Your first home · A plain-English guide
Home buyer grants & schemes, explained simply.
Find help with your deposit, buying costs or a new build. Start with your state, then explore the national schemes that may fit your plans.
Choose your state, then read the important information and explore its support below.
Grants, duty savings, guarantees… what is the difference?
A grantA payment towards an eligible home. Many first-home grants are for new homes or builds.
A duty exemption or concessionRemoves or reduces the government tax on your purchase, often called stamp duty.
A deposit guaranteeCan let you buy with a smaller deposit without lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). You still repay your home loan.
Shared equityThe government contributes towards your home in return for an equity interest, reducing the amount you borrow. Its share changes in value with the property. Ownership arrangements depend on the scheme.
1. Find support in your state
Choose where the property is located. These local programs have their own rules, separate from the national schemes below.
These cards summarise key rules only. Eligibility and other conditions apply. Check the current official information and confirm your eligibility before relying on an amount or benefit shown here.
Western Australia
The main WA-specific options for eligible first home buyers and owner-occupiers.
First Home Owner Grant
Up to $10,000 for an eligible first home buyer buying or building a new home or substantially renovated home.
Property cap: $800,000 in the south of WA, including Perth, or $1 million north of the 26th parallel. Applies from 7 May 2026.
Eligibility and key checks
- Generally 18+, with at least one applicant an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- Live in the home for six continuous months within 12 months, subject to the official rules.
First Home Owner Rate of Duty
A full exemption or concessional rate of transfer duty may apply to an eligible first home purchase or vacant land.
Homes: For eligible buyers, no duty up to $600,000, with reduced duty up to $800,000. Vacant land: For eligible buyers, no duty up to $450,000, with reduced duty up to $550,000. Applies to agreements from 7 May 2026.
Eligibility and key checks
- New and established homes can qualify. Vacant land must be used to build your first home.
- You must meet WA first-home and residence requirements. Prior ownership and your partner’s history can matter.
- Check your agreement date and have your settlement agent confirm the applicable duty.
Home Buyers Assistance Account
A reimbursement of up to $2,000 for eligible incidental expenses when buying an established or partly built home through a licensed WA agent.
Purchase price: Up to $500,000. Apply within 90 days of settlement.
Eligibility and key checks
- For eligible first home buyers who have not previously owned a home in WA.
- Buy through a licensed WA agent and use a lender to finance the purchase.
- Intend to live in the home for at least 12 months. Ask your lender to lodge the application.
Keystart shared ownership
Keystart’s Shared Ownership Home Loan may help eligible WA buyers purchase a home with a smaller deposit and loan, while sharing ownership with the Housing Authority.
Deposit: From 2% or $2,000, whichever is higher, with no LMI. Deposit, income, property and lending criteria vary by loan and location.
Eligibility and key checks
- The Housing Authority owns a share of the home, so you borrow less. This is a loan arrangement, not a grant.
- Eligibility depends on WA residency, income, property and loan affordability rules.
- You remain responsible for costs such as maintenance, rates and insurance. Check the product terms with Keystart.
New South Wales
NSW assistance is centred on a new-home grant and transfer-duty relief for first home buyers.
First Home Owner Grant (New Homes)
A $10,000 grant for eligible first home buyers purchasing or building a new home, including qualifying off-the-plan and substantially renovated homes.
Property cap: $600,000 for a new home purchase or $750,000 for land plus a comprehensive building contract.
Eligibility and key checks
- Applicants are generally 18+, individuals, with at least one Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- For contracts from 1 July 2023, live in the home for 12 continuous months after moving in within 12 months.
First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme
Full transfer-duty exemption or a reduced rate may apply to a new or existing home, or to vacant land on which you intend to build.
Homes: For eligible buyers, no duty up to $800,000, with reduced duty above $800,000 and below $1 million. Vacant land: For eligible buyers, no duty up to $350,000, with reduced duty below $450,000.
Eligibility and key checks
- Can apply to a new or established home, or vacant land on which you intend to build.
- First-home, age and citizenship or permanent-residency requirements apply to applicants and relevant partners.
