citizenship. State concessions have their own tests; a visa label alone does not determine the result.

For temporary residency, start with the 491, 482, partner or bridging visa guide. Check each co-buyer’s status and any overseas ownership before choosing a scheme. The state guide explains its residency conditions.

Turn the scheme check into a purchase budget

Use the step-by-step first home buying process for preparation, pre-approval and settlement. For the numbers, open your state guide or the stamp duty calculator. Keep conveyancing, inspections and other purchase costs in the budget alongside your deposit.

First home buyer questions

Is the First Home Owner Grant the same as a duty exemption?

No. The grant contributes money towards an eligible purchase or build. A duty exemption removes transfer duty. They have separate eligibility and property tests, so qualifying for one does not establish eligibility for the other.

Can I get help when buying an established home?

Some state duty concessions and federal schemes cover established homes. The current grants listed here are for new homes. Check the property type before including a grant in your deposit budget.

Does a scheme price cap tell me what I can borrow?

No. It limits eligible properties. A lender separately assesses income, expenses, debts, the deposit and the property valuation. Allow for purchase costs as well as the deposit.

Where do I start with the application?

Use our step-by-step first home buying guide for the process, documents and settlement preparation. Use the state guides here to check the assistance attached to the property.

Check which assistance fits your purchase

Bring your property budget, savings and residency details. Sulav can help check the available schemes and the cash needed for settlement.

Book a consultation0416 066 954

Sources

Official rules and their verification dates. Recheck eligibility and contract dates before committing.

  1. 5% Deposit Scheme property price capsHousing Australia · Checked
  2. Deposit scheme eligibilityHousing Australia · Checked
  3. Help to Buy schemeHousing Australia · Checked
  4. Help to Buy income thresholdsHousing Australia · Checked
  5. First Home Super Saver SchemeHousing Australia · Checked
  6. First Home Buyers Assistance SchemeRevenue NSW · Checked
  7. First Home Owner (New Homes) GrantRevenue NSW · Checked
  8. NSW: foreign purchaser dutyRevenue NSW · Checked
  9. First home buyer duty exemption or concessionState Revenue Office Victoria · Checked
  10. First Home Owner GrantState Revenue Office Victoria · Checked
  11. VIC: foreign purchaser dutyState Revenue Office Victoria · Checked
  12. First home concessionQueensland Revenue Office · Checked
  13. QLD: First home (new home) concessionQueensland Revenue Office · Checked
  14. First home owner grant: eligibilityQueensland Revenue Office · Checked
  15. Additional foreign acquirer duty: assessingQueensland Revenue Office · Checked
  16. WA: First home owner rate of duty (home)RevenueWA · Checked
  17. WA: First Home Owner GrantRevenueWA · Checked
  18. WA: foreign purchaser dutyRevenueWA · Checked
  19. SA: First home buyer stamp duty reliefRevenueSA · Checked
  20. SA: First Home Owner GrantRevenueSA · Checked
  21. SA: foreign purchaser dutyRevenueSA · Checked
  22. First home buyers of established homes duty relief (ended)State Revenue Office Tasmania · Checked
  23. First Home Owner Grant: eligibilityState Revenue Office Tasmania · Checked
  24. TAS: foreign purchaser dutyState Revenue Office Tasmania · Checked
  25. ACT: Home Buyer Concession SchemeACT Legislation Register · Checked
  26. First Home Owner Grant (closed)ACT Revenue Office · Checked
  27. ACT: foreign purchaser dutyACT Legislation Register · Checked
  28. NT: duty and concessionsNorthern Territory Government · Checked
  29. NT: HomeGrown Territory Grant (First Home Owner Grant)Northern Territory Government · Checked
  30. Stamp Duty Act 1978 (NT)NT Legislation · Checked