Australian Government Schemes for First Home Buyers 2025-2026

Q: What is the difference between the 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy?

The 5% Deposit Scheme (formerly Home Guarantee Scheme) lets you buy with 5% deposit and no LMI — the government guarantees 15% of the loan but you still borrow 95%. Help to Buy is a shared equity scheme where the government actually contributes up to 40% of the purchase price (new homes) or 30% (existing), meaning you borrow much less. Help to Buy has income caps ($100K singles, $160K couples) and 10,000 places per year, while the 5% Deposit Scheme has no income caps and unlimited places from October 2025.

Q: Is the First Home Owner Grant available for existing homes?

In most states, the FHOG is only available for new homes (newly built, off-the-plan, or substantially renovated). The exception is the Northern Territory, where the $10,000 FHOG is available for established homes. However, the NT also offers a separate $50,000 HomeGrown Territory Grant for new builds.

Q: Can single parents access special government support?

Yes. The Family Home Guarantee allows single parents or legal guardians with at least one dependent child to buy a home with just 2% deposit and no LMI. You don't need to be a first home buyer — previous homeowners can also apply. There are 5,000 places per year.

Q: What stamp duty exemptions are available in my state?

Stamp duty concessions vary by state: NSW offers full exemption for properties up to $800,000; VIC full exemption up to $600,000; QLD full concession on new homes up to $700,000; SA has abolished stamp duty for first home buyers on new homes; WA exemption up to $500,000; TAS 100% exemption for first home buyers; ACT full exemption up to $1,020,000 (from July 2025); NT various concessions available.

🇦🇺 Federal Schemes

Australian Government Schemes — Detailed Breakdown

These schemes are available to eligible buyers regardless of which state or territory you're in.

Federal Scheme

🏠 Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme

Formerly known as the Home Guarantee Scheme / First Home Buyer Guarantee

What it is: The government guarantees up to 15% of your property value to your lender, allowing you to buy with just a 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). LMI alone can cost $8,000–$30,000+, so this is a huge saving.

🔄 Key Changes from October 2025

✅ NO place limits — unlimited spots available (previously capped at 35,000/year)
✅ NO income caps — all income levels now eligible
✅ Higher property price caps — significantly increased across all states
✅ Regional scheme merged into the main scheme — same benefits everywhere

Property Price Caps (from October 2025)

Location	Price Cap
Sydney (NSW capital + regional centres)	$1,500,000
NSW — rest of state	$800,000
Melbourne (VIC capital + regional centres)	$950,000
VIC — rest of state	$650,000
Brisbane (QLD capital + regional centres)	$1,000,000
QLD — rest of state	$700,000
Perth (WA capital)	$850,000
WA — rest of state	$600,000
Adelaide (SA capital)	$900,000
SA — rest of state	$500,000
Hobart (TAS capital)	$700,000
TAS — rest of state	$550,000
ACT	$1,000,000
NT	$600,000

Eligibility: Australian citizen or permanent resident, first home buyer, must live in the property as your primary residence. Available through participating lenders.

How to apply: Through a participating lender — a mortgage broker can check your eligibility and submit your application as part of the loan process.

🔗 Official Source: firsthomebuyers.gov.au

NEW — Opened December 2025

🤝 Help to Buy Scheme

What it is: A shared equity scheme where the Australian Government contributes up to 40% of a new home's price or 30% of an existing home's price. You need as little as a 2% deposit, and your loan amount is dramatically reduced.

Minimum 2% deposit required
Income cap: $100,000 (singles), $160,000 (couples/families)
10,000 places per year
Available to first home buyers AND previous homeowners who don't currently own property
Must live in the property as your primary residence
You can buy out the government share over time
The government shares proportionally in any gains or losses when you sell
Property price caps are the same as the 5% Deposit Scheme (see table above)
NOT available in Tasmania yet

📋 Example: How Help to Buy Works

Rob buys an existing home for $800,000.
His deposit: $16,000 (2%)
Government contribution: $240,000 (30% for existing home)
Rob's home loan: $544,000 (68% LVR)

Rob's effective LVR is only 68% — meaning lower repayments, no LMI, and potentially a better interest rate. If the property value increases to $900,000 and Rob sells, the government receives 30% ($270,000) and Rob keeps the rest.

🔗 Official Source: firsthomebuyers.gov.au

Federal Scheme

🏦 First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

What it is: Use the tax advantages of your superannuation to save your deposit faster. By making voluntary contributions to super (taxed at just 15% instead of your marginal tax rate), you can withdraw up to $50,000 plus deemed earnings to put towards your first home.

