First Home Buyer Grants & Schemes 2026: Every Option in One Place
Key Takeaways
• There is more help than most first home buyers realise, split across federal schemes and state-based grants and concessions. This guide puts them all in one place.
• The headline federal option is the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, which lets eligible buyers purchase with as little as 5%, or 2% for single parents, and avoid LMI.
• Other federal help includes the First Home Super Saver scheme and the shared-equity Help to Buy scheme, each with its own rules.
• On top of the federal schemes, every state and territory offers its own First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty concessions, and many of these can be combined.
One of the trickiest parts of buying your first home is simply working out what help you can get. The support is scattered across federal schemes, state grants, and stamp duty concessions, each with its own name, rules, and thresholds, and it changes from year to year. No wonder it feels confusing.
This guide brings all options together in one place, up to date for 2026, so you can see the full picture at a glance. We will keep each one short and clear, with no jargon, and point you to where to check the fine detail. Whatever stage you are at, knowing what is on offer is the first step to making the most of it.
Working out which schemes you actually qualify for, and how to stack them, is where it gets fiddly. If you would like a hand, help for first home buyers from the team at Loan Street Finance is just a chat away, with no cost and no pressure.
Federal Schemes (Available Australia-Wide)
These schemes are administered by the Australian Government and apply nationwide, though each has its own eligibility rules and limits. They are the biggest-ticket items, so they are the place to start.
The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
This is the headline scheme, formerly the First Home Guarantee. It lets eligible first-home buyers purchase with as little as a 5% deposit, while the government guarantees the gap, so you avoid LMI. From 1 October 2025, the income caps were removed, and the number of places was made unlimited, so eligibility is far wider than before. There are two streams: a General Stream for first home buyers with a 5% deposit, and a Single Parent Stream for eligible single parents or guardians with as little as a 2% deposit. Property price caps still apply and vary by location.
The First Home Super Saver Scheme
The First Home Super Saver scheme lets you save for your deposit within superannuation, where it is taxed at a concessional rate. You can make voluntary contributions of up to $15,000 a year, up to a total of $50,000, then withdraw those contributions and their earnings when you buy your first home. It suits disciplined savers who want to build a deposit a little faster.
The Help to Buy Shared-Equity Scheme
Help to Buy is a shared-equity scheme in which the government takes an ownership stake in your home to reduce the amount you need to borrow. The government contributes up to 40% for a new home or 30% for an existing one, and you can start with as little as a 2% deposit. Income limits, price caps, and a set number of places apply, so it is worth checking current eligibility. You can buy out the government's share over time.
State and Territory Grants and Concessions
On top of the federal schemes, every state and territory runs its own support, and this is where the detail varies most. There are generally two kinds: a cash grant for new homes and stamp duty relief. The amounts and thresholds differ by state and change over time, so always confirm the current figures with your state revenue office.
The First Home Owner Grant
Every state and territory offers a First Home Owner Grant (FHOG), a one-off cash payment for eligible buyers purchasing or building a brand-new home. It is commonly around $10,000, though some regions offer more, and it generally does not apply to established homes. Each state sets its own property value limit. For example, in New South Wales, the grant is $10,000 for new homes valued up to $600,000, and in Victoria it is $10,000 for new homes valued up to $750,000.
Stamp Duty Exemptions and Concessions
Most states also reduce or remove stamp duty for eligible first-home buyers, which is often the largest saving. Unlike the grant, these usually apply to both new and existing homes. For example, in New South Wales, eligible first home buyers pay no stamp duty on homes up to $800,000, with a concession up to $1,000,000; in Victoria, there is a full exemption up to $600,000 and a concession up to $750,000. Other states and territories set their own thresholds, so check yours.
How the Schemes Work Together
The real power often comes from combining schemes, not picking just one. Here is how they can stack.
Many of these supports can be used together. An eligible buyer purchasing a new home might use the 5% Deposit Scheme to avoid LMI, claim the First Home Owner Grant, and pay little or no stamp duty under their state's concession, all on the same purchase. The First Home Super Saver scheme can help build the deposit in the lead-up. Not every combination is allowed, and you generally cannot use all the federal schemes at once, so the trick is matching the right mix to your situation.