- For new or existing homes, at least one eligible buyer must move in within 12 months of settlement and live there for 12 continuous months. Vacant land must be intended as the site of a home occupied by an eligible buyer as their principal residence.
Victoria
Victoria offers a new-home grant and first home buyer land-transfer duty relief for eligible owner-occupiers.
First Home Owner Grant
A $10,000 grant may be available for eligible first home buyers buying or building a new home.
Property cap: $750,000 for an eligible new home.
Eligibility and key checks
- Applicants must be individuals, generally 18+, with at least one Australian, New Zealand or permanent-resident applicant.
- The home must be new and not previously sold or occupied as a residence.
- At least one buyer normally lives there for 12 continuous months within 12 months of settlement or completion.
First home buyer duty exemption or concession
Eligible first home buyers pay no land-transfer duty up to $600,000, with a reduced rate from $600,001 to $750,000.
Eligibility and key checks
- Can apply to a new or established home, or vacant land intended for a first home.
- All purchasers must be individuals, generally 18+ and at least one must meet the citizenship or permanent-residency rule.
- At least one purchaser normally lives in the home for 12 continuous months.
Queensland
Queensland support can combine a new-home grant with first-home transfer-duty concessions, but each has separate rules.
First Home Owner Grant
A $30,000 grant may be available for eligible first home buyers buying or building a new home. The increased amount continues for contracts from 1 July 2026.
Property cap: The total value, including land, must be below $750,000.
Eligibility and key checks
- For eligible buyers purchasing or building a new home; established homes do not qualify for this grant. Some buyers who previously owned an investment property may still qualify if they meet the prior-ownership rules.
- Check the Queensland Revenue Office for applicant, residency and move-in requirements.
First home transfer-duty concessions
Eligible first home buyers may receive full or partial duty relief. New homes and eligible vacant land can receive a full first-home concession with no value cap under current rules.
Established homes: For eligible buyers, no duty up to $700,000, with partial relief above $700,000 and below $800,000.
Eligibility and key checks
- Full duty relief for eligible first new homes and vacant land applies to transactions from 1 May 2025.
- New-home and vacant-land concessions have separate building and owner-occupier requirements.
- Transactions from 1 August 2026 have citizenship or permanent-residency conditions, with specified exceptions. Check the official rules.
South Australia
South Australia provides a new-home grant and stamp-duty relief for eligible first home buyers building or buying a new home.
First Home Owner Grant
Up to $15,000 may be available for an eligible new home, off-the-plan apartment, substantially renovated home or build.
Property cap: None for eligible contracts from 6 June 2024.
Eligibility and key checks
- Applicants are generally 18+ individuals. At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen permanently residing in Australia with a Special Category visa.
- All applicants must occupy the home as their principal residence for six continuous months within 12 months.
Stamp Duty Relief for Eligible First Home Buyers
Eligible first home buyers may avoid stamp duty on a new home, off-the-plan apartment or vacant land intended for their principal residence.
Property cap: None for eligible contracts from 6 June 2024. Established homes do not qualify for this relief.
Eligibility and key checks
- Each applicant must generally be 18+ and a natural person; at least one applicant must meet the citizenship or residency rule.
- Relief is separate from the grant, so each application has its own requirements.
- Live in the property for six continuous months within the relevant timeframe.
Tasmania
The current first-home grant is for new homes. The former established-home duty exemption has ended.
First Home Owner Grant
A $20,000 grant may be available for eligible first home buyers buying or building a new home.
Current period: Transactions commencing 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Eligibility and key checks
- Applicants must be individuals aged 18+, with at least one Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- The home must be new, including eligible new builds, off-the-plan homes or owner-builder transactions.
- Occupy the home as your principal residence for six continuous months within 12 months.
Established-home duty relief
The 100% first-home buyer duty exemption for an established home valued up to $750,000 applied only to settlements through 30 June 2026 and is not available after that date.
Eligibility and key checks
- Do not assume this former relief is available for a 2026–27 purchase.
- Check the current State Revenue Office concessions list and ask your conveyancer to confirm the duty position.