Voluntary super contributions are taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate (up to 45%)
Withdraw up to $50,000 of voluntary contributions plus deemed earnings
Maximum $15,000 per financial year in eligible contributions
No income limits — available to all first home buyers

📋 Example: Tax Savings with FHSS

Earn $90,000/year (marginal tax rate 32.5%). You salary sacrifice $15,000/year into super.
Tax on $15K in super: $2,250 (15%)
Tax you'd pay normally: $4,875 (32.5%)
Annual saving: ~$2,625
Over 3 years: ~$7,875+ in tax savings, plus deemed earnings on the contributions.

⚠️ CRITICAL: Timing Matters

You must apply to the ATO for a FHSS determination BEFORE signing any property contract. The ATO process can take up to 25 business days — so plan well ahead. If you sign first and apply later, you may be ineligible.

🔗 Official Source: ato.gov.au

Federal Scheme

👨‍👧 Family Home Guarantee

What it is: Specifically designed for single parents or single legal guardians with at least one dependent child. Buy with just a 2% deposit and no LMI.

2% deposit — one of the lowest deposit requirements available
No LMI — government guarantees up to 18% of the property value
5,000 places per year
NOT limited to first home buyers — previous homeowners who are now single parents can apply
Must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
Must live in the property as your primary residence
Property price caps same as the 5% Deposit Scheme

🔗 Official Source: housingaustralia.gov.au

🗺️ State-by-State

State & Territory Grants, Concessions & Programs

On top of federal schemes, each state and territory offers its own grants and stamp duty concessions. Select your state below.

🔵 NSW 🔵 VIC 🟣 QLD 🔴 SA 🟡 WA 🟢 TAS 🔵 ACT 🟠 NT

New South Wales

💵

First Home Owner Grant — $10,000

Available for new homes valued at ≤ $600,000. Must be a new build, off-the-plan, or substantially renovated property. Not available for established homes.

📋

Stamp Duty Exemption — Full exemption ≤ $800,000

First home buyers pay ZERO stamp duty on properties valued up to $800,000. This saves up to $31,335 in transfer duty.

📉

Stamp Duty Concession — $800,000 to $1,000,000

Reduced (sliding scale) transfer duty for first home buyers on properties valued between $800,000 and $1,000,000.

🤝

NSW Shared Equity Home Buyer Helper

NSW Government co-contributes up to 40% for houses or 30% for units, reducing your loan and repayments. Income and price caps apply.

🔗 NSW Revenue: First Home Buyer

Victoria

💵

First Home Owner Grant — $10,000

For new homes valued at ≤ $750,000. Applies to new builds, off-the-plan, and substantially renovated properties only.

📋

Stamp Duty Exemption — Full exemption ≤ $600,000

First home buyers pay no stamp duty on properties valued up to $600,000.

📉

Stamp Duty Concession — $600,000 to $750,000

Sliding scale concession for first home buyers on properties between $600,000 and $750,000.

🤝

Victorian Homebuyer Fund

State government co-contributes up to 25% of the purchase price. Note: This program was closed to new applications in September 2025. Check for future reopening.

⚠️ The Victorian Homebuyer Fund closed to new applications in September 2025. Monitor the Victorian Government website for potential reopening.

🔗 VIC SRO: First Home Buyers

Queensland

💵

First Home Owner Grant — $30,000 🎉

One of the most generous grants in Australia. For new homes valued at ≤ $750,000. Extended to 30 June 2025 — apply now before it potentially changes.

📋

First Home Concession — Transfer duty savings

Reduced transfer duty for first home buyers purchasing properties under $800,000. Save up to $24,525 in duty for established homes.

🆕

First Home (New Home) Concession — From 1 May 2025

Full stamp duty concession on NEW homes valued up to $700,000. This is a separate concession specifically for new builds.

🔗 QLD Revenue: First Home Concessions

South Australia

💵

First Home Owner Grant — $15,000

Available for new homes with NO price cap since June 2024. One of the most accessible FHOGs in the country.

🎉

Stamp Duty ABOLISHED for FHB New Homes

Since February 2025, stamp duty has been completely abolished for first home buyers purchasing new homes — with no price cap. This is one of the best stamp duty policies in Australia.

🔗 SA Revenue: Stamp Duty Relief

Western Australia

💵

First Home Owner Grant — $10,000

For new homes valued at ≤ $750,000. Includes new builds and substantially renovated properties.

📋

Stamp Duty Exemption/Concession

No duty for homes valued ≤ $500,000. Concessions available for homes between $500,000 and $750,000.

🏦

Keystart Home Loans

State-backed low-deposit home loans with deposits as low as 2% and no LMI. Income limits apply. A unique WA program that helps thousands of first home buyers every year.

🔗 WA Gov: First Home Owner Grant

Tasmania

💵

First Home Owner Grant — $30,000 🎉

Matching QLD for the most generous FHOG in Australia. For new homes only. Extended to 30 June 2026.

📋

Stamp Duty — 100% Exemption

First home buyers in Tasmania receive a full stamp duty exemption. This is one of the most generous stamp duty policies in the country.

