Grants & Schemes

Australian first home buyers can access a range of federal and state-based grants, schemes, and concessions that significantly reduce the cash needed at purchase. The biggest levers are the 5% Deposit Scheme, formerly the First Home Guarantee (a 5% deposit with no Lender's Mortgage Insurance, and 2% for single parents), Help to Buy (the government takes an equity share so you can buy with a 2% deposit), the First Home Super Saver Scheme (using voluntary super contributions to boost your deposit), and state-based stamp duty exemptions and First Home Owner Grants. The Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee closed to new applicants on 1 October 2025.

In most states you can stack multiple schemes. A NSW first home buyer purchasing under $800,000 can typically combine the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme (full stamp duty exemption), the First Home Owner Grant if the property is new and under $600,000, and the federal 5% Deposit Scheme, saving $20,000-$40,000 on upfront costs. Eligibility rules vary: most schemes require Australian citizenship or permanent residency, the property as your principal place of residence within 12 months, and a price under the scheme's cap. Help to Buy also caps your income.

First home buyers commonly miss out by applying too close to settlement, failing to combine available schemes, exceeding a grant or scheme price cap by a small margin (you lose that benefit entirely), or buying a property type that doesn't qualify (off-the-plan rules vary). Some schemes have annual caps and are first-come, first-served. The guides below cover each scheme in detail; a broker can confirm which combination applies to your situation before you commit to a property.