- The grant and duty relief are separate programs with separate eligibility rules.
Australian Capital Territory
ACT support focuses on saving transfer duty for eligible buyers. The two options below have different eligibility rules.
Home Buyer Concession Scheme
Eligible buyers can be exempt from ACT conveyance duty when buying a new home, established home or residential land.
From 1 July 2026: Full duty exemption for eligible purchases, with no income threshold or property value cap.
Eligibility and key checks
- Buyers must be individuals aged 18 or over. Previous property ownership by buyers and domestic partners is generally assessed over the last five years.
- At least one buyer must live in the home for a continuous year, starting within one year of settlement or completion as applicable.
- Check the official exceptions and claim the correct concession through your conveyancer.
Off-the-plan Unit Duty Exemption
From 1 July 2026, eligible owner-occupiers buying off-the-plan unit-titled apartments or townhouses may pay no duty, with no value cap.
Eligibility and key checks
- The unit plan must not be registered when the contract is entered into. An eligible unit-titled townhouse may qualify.
- Individual buyer and owner-occupier conditions apply. Check the required move-in and residence periods.
- Ask your conveyancer which exemption fits and which code to claim.
Northern Territory
Check the new-home grant and the separate duty exemption for eligible house-and-land packages.
HomeGrown Territory Grant
A $50,000 grant for eligible first home buyers buying or building a new home in the Territory, including eligible owner-builder and off-the-plan purchases.
Current period: Eligible contracts or build commencement from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2027. No purchase or build price cap.
Eligibility and key checks
- You must meet the first-home ownership rules. At least one applicant must be 18 or over and at least one must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- You must live in the home for at least 12 months and meet the scheme’s move-in deadline.
House and Land Package Exemption
An exemption from stamp duty may apply to an eligible single house-and-land package bought from a building contractor; it is not means tested and has no property-value cap.
Contract dates: 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2027. No property value cap.
Eligibility and key checks
- The land and new detached home must be acquired in a single transaction with an eligible building contractor.
- The contractor must meet the scheme’s land purchase and duty conditions. A separate land purchase and building contract may not qualify.
- At least one applicant must move in within 12 months of completion and live there for six continuous months.
2. Explore the national schemes
A smaller deposit does not guarantee a loan. Your income, expenses and ability to repay still matter. Check the property price cap for your location.
These cards summarise key rules only. Eligibility and other conditions apply. Check the current official information and confirm your eligibility before relying on an amount or benefit shown here.
5% Deposit Scheme
Eligible first home buyers can purchase with a minimum 5% deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). The government guarantees part of the loan; it does not pay your deposit.
Eligibility and key checks
- Be at least 18 and an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be a first home buyer or have had no property or land ownership in Australia in the last 10 years.
- Buy through a participating lender and meet the location’s property price cap. Move in within six months of home-loan settlement, or, for a new build, within six months of the occupancy certificate being issued. Continue living there while the government guarantee is active. Separate construction deadlines apply.
- There is no scheme income cap, but you must meet the lender’s credit and repayment requirements.
5% Deposit Scheme: Single Parent stream
Eligible single parents and single legal guardians can buy with a minimum 2% deposit and no LMI. You do not have to be a first home buyer, but separate ownership rules apply.
Eligibility and key checks
- Be at least 18, an Australian citizen or permanent resident and an eligible single parent or single legal guardian with dependent children.
- The scheme has a specific definition of single. Under the current rules, being separated but not divorced does not meet that definition. Check the official eligibility rules before making plans.
- Apply on your own and have no other property interest when the new home settles.
- Meet the location’s property price cap. Move in within six months of home-loan settlement, or, for a new build, within six months of the occupancy certificate being issued. Continue living there while the government guarantee is active. Separate construction deadlines apply.
- Use a participating lender and meet its loan requirements. No scheme income cap applies.
Help to Buy
The government can contribute up to 30% towards an existing home or 40% towards a new home. You own the home, while the government holds an equity share that rises or falls with its value.
The government’s share must eventually be repaid, based on the home’s value at the time. You can buy it back over time or repay it when you sell. Ongoing eligibility reviews apply and you may be required to repay some or all of the share when your finances allow.
