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First Home Buyers

Government grants &
schemes, explained.

Navigating first home buyer support shouldn't feel like a maze. Below we break down every major federal and state grant or scheme currently available, what it actually means for you, and where to go for the official details.

First Home Guarantee (FHBG)

A federal scheme, administered by Housing Australia, that lets eligible first home buyers purchase with as little as a 5% deposit and pay no Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The government guarantees up to 15% of the property value, so lenders treat the loan as if you had a full 20% deposit. You're still borrowing 95% of the purchase price — the guarantee simply removes the LMI cost and gets you into the market sooner.

Recent changes: from 1 October 2025, the income caps that previously applied ($125,000 for individuals, $200,000 for couples) were removed entirely, along with the annual cap on the number of places. Property price caps were also lifted significantly.

No income caps and no limit on places
5% deposit, no LMI — accessed through a participating lender, not directly through Housing Australia
Property price caps apply and vary by region — Sydney up to $1,500,000, Brisbane and Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast up to $1,000,000, Melbourne/Geelong up to $950,000, Perth up to $850,000
Must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, 18 or over, and a genuine first home buyer (limited exceptions apply if you haven't owned property in Australia for 10+ years)

Check current price caps at firsthomebuyers.gov.au ↗

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First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

A one-off, tax-free cash payment from your state or territory government to help first home buyers purchase or build a brand new home. Unlike the First Home Guarantee, the FHOG only applies to new or substantially renovated properties — established homes don't qualify. The amount and the property price cap differ from state to state.

NSW: $10,000 for new homes up to $600,000, or house & land packages up to $750,000 combined
QLD: $30,000 for contracts signed by 30 June 2026 on new homes valued under $750,000 (reverting to $15,000 from 1 July 2026)
VIC: $10,000 for new homes up to $750,000
Not means-tested — your income doesn't affect eligibility, but you and your spouse/partner must never have owned residential property in Australia
You must move in within 12 months and live there continuously for the required period (6–12 months depending on contract date and state)

Click your state below for the official grant page:

ACT ↗ NSW ↗ NT ↗ QLD ↗ SA ↗ TAS ↗ VIC ↗ WA ↗

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Stamp Duty Concessions & Exemptions

As a first home buyer, you may be entitled to a full exemption or a concessional rate on transfer duty (commonly known as stamp duty). Unlike the FHOG, these concessions usually apply to both new and established homes, and are administered separately in each state.

NSW (First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme): full exemption for homes up to $800,000, concessional rate between $800,000 and $1,000,000; vacant land exempt under $350,000 with concessions up to $450,000
QLD (First Home Concession): available on homes valued at $800,000 or less; new home concession can reduce duty to zero
VIC: full exemption up to $600,000, concession between $600,001 and $750,000
You and your spouse/partner must never have owned residential property in Australia or previously received this concession
Usually requires moving in within 12 months and living there for a minimum continuous period

Click your state below for the official concession page:

ACT ↗ NSW ↗ NT ↗ QLD ↗ SA ↗ TAS ↗ VIC ↗ WA ↗

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First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

Lets you save for your first home deposit inside your super fund, where contributions are taxed more favourably than regular savings. You can make voluntary (salary sacrifice or personal) contributions of up to $15,000 per financial year, then withdraw them — plus deemed earnings, less tax — to put towards your deposit.

Maximum withdrawal across all years is $50,000 per individual
Only voluntary contributions count — your employer's compulsory super guarantee contributions can't be withdrawn under this scheme
Applications go through the ATO and your super fund, and processing can take 15–25 business days, so start early
Can be combined with the First Home Guarantee, FHOG and stamp duty concessions

This scheme has real tax and timing implications — we'd recommend speaking with your accountant or financial planner alongside your broker before relying on it.

See the ATO's FHSSS page ↗

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Family Home Guarantee (FHG)

A federal scheme administered by Housing Australia, designed to support eligible single parents and single legal guardians with at least one dependent child in purchasing a family home. You don't need to be a first home buyer to qualify — previous owners who don't currently own a home are also eligible.

Buy with as little as a 2% deposit, with the government guaranteeing up to 18% — no LMI required
Must be single (no spouse or de facto partner) with at least one dependent child
Must be an Australian citizen, 18 or over
Same regional property price caps apply as under the First Home Guarantee

See the Housing Australia FHG page ↗

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Help to Buy

A newer federal shared-equity scheme. The Commonwealth Government contributes up to 30% of the purchase price for an existing home, or up to 40% for a new build, in exchange for an equivalent equity share in your property. This reduces the size of the loan you need, and therefore your repayments — but when you sell, the government receives its proportional share of the sale price, not just its original contribution.

Means-tested — singles must earn under $100,000 and couples/single parents under $160,000 combined
You can't use Help to Buy and the First Home Guarantee on the same purchase — it's one or the other
Limited places available each year, accessed through a growing panel of participating lenders
Can still be combined with the FHOG and stamp duty concessions where eligible

Help to Buy and the First Home Guarantee suit different circumstances — we can model both side by side to show which gets you into your first home sooner.

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Grant amounts, price caps and eligibility criteria are reviewed periodically by government and can change without notice. The figures above reflect our understanding as at mid-2026 and are general information only — they don't take your personal circumstances into account. Always confirm current details with the relevant state revenue office or Housing Australia, and speak with us before relying on any scheme for your purchase.

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