🤝

MyHome Shared Equity

The Tasmanian Government co-contributes up to 30% of the purchase price through shared equity, reducing your loan and repayments.

🔗 TAS SRO: First Home Owner

Australian Capital Territory

❌

First Home Owner Grant — Not Available

The ACT abolished its FHOG. However, the stamp duty concessions below are among the most generous in Australia.

📋

Stamp Duty — Full Exemption ≤ $1,020,000 (from July 2025)

First home buyers pay ZERO stamp duty on properties valued up to $1,020,000. This is the highest exemption threshold in Australia, saving up to $35,238.

📉

Home Buyer Concession Scheme

For properties over the exemption threshold, discounts of up to $35,238 are available through the Home Buyer Concession Scheme. Income tested.

🔗 ACT Revenue: Home Buyer Concession

Northern Territory

💵

First Home Owner Grant — $10,000 (Established Homes)

Unlike most states, the NT FHOG is available for established (existing) homes — not just new builds.

🏗️

HomeGrown Territory Grant — $50,000 🎉

An incredible $50,000 grant for building or buying a brand NEW home. Extended to September 2027. This is the single largest home buyer grant in Australia.

📋

Stamp Duty Concessions

Various stamp duty concessions available for first home buyers and territory residents. Discounts depend on property value and buyer type.

🔗 NT Gov: Home Owner Assistance

🚀 Maximise Your Savings

How to Stack Schemes & Maximise Your Benefits

The real power of government schemes is combining them. Federal + state = maximum savings.

📋 Real-World Example: Stacking Schemes in QLD

A first home buyer in Queensland building a new $650K home could receive:

✅ $30,000 — First Home Owner Grant (QLD)
✅ ~$15,000+ — Full stamp duty exemption (new home concession)
✅ $8,000–$15,000 — LMI savings via 5% Deposit Scheme
✅ Up to $7,000+ — Tax savings via FHSS over 3 years

Combined potential benefit: $60,000+ 🎉

Apply for the 5% Deposit Scheme Early

Although places are now unlimited from October 2025, applying early through a participating lender ensures you lock in eligibility and confirms you meet the property price caps for your area.

Consider New vs Established Carefully

The FHOG is only available for new homes in most states ($10K–$30K). In some states, stamp duty concessions are also more generous for new builds. A new home could save you significantly more — but weigh this against total cost and location.

Start FHSS Contributions ASAP

The earlier you start salary sacrificing into super, the more tax you'll save. Remember: you must apply to the ATO for a determination BEFORE signing any contract. Start contributing now even if you're not ready to buy yet.

Use a Mortgage Broker to Navigate Everything

A broker manages applications for all schemes simultaneously, knows which lenders participate in each program, and ensures you don't miss any entitlements. Their service costs you nothing.

Feature	5% Deposit Scheme	Help to Buy	FHOG	FHSS	Family Home Guarantee
Benefit type	No LMI guarantee	Shared equity	Cash grant	Tax-effective savings	No LMI guarantee
Deposit needed	5%	2%	N/A	N/A	2%
Income limits	None (from Oct 2025)	$100K / $160K	Varies by state	None	None
Place limits	Unlimited	10,000/year	Unlimited	Unlimited	5,000/year
Property types	New + existing	New + existing	New only (most states)	N/A	New + existing
First home buyer only	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No (single parents)

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❓ FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What government grants are available for first home buyers in Australia?

Australian first home buyers can access multiple grants and schemes including: the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme (no LMI with 5% deposit, unlimited places), Help to Buy shared equity scheme (government contributes up to 40%), First Home Owner Grant ($10,000–$30,000 depending on state), stamp duty exemptions and concessions in every state, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme (withdraw up to $50,000 from super). Combined, these can save $10,000 to $60,000+.

Can I combine multiple government schemes?

Yes! You can stack federal and state schemes together. For example, a first home buyer in QLD building a new $650K home could receive: $30,000 FHOG + full stamp duty exemption + 5% deposit scheme = $50,000+ in combined benefits. Note: You generally cannot combine the 5% Deposit Scheme with Help to Buy, but you can combine either with state grants and concessions. A mortgage broker will maximise your combined benefits.

What is the difference between the 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy?

The 5% Deposit Scheme lets you buy with 5% deposit and no LMI — the government guarantees 15% of the loan but you still borrow 95% of the property value. Help to Buy is a shared equity scheme where the government actually contributes up to 40% (new homes) or 30% (existing homes) of the purchase price, meaning you borrow significantly less. Help to Buy has income caps ($100K singles, $160K couples) and 10,000 places per year, while the 5% Deposit Scheme now has no income caps and unlimited places.

Do I need to be a first home buyer to access government schemes?