Deposit: Minimum 2%. 2026–27 taxable income limits: $103,000 for a single applicant or $165,000 for joint applicants and single parents.
Eligibility and key checks
- Be at least 18, an Australian citizen and buying a home to live in. Location-based property price caps apply.
- Generally you cannot own property in Australia or overseas, with limited single-parent exceptions.
- You cannot combine Help to Buy with another government home-buyer loan, guarantee or shared-equity scheme. Grants and duty concessions may still be available.
- Apply through a participating lender. The government’s contribution is assessed against your circumstances and places are limited.
First Home Super Saver Scheme
Save towards a deposit through eligible voluntary super contributions. Up to $15,000 of contributions per financial year and $50,000 in total can count, plus associated earnings calculated by the ATO.
Eligibility and key checks
- Generally you must have never owned Australian property, unless an exception applies. You must be at least 18 to request a determination or release, but the age requirement does not apply to making eligible voluntary contributions.
- Only eligible voluntary contributions count. Mandatory employer super contributions do not qualify.
- Request an ATO determination before ownership of any property, including land, transfers to you. Check release and contract deadlines early.
- Release amounts depend on contribution type and tax rules. You must genuinely intend to occupy the property as your home as soon as practicable after purchase and occupy it for at least six of the first 12 months from when it is practicable to do so.
Planning a build?
Check the full cost before you sign.
A new-home grant can be useful, but the land price and building quote are only part of the picture.
- Check what counts towards the cap. Depending on the scheme, land, the building contract and variations can affect eligibility. Allow for site works, finishes and other costs.
- Check when the money is paid. A grant may be paid at a building milestone or after completion. Ask your lender how the deposit and early costs will be covered.
- Confirm the deadlines. Contract dates, construction start dates, completion and moving in can all matter. Ask what happens if the build is delayed.
- Check the loan as well as the grant. Confirm your total budget, construction finance and eligibility before committing to the land or the build.
Questions buyers often ask
Can I use a grant and a deposit scheme together?
Sometimes. A state grant or duty concession may sit alongside a national scheme if you meet every program’s rules. Help to Buy cannot be combined with another government home-buyer loan, guarantee or shared-equity scheme. Have your lender and conveyancer confirm the combination before you budget for it.
Can I get help when buying an established home?
Yes, some duty concessions and national schemes cover established homes. Many First Home Owner Grants are limited to new homes or builds. Choose your state above and check the type of property each program covers.
Does a 5% deposit mean I only need 5% in savings?
Not necessarily. You may also need money for duty, legal and settlement costs, inspections and a buffer. LMI protects the lender, not the borrower. A guarantee can remove the LMI cost, but you still need to afford the loan and meet the lender’s requirements.
Can a grant pay my land or builder’s deposit?
Do not assume it will arrive in time. Grant payments depend on the state, transaction and application process. Ask your lender when the money can be released and how you will cover any deposit or early building payments first.
What if my partner or I owned a property before?
You may still have options, but the rules differ. Some programs consider your partner’s past ownership even if they are not buying with you. The national 5% Deposit Scheme has a pathway for people who have not owned Australian property or land in the last 10 years. Check each program separately.
Can I buy an investment property using these schemes?
These programs are mainly designed to help people buy a home to live in. Owner-occupier schemes have move-in and minimum residence requirements. If you plan to rent out the property or your circumstances change, check with the scheme administrator first. Benefits may have to be repaid if conditions are not met.
Before you rely on a benefit: This guide is general information and does not confirm eligibility or provide personal financial, tax or legal advice. Rules, caps, funding and deadlines can change. Read the official source linked to each program and confirm your position with the relevant authority, lender and conveyancer before signing a contract.Key amounts and scheme details checked 1 November 2026 against official government and scheme-provider sources. This guide covers the main programs, not every possible concession or exception.
Let’s work out what may fit your plans.
Bring your deposit amount, target suburb and whether you are buying new, established or building. We can go through the possible support, your borrowing position and the next steps in plain English.