Common Eligibility Basics
Each scheme has its own fine print, but a few requirements recur. Checking these early saves disappoints later.
• You are generally an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and at least 18 years old.
• You usually must be a genuine first home buyer, though some schemes allow people who have not owned property for a number of years.
• The home is normally your principal place of residence, with a requirement to move in within 12 months and live there for a set period.
• Property price caps and value thresholds apply, and they differ by scheme and location.
• Income limits apply to some schemes, such as Help to Buy, but not to others.
Because the rules interact, the safest move is to check your eligibility for each one before you set your budget.
A Real-World Example: Stacking the Help
Here is an illustration with rounded figures showing how the help can combine on a single purchase. Treat it as a guide, since eligibility and amounts vary.
Say you are an eligible first home buyer purchasing a brand-new home for $580,000. Using the 5% Deposit Scheme, you buy with a $29,000 deposit and avoid LMI, which could otherwise have cost several thousand dollars.
Because it is a new home under your state's grant threshold, you also receive a $10,000 First Home Owner Grant. And because the price sits under your state's stamp duty exemption threshold, you pay little or no stamp duty, potentially saving many thousands more.
Stacked together, the schemes can shave tens of thousands of dollars off your upfront costs and get you in years sooner than saving a full 20% deposit. The exact result depends on your state and your eligibility, which is why it pays to map it out before you start.
How to Make the Most of the Help Available
A few simple habits help you capture everything you are entitled to.
• Check your eligibility for each scheme before you set your budget, not after.
• Confirm whether you are buying new or established, since it changes which grants apply.
• Watch the price thresholds carefully, because going a dollar over can cost you thousands.
• Use the official government and state revenue sources to confirm current amounts.
• Ask a broker to map the right combination for your situation, usually at no cost.
A little planning here can be worth more than almost any other step in the buying process.
Where to Read More
For the official details on the headline federal scheme, including current price caps and eligibility, Housing Australia, the government agency that administers it, is the authoritative source. For other federal schemes and links to each state's help, the Australian Government's First Home Buyers website brings it all together in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the main scheme for first home buyers in 2026?
The headline option is the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, formerly the First Home Guarantee. It lets eligible first home buyers purchase with a 5% deposit, or 2% for single parents, while the government guarantees the gap, so you avoid LMI. Since October 2025, it has had no income caps and unlimited places.
Can I use more than one scheme at the same time?
Often, yes. Many buyers combine a federal deposit scheme with their state's First Home Owner Grant and a stamp duty concession on the same purchase. Not every combination is allowed, though, and you generally cannot use all the federal schemes at once, so it is worth checking which mix you qualify for.
Do first home buyer grants apply to existing homes?
The cash grants usually do not. The First Home Owner Grant is generally limited to new or substantially renovated homes. Stamp duty concessions, on the other hand, often apply to both new and existing homes, depending on your state.
How much is the First Home Owner Grant?
It is commonly around $10,000, though the exact amount and the property value limit vary by state and territory. For example, it is $10,000 in both New South Wales and Victoria, but the price thresholds and rules differ, so check your state's current figures.
What is the difference between the 5% Deposit Scheme and Help to Buy?
The 5% Deposit Scheme helps you borrow the full amount with a small deposit and no LMI, and you own 100% of the home. Help to Buy is different: the government takes an ownership share to reduce what you borrow, which you can buy back over time. They suit different situations.
Do I have to repay any of this help?
It depends on the scheme. A grant and a stamp duty concession are not repaid as long as you meet the conditions, such as living in the home. Under Help to Buy, the government holds an equity share that you repay when you buy it back or sell. The 5% Deposit Scheme is a guarantee, not a loan, so there is nothing extra to repay.
The Bottom Line
First home buyers have more support than ever in 2026, but it is spread across several schemes with different names and rules. The federal 5% Deposit Scheme, the First Home Super Saver scheme, and Help to Buy sit alongside state-based grants and stamp duty concessions, and the biggest wins usually come from combining the right ones rather than relying on a single option.
The catch is that the rules interact and the thresholds matter, so a little planning goes a long way. Check your eligibility early, confirm the current figures with the official sources, and map out the combination that fits your situation. If you would like a hand working out exactly what you qualify for, we would love to help you make the most of it.