Not always. While the 5% Deposit Scheme and FHOG require first home buyer status, Help to Buy is available to previous homeowners who don't currently own property. The Family Home Guarantee is available to single parents with dependants regardless of whether they've owned before. Some state stamp duty concessions also have provisions for non-first home buyers.

What are the property price caps for the Home Guarantee Scheme?

From October 2025, the price caps are: Sydney $1,500,000; Melbourne $950,000; Brisbane $1,000,000; Perth $850,000; Adelaide $900,000; Hobart $700,000; ACT $1,000,000; NT $600,000. Regional areas have lower caps — for example, rest of NSW is $800,000 and rest of VIC is $650,000. These caps apply to the 5% Deposit Scheme, Help to Buy, and Family Home Guarantee.

Is the First Home Owner Grant available for existing homes?

In most states, the FHOG is only available for new homes — newly built, off-the-plan, or substantially renovated properties. The notable exception is the Northern Territory, where the $10,000 FHOG is available for established (existing) homes. Additionally, the NT offers a separate $50,000 HomeGrown Territory Grant specifically for new builds. Always check current state-specific requirements with your broker.

How does the First Home Super Saver Scheme work?

The FHSS lets you make voluntary contributions to your superannuation (salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions), which are taxed at 15% instead of your marginal tax rate. You can contribute up to $15,000 per financial year and withdraw up to $50,000 total plus deemed earnings. You must apply to the ATO for a determination BEFORE signing any property contract. The process takes up to 25 business days, so plan ahead.

Can single parents access special government support?

Yes. The Family Home Guarantee allows single parents or single legal guardians with at least one dependent child to buy with just a 2% deposit and no LMI. Importantly, you don't need to be a first home buyer — previous homeowners who are now single parents can also apply. There are 5,000 places per year. You may also combine this with state grants and concessions if eligible.

What stamp duty exemptions are available in my state?

Every state offers some form of stamp duty relief: NSW offers full exemption up to $800,000; VIC full exemption up to $600,000; QLD full concession on new homes up to $700,000; SA has abolished stamp duty for first home buyers on new homes (no price cap); WA exemption up to $500,000; TAS 100% exemption for first home buyers; ACT full exemption up to $1,020,000 from July 2025; NT various concessions. Use our stamp duty calculator above for an exact figure.

Do I need a mortgage broker to access government schemes?

While not technically required, a mortgage broker significantly simplifies the process. Schemes like the 5% Deposit Scheme must be applied for through participating lenders, and a broker knows which lenders participate and how to maximise benefits across multiple schemes simultaneously. Their service costs you nothing (brokers are paid by lenders). Given that 67% of first home buyers don't claim all schemes they're eligible for, expert guidance pays for itself many times over.

When should I apply for the FHSS scheme?

Start making voluntary super contributions as early as possible — even years before you plan to buy. This maximises your tax savings and the total amount you can withdraw. The critical timing point is the withdrawal: you must apply to the ATO for a FHSS determination BEFORE signing any property contract. The ATO process can take up to 25 business days, so factor this into your property search timeline.

Are these schemes available for investment properties?

No. All government home buyer schemes — the 5% Deposit Scheme, Help to Buy, FHOG, FHSS, and Family Home Guarantee — require you to live in the property as your principal place of residence. You must generally move in within 12 months of settlement and live there for a minimum period (usually 6–12 months depending on the scheme and state). These are designed to help people buy homes to live in, not investment properties.

Every Government Grant & Scheme You're Entitled To — In One Place

What Could You Be Eligible For?

Australian Government Schemes — Detailed Breakdown

🏠 Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme

🔄 Key Changes from October 2025

Property Price Caps (from October 2025)

🤝 Help to Buy Scheme

📋 Example: How Help to Buy Works

🏦 First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

📋 Example: Tax Savings with FHSS

⚠️ CRITICAL: Timing Matters

👨‍👧 Family Home Guarantee

State & Territory Grants, Concessions & Programs

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Tasmania

Australian Capital Territory

Northern Territory

Calculate Your Stamp Duty & Government Fees

How to Stack Schemes & Maximise Your Benefits

📋 Real-World Example: Stacking Schemes in QLD

Federal Schemes at a Glance

Not Sure Which Schemes You Qualify For?

Find Out Which Schemes You Qualify For — Free Assessment

🏛️ Government Schemes Eligibility Check

Frequently Asked Questions

What government grants are available for first home buyers in Australia?

Can I combine multiple government schemes?

What is the difference between the 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy?

Do I need to be a first home buyer to access government schemes?

What are the property price caps for the Home Guarantee Scheme?

Is the First Home Owner Grant available for existing homes?

How does the First Home Super Saver Scheme work?

Can single parents access special government support?

What stamp duty exemptions are available in my state?

Do I need a mortgage broker to access government schemes?

When should I apply for the FHSS scheme?

Are these schemes available for investment properties?

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