First Home Buyer Guide Australia 2026: Grants, Schemes and Stamp Duty Exemptions

First Home Buyer Guide Australia 2026: Grants, Schemes and Stamp Duty Exemptions

Buying your first home in Australia in 2026 comes with a genuine suite of government support — grants, loan guarantees, stamp duty concessions, and shared equity schemes. Knowing what you are eligible for before you sign a contract can mean the difference between needing a 20% deposit and getting in with as little as 2%. This guide covers every major scheme available to first home buyers.

Overview: what support is available?

First home buyers in Australia can access support through four main channels:

  1. First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) — a cash grant from the state government, primarily for new builds
  2. First Home Guarantee (FHBG) — a federal government loan guarantee enabling a 5% deposit with no Lenders Mortgage Insurance
  3. Stamp duty concessions — state-level exemptions or reductions on transfer duty for first purchases
  4. Help to Buy — a federal shared equity scheme reducing the amount you need to borrow

These schemes can be stacked in some cases. For example, a first home buyer in Queensland could access the $30,000 FHOG, a stamp duty concession, and the First Home Guarantee simultaneously — dramatically reducing upfront costs.

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) by state

The FHOG is a one-off cash payment from your state government. It was originally designed to offset the GST impact on new construction, so in most states it only applies to new or substantially renovated homes.

State/TerritoryGrant AmountProperty Cap
NSW$10,000New builds only, no price cap
VIC$10,000New builds in regional areas: $20,000
QLD$30,000New builds under $750,000
WA$10,000New builds under $750,000
SA$15,000New builds
TAS$30,000New builds
NT$10,000New builds
ACTNo FHOGStamp duty rebate instead

Note: The Queensland $30,000 FHOG for new builds was available for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025. A $15,000 grant now applies — check current eligibility dates with the Queensland Revenue Office as these programs are periodically reviewed and extended.

First Home Guarantee — buy with 5% deposit

The First Home Guarantee (FHBG), administered by Housing Australia, allows eligible first home buyers to purchase a property with a deposit as low as 5% without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The federal government guarantees up to 15% of the loan, filling the gap between your deposit and the conventional 20% threshold.

Key eligibility conditions (2025–26):

  • Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • Income: $125,000 or less (single), $200,000 or less (couples)
  • Must be a first home buyer (have not previously owned residential property)
  • Intend to owner-occupy

Property price caps by city:

  • Sydney, NSW: $900,000
  • Melbourne, VIC: $800,000
  • Brisbane, QLD: $700,000
  • Perth, WA: $600,000
  • Adelaide, SA: $600,000
  • Other capital cities: $600,000–$650,000
  • Regional areas: $450,000–$550,000

The guarantee is offered through a panel of participating lenders. You apply through the lender, not directly with the government.

What LMI savings look like: On a $700,000 purchase with a 5% deposit ($35,000), LMI would normally cost $20,000–$25,000. The First Home Guarantee eliminates this cost entirely.

Stamp duty concessions for first home buyers

Stamp duty is typically the second-largest upfront cost after your deposit, so state concessions can save tens of thousands of dollars.

  • NSW: Full exemption on properties up to $800,000; concession on $800,000–$1,000,000
  • VIC: Full exemption up to $600,000; concession up to $750,000
  • QLD: Full concession (up to $700,000) under the First Home Concession
  • WA: Full exemption up to $430,000; concession up to $530,000
  • SA: Concession of up to $15,500
  • TAS: 50% reduction on duty for homes up to $600,000
  • NT: Concession up to $18,601
  • ACT: Full exemption under the Home Buyer Concession Scheme (income-tested at $160,000 household)

All concessions require the property to become your principal place of residence, and you must move in within 12 months of settlement.

Help to Buy — federal shared equity scheme

The Help to Buy scheme is the federal government's shared equity program. Under this scheme:

  • The government contributes up to 40% of the purchase price for a new build, or up to 30% for an existing home
  • You need a minimum deposit of just 2%
  • You take out a standard mortgage for the remaining portion
  • You own 100% of the property and can buy out the government's share over time

Eligibility conditions:

  • Australian citizen
  • Income: $90,000 or less (single), $120,000 or less (couples)
  • Must not currently own property
  • Must be owner-occupying

The scheme is means-tested more strictly than the First Home Guarantee. It is best suited to lower-to-middle income earners who want to enter the market but cannot save a large deposit. When you sell the property, the government receives its proportional share of the sale proceeds.

Where to start

Before you begin searching for a property, get pre-approval from a participating lender, confirm your eligibility for the First Home Guarantee with your chosen bank, and check the FHOG eligibility and current grant amounts for your state.

Use our calculators to estimate your total purchasing costs:

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