Buying your first home (or getting back into ownership) is hard work, but there’s real money on the table if you know where to look. Below is a one-stop guide to Australia-wide support and every state/territory grant or duty concession that can reduce your deposit, cut Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), or slash stamp duty.

Remember – you’re not alone with these grants. We’re here to guide you through the process – it’s one of many benefits of working with a mortgage broker!

National programs (available across Australia)

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

What it is: A one-off cash grant for eligible first-home buyers who are buying or building a new home.
Good to know: Amounts, price caps and definitions of “new” vary by state/territory (see local sections below).

Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) — three federal guarantees

Administered by Housing Australia, these guarantees reduce the deposit hurdle and help you avoid LMI.

• First Home Guarantee (FHBG): Buy with as little as 5% deposit (no LMI) if you meet eligibility and price caps. Places are limited each year and released through participating lenders. (Housing Australia)
• Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee (RFHBG): Like the FHBG, but targeted at regional buyers with 5% deposit and regional price caps. Places are limited and renewed annually. (Housing Australia)
• Family Home Guarantee (FHG): For single parents or single legal guardians, buy with as little as 2% deposit (no LMI) subject to eligibility, price caps and annual place limits. (Housing Australia)

How to apply: You don’t apply to Housing Australia directly — you go via a participating lender, with major banks and select non-banks on the panel. We’re here to guide you through the process.

First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS)

What it is: A tax-effective way to save your deposit inside super, then withdraw up to $50,000 of eligible voluntary contributions (max $15,000 per financial year) plus associated earnings to buy your first home. ATO rules and timing apply. (Australian Taxation Office)

State & Territory support (grants + transfer/stamp duty concessions)

FHOG amounts and stamp duty settings change periodically. Always check the linked state revenue pages before you sign.

New South Wales (NSW)

• FHOG (New Home): $10,000 for eligible first-home buyers building or buying a new home (check caps/criteria on Revenue NSW). (Revenue NSW)
• First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme (FHBAS): Full duty exemption up to $800,000; concessional duty from $800,000 – $1,000,000 for new or existing homes. Exemptions/concessions also apply to vacant land (lower thresholds). (Revenue NSW)

Victoria (VIC)

• FHOG (New Home): Grant available for eligible new homes (verify amount/thresholds as they vary by location and build).
• First Home Buyer Duty Exemption/Concession: No duty for eligible first homes up to $600,000, and concessional duty for $600,000 – $750,000. (sro.tas.gov.au)
• Note: The previous Victorian Homebuyer Fund is closed to new applicants (check SRO for any future changes). (RevenueSA)

Queensland (QLD)

• FHOG (New Home): Temporarily boosted to $30,000 for eligible new homes until 30 June 2025 (see official Budget documentation).
• Transfer Duty: First Home Concession: Up to $24,525 off for first homes under $800,000 (no duty for borrowing under $700k). Separate concessions exist for new homes and vacant land. (Queensland Revenue Office)

South Australia (SA)

• FHOG (New Home): Grant available for eligible new builds/new homes (see RevenueSA).
• Stamp Duty Relief (New Homes & Vacant Land): Relief for eligible first-home buyers who purchase a new home or vacant land to build. Caps and definitions apply; significant expansions took effect from 6 June 2024.

Western Australia (WA)

• FHOG (New Home): Grant for eligible first-home buyers of new properties; income/price caps and residency rules apply.
• First Home Owner Rate (FHOR) of Duty: Concessional/zero transfer duty for eligible first home purchases within WA price thresholds.
• Home Buyers Assistance Account (HBAA): A reimbursement grant (up to $2,000) to help with incidental costs when buying an established home through a licensed agent, subject to eligibility and price cap.

Tasmania (TAS)

• FHOG (New Home): Grant for eligible first-home buyers of new homes — check current amount/conditions on SRO Tasmania. (Department of Treasury and Finance)
• 50% Transfer Duty Concession (Established Homes): Half-price duty for eligible first-home buyers of established homes (extended; check dates and caps).

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

• Home Buyer Concession Scheme (HBCS): Full duty concession (ie $0 stamp duty) for eligible purchases that meet the income thresholds and other criteria. Covers new, off-the-plan, and established homes (not just first-timers in some cases).

Northern Territory (NT)

• FHOG (New Home): Grant available for eligible first-home buyers of new homes.
• HomeGrown Territory Grants: Additional NT-specific grants/boosts that may apply alongside FHOG for eligible purchases/builds – check current offers and caps.

How these pieces fit together (and stack)

• It’s common to combine a state FHOG (cash for new homes) + a stamp duty exemption/concession + a federal HGS place (to reduce your deposit/LMI), and even layer FHSSS savings on top if you’ve been contributing in super.
• Each program has its own eligibility, property caps, income tests (for some), residency rules, and move-in timeframes. This is one of many reasons why it’s great to have a mortgage broker on your side – we’ll always check for all possibilities before exchanging contracts.

Quick tips to maximise your chances

1. Check HGS price caps and lender lists early — you must apply via a participating lender, and places are limited and released each 1 July. (Housing Australia)
2. Map your state duty thresholds to your budget so you don’t accidentally tip over a bracket (e.g., NSW $800k exemption vs concession up to $1m; QLD no duty ≤$700k for first homes). (Revenue NSW, Queensland Revenue Office)
3. If building or buying new, confirm FHOG eligibility (definitions of “new” differ) and any regional price caps. Check your state revenue office page linked above. (Revenue NSW)
4. Using FHSSS? Get an ATO determination before you sign, know the $50k lifetime/$15k-per-year limits and the tax treatment of the released amount. (Australian Taxation Office)

Official resources (by program)

• Home Guarantee Scheme (overview & fact sheets): Housing Australia (overview + media on annual place releases + FHBG factsheet + 2025 HGS factsheet). (Housing Australia)
• Participating lenders (how to apply for HGS): Housing Australia. (Housing Australia)
• First Home Super Saver Scheme: ATO guide + Guidance Note + detailed limits. (Australian Taxation Office)

Your deposit pathway

Your deposit pathway will look different depending on where you buy, whether the property is new vs established, and your household type (eg single parent). Start by shortlisting the programs you’re eligible for, then line up a participating lender (for the federal guarantees) and verify state revenue concessions before you sign.

If it all sounds a bit much, don’t sweat it! That’s what we’re here for. A good mortgage broker will talk you through any government help you’re eligible for as well as guide you through the process. We deal with all of the red tape so you don’t have to!

Contact us today to talk about the schemes you’re eligible for and let’s make the most of